It is generally believed that when we give someone a thumbs up as a sign of praise, we are repeating another gesture of the ancient Romans - a thumbs up meant “to spare.” But this opinion is not true.
D. Morris in the book “Gestures” explains that the Romans supported the vanquished not by sticking out their thumb, but by covering it with their hand. When the spectators wanted the victorious gladiator to finish off his opponent, they waved their hands at him with their thumbs out (Morris believes that this was supposed to represent a blow with a dagger).
And, indeed, a thumb bent in any direction meant death for the vanquished, symbolizing a drawn sword. And to save life, the war spectators showed a clenched fist, which meant a sword hidden in a sheath.
artist Jean-Leon Gerome
If the thumbs-up gesture actually originated in Rome, one would expect it to remain popular in the Mediterranean today. But, as it turned out, it was in Italy and Greece, unlike others European countries, this gesture is extremely rarely used in an approving sense. In many areas of Greece and Southern Italy, sticking out a finger is generally perceived as an obscene insult.In Australia and Nigeria it means “get out of here!” In this case, the direction of intended care is indicated with the thumb.In Europe it means “excellent!” or used by hitchhikers to stop the car.
Most likely, the birthplace of this gesture is in completely different places.
Tracing its origins is not easy - however, the history of gestures is in principle difficult to study, since the sources are unclear and contradictory. One can only refer to Morris and other authoritative experts. They believe that western culture generally tend to associate bottom-up movement with positive feelings and optimism, and top-down movement with negative feelings and pessimism. The finger, protruding upward, is directed towards the sky. In the 1970s forefinger, extended upward, became a symbol of fundamentalist Christians. For them, this gesture not only means “There is only one God” or “there are no other paths to salvation except ours,” but also reminds us where God lives and where good Christians will someday go.
Perhaps we stick out our thumb as a sign of approval simply because it is easier physically to do so. Try sticking out some other finger, bending all the others.
In most cases, a person supplements his speech with gestures. Often we make movements involuntarily, that is, without thinking about their meaning. In addition, using gestures, you can find out information of interest from foreign citizen, for example, while traveling. In this article we will look at what they mean popular gestures fingers.
Gesture meanings
Victoria
The V-shape is made with the index and middle fingers. The sign means "peace" and "victory". However, in a number of countries (Great Britain, Ireland, Australia) the gesture is offensive if the palm is facing towards the person.
Muntz
A gesture in the form of an outstretched palm. Usually means a request to stop.
In Greece this gesture is considered offensive.
OK
A gesture in the form of a ring, which is formed by connecting the index and thumb means "everything is fine."
In the capital of Italy, the sign means "worthless." And in Japan, the gesture means “money.”
Thumbs up and down
Thumbs up means agreement and approval. The sign is often used when hitchhiking to catch a car.
In Thailand, this gesture is a sign of condemnation. And in Iran, giving a thumbs up is considered an offensive gesture.
If the thumb is pointing down, then this sign has the meaning of disapproval.
Forefinger
The index finger is used for one or another gesture depending on the situation. For example, if you put a finger to your lips, the sign will mean “silence.”
If the finger is raised up, it means “attention” or “stop”.
If the interlocutor shakes his index finger from side to side, it means he does not agree with what was said. A slightly inclined rocking finger is used when teaching (for example, when scolding children).
If you twist your finger at your temple, you recognize your interlocutor as “crazy.”
Middle finger
The extended middle finger is an offensive gesture in many countries. The sign can be replaced with a less crude fig.
Fig
Or in other words, fig - a gesture in the form of a fist, where the thumb is inserted between the index and middle fingers. Used in cases of disagreement with the interlocutor. "Rejection" also has the meaning.
Another sign is often used as “protection” from the evil eye.
IN South America the gesture is considered friendly and is used to wish good luck.
Crossing your fingers
In many countries, crossing the index and middle fingers is used to attract good luck.
In Vietnam, this sign has an offensive meaning.
