The hand of fatima, or the hamsa, is a popular motif to be found all throughout the middle-east. It has both Muslim and Jewish connotations and is a favorite feature in many artistic renderings in that region of the world. It is said to ward off the evil eye and back luck and has many variations. For the most part though, the hand of fatima is a geometrically simplified picture of a hand - it's more circular in shape than most drawings of a hand, and typically the hand is the same size and shape of the pinky finger. In the muslim world it is a popular theme and means of teaching shi'a children about the holy family of Islam. The highest finger represents the person closest to God - the prophet Muhammad. the two second-highest fingers, of equal length, represent his daughter Fatima, and his son-in-law 'Ali. The thumb and pinky fingers, also of equal length represent their sons Hasan and Hussein.
The symbol of the hamsa is "used extensively in North African and Middle Eastern Jewish communities but not Ashkanazi ones. Hamsa means "five" and "In practical Khabbalistic lore the number five (heh), which stands for the Ineffable Name is considered a charm against evil." - Traditional Jewish Papercuts: An Inner World of Art and Symbol by Joseph Shadur
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