Goat
A popular sign among rock musicians, which looks like a raised index finger and little finger.
In Russia, this gesture is used to entertain young children, associating the sign with a “horned goat.”
However, in some European countries, including America, the sign means “cuckold.”
In Colombia, this sign is shown when people want to wish them good luck.
Shaka
Type of gesture - raised thumb and little finger. Often the gesture means “telephone receiver” and is shown when a person asks to call him.
In Hawaii, the gesture is a sign of greeting. And among drug addicts, the sign means “smoke.”
Spire
The gesture looks like joined fingertips. Confident people use it. Usually the sign is used by people who are more inclined to talk than to gesture.
Often the speaker places the spire with his fingers up, and the listener, on the contrary, points down.
Closed thumb and index fingers
This gesture is used when it is necessary to draw attention to something. A sign often complements speech. The narrator at this moment wants the listener to understand the essence of his words.
Rubbing the tips of others with your thumb
In this case, the gesture means "money".
Sometimes a sign is used when trying to remember an event or word. If the result is positive, the sign changes to a click.
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On Wahhabi resources you can often read demagoguery about the “Shiite idol-alama,” that is, the symbol of the hand that is used in Shiite ceremonies, especially in everything related to mourning for Imam Hussein (A).
"Alam" looks like this:
That is, it is a hand with an open palm, which symbolizes the severed hands of Abulfazl Abbas - the hero of Karbala and the brother of Imam Hussein (A). According to another interpretation, five fingers of the hand mean five " ashabi l-kisa" - "people under the cloak", purified by complete purification (Muhammad, Fatima, Ali, Hassan and Hussein, peace be upon them).
In one of the Wahhabi articles we read the following: “The word “alam” is derived from the Turkic al (əl) - “hand”. Alam became widespread among Azerbaijani Turks during the reign of the Shiite Safavid dynasty. Some Shiite preachers present the name alam as a derivative of the Arabic علامة “alamyat”, which means “symbol” or “sign”. Based on the fact that Alam is used as a symbol in Shiism, this version at first glance looks plausible, but this is not true, since among the Shiite Arabs themselves, Alam is not called “Alamyat”, but is called the “Palm of Abbas” or “Hand of Fatima” “As for the word (ألم) “alaam” itself, in Arabic it does not mean “symbol” or “sign”, but means “pain” or “suffering.”
In fact, “Alam” comes from the Arabic “Alam” (علم) with “Ayn”, which means “flag”, “banner” (in Farsi it will be the same). This origin of the name is obvious, since the alam is used as a banner in mourning ceremonies.
“The origin of alam is connected both with the ancient lunar goddess of the Phoenicians Tanit, whom the ancient Phoenicians considered the patroness of the city of Carthage, her symbol was the image of an open right palm, and with Buddhism, where alam is a universal sign of protection. Alam is used by Buddhists as a symbol and protective amulet, which is resorted to against the evil eye and damage, is called the “Hand of Buddha”. It occupies a special place in the Dharmachakra - the Buddha's mudra of teaching and protection. In addition, Alam is widely used in Judaism, although it is known that the Jews borrowed it from the ancient Phoenicians. It is worth noting that in Judaism alam is called “khamsa” (in Hebrew חמסה), and “khamsa”, in turn, in the languages of the Semitic group means “five”, in modern Hebrew - “hamisha”.
Thanks to the Wahhabis for the excursion into the history of religions: along with the “lunar goddess of the Phoenicians Tanit” and “Dharmachakra” they could also mention the Aztecs and Incas, who also had a similar symbol, despite being separated from the Shiites by thousands of kilometers of ocean.
In fact, everything here is much more prosaic: people in all places and at all times tend to use approximately similar symbols, the set of which is quite limited. Since the palm, as they say, is “always at hand,” many religions used it in their symbolism, and this does not say anything about any borrowing.
Otherwise, we would have to accuse the “Salafis” themselves of idolatry because of their beloved finger, which is demonstrated in all forms and angles. However, the index finger extended upward is one of the main symbols of Freemasonry, which, in turn, borrowed it from ancient pagan religions, where this finger symbolized a person’s connection with “ higher powers" Also, in rituals of black magic, Satan is often depicted with his finger raised up, as can be seen in the photo below.
From a book on Masonic symbols - an extended index finger:
Statue of George Washington - the first American Freemason President:
Position of the statue figure in the Satan pose:
Worship of Satan, sitting with his index finger raised up:
Raised Buddha finger:
Plato's raised finger in Raphael's painting. Symbolizes pagan wisdom and magical connection with higher powers :
Raised finger in the Papal Synxtine Chapel:
Isn't it similar?
Of course, the “Salafis” will say that the raised finger only symbolizes monotheism (that God is one) and has only external resemblance. But in the same way we will say that the alam symbolizes the hands of Abbas and has a purely formal similarity with the symbols of the palms used in other religions.
Or let's take another common symbol, which many consider inextricably linked with Islam - crescent . The crescent moon is not used by Shiites and occurs only among Ahlu Sunna wal Jama'a, who borrowed it from Christians, who, in turn, from pagan religions. There are no hadiths about the crescent symbol, nor evidence of its use in the first centuries of Islam.
So, “bidaat”, “idol”, “pagan sign”? Call it what you want, if you want, like the Wahhabis, to practice demagoguery:
The crescent was printed on the coins of the pagan Turkic Khaganate, then it was a symbol of the Persian Sassanid Empire and the coat of arms of the city of Constantinople - the capital Christian Empire. Most likely, it was after the conquest of Constantinople by the Sunni Turks that the crescent entered Sunni Islam and became its symbol.
Crescent on the royal winged crown of the Sassanids:
And if you want to show off your erudition, you can mention the crescent moon in the iconography of Hinduism - Shiva wears it in his hair:
In Egypt, the solar disk with the horned Moon, or located between the horns of a bull (cow), meant the divine unity of two in one, common solar-lunar gods and secret marriage divine couples
Among the ancient Sumerians, the crescent moon was an attribute of the Babylonian moon god Sin - the ship on which he sailed across the vast expanses of space.
Crescent on an ancient Sumerian coin:
Here the king dedicates his daughter to the goddess. The crescent symbolizes the god Sin, the sun symbolizes the sun god Shamash:
Any gesture or action should be assessed only in the context of a specific event; the meanings of the same action can vary greatly depending on characters, situation and cultural environment. But you can at least try to understand what the raised index finger means, and what is the meaning of this action.
Subtext of gestures
The main differences in the perception of nonverbal signs are associated precisely with the environment in which they are used. The subtext can be of almost any nature:
- Religious.
- Political.
- National.
- Regional.
- Subcultural.
Therefore, before dealing with the gesture itself, it is better to take a closer look at who the sign itself is coming from. Labeling is not the most noble activity, but in this moment To fully understand the situation, this is a necessary evil.
It is worth noting that most gestures express powerful emotions which the interlocutor sometimes finds it difficult to convey in words. So, once in a different language or cultural environment, you should familiarize yourself with at least as quickly as possible minimum set signs and gestures that are used in it. A warning or even a threat not understood in time can lead to dire consequences.
The meaning of the index finger in Islam
In our country, the gesture is used by the majority of the population in order to draw the attention of the interlocutor or interrupt someone’s speech. IN Lately This sign is not used very often, but if in the middle of a conversation a person raised his index finger up:
- The opponent has something to object to.
- The interlocutor does not want to interrupt you and is ready to wait for you to speak out.
- Once you finish your speech, be prepared to listen to objections.
If at the same time a person moves his index finger from side to side, this can only mean one thing - they categorically disagree with your ideas and are not even ready to seriously discuss them. In such cases, it is better to stop talking. What’s interesting is that in almost all cultures this sign is interpreted in the same way.
But more often you can see photographs of natives of the Caucasus, in which representatives of different nationalities raise their index finger upward. One could think about some kind of national issue, but this is what representatives of almost all nationalities and nationalities from this region do.
What do they all have in common? Islam. And the raised index finger symbolizes monotheism and faith in their one god - Allah. During every prayer, a Muslim must raise his index finger to the sky, so that in this way Muslims demonstrate their piety. Or they simply follow an old habit, imitating the older generation.
Europeans and thumbs up
You can encounter a demonstration of this gesture even far from native land. For example, in the same Germany. One would think that the wave of migration from the Middle East had finally overwhelmed the region and that its people now boasted of their piety. But that's not the point at all:
- The raised index finger is an old German gesture.
- Information about it goes back at least 3-4 centuries.
- The sign can be literally translated as: “everything is fine with me.”
While the whole world, like the Romans, raised its thumb up, the Germans decided to go their own way. The initiative may be commendable, but it is perceived as quite unusual.
The Dutch also have a somewhat similar gesture, only the interlocutor adds tapping himself on the forehead to the raised index finger. In this context, the gesture is interpreted unambiguously - the interlocutor appreciated your intellectual abilities.
It’s true that this gesture is not used very often in the Netherlands. Not because local residents few people are considered truly smart, it’s just outdated, like many other non-verbal signs. All languages of the world have shown a tendency towards simplification in the last 20 years, so that now even a complex thought can be expressed with a couple of words or a simple set of abbreviations.
Index finger in fine art
And the raised index finger can be found in many works of art. Including works dedicated to Christianity. For two thousand years now, this gesture in art has not had a single interpretation:
- Satan is almost always depicted with his index finger or index and middle fingers raised up.
- Many Christian saints on canvases stretch their index finger to the sky, which symbolizes their connection with something magical and beyond comprehension.
- The finger rising to the sky also shows the desire of the depicted person to understand the secrets of the world around him.
It turns out that the main themes are secrets, mysticism, magic and knowledge of the world around us. Thus, in the paintings, with the help of this gesture, a person’s desire for something more is symbolized, which is not always useful for the immortal soul.
Perhaps sculptors and artists put some other hidden text into their works. But not even all the paintings, sculptures and bas-reliefs have reached us. What can we say about some notes and explanations. Especially when you consider that in most cases they simply did not exist in the first place. People of art prefer to leave at least some semblance of a mystery.
What does a raised index finger mean?
If the interlocutor suddenly raised his index finger to the sky:
- He wants to interrupt you to object and insert his own argument.
- He is not interested in your idea and does not want to discuss it.
- The Muslim suddenly remembered the unity of Allah and decided to remind about it.
- The German says that everything is fine with him.
- The Dutchman admires your intelligence.
- Dagestani says
To understand which of the five options is suitable for a given situation, all you have to do is take a closer look at your interlocutor. However, sometimes very funny coincidences happen. If you see a thumbs up in a photograph, and the photo was taken somewhere in the forest, and everyone posing in military uniform and with beards, the gesture is of a religious nature.
The problem of terrorism in some regions has not yet been fully resolved, but the life expectancy of members of illegal armed groups in last years decreased sharply. So most likely similar photos every year there will be less and less.
It is worth knowing all the meanings of a new word or gesture before using it. By finding out what a raised index finger means, you can save yourself from getting into sticky situations.
Video about gestures
In this video, Muslim will tell you what the gesture of a raised index finger can mean, and what it has to do with Islam:
Gestures made from combinations of fingers in different cultures have very different meanings. So, for example, the “thumbs up” symbol can speak both of a decision to pardon the vanquished (a famous gesture during the fight of Roman gladiators), and of a common request for a ride, to take a fellow traveler (hitchhiking), if we are talking about a thumb raised up by the road somewhere in America. The index finger carries other information. Let's take a closer look.
What is this thumbs up symbol?
It is clear that the meaning of the symbol depends on which country and which finger is used. And here there are a great many options: from greetings and approval to indecent analogies.
- Forefinger right hand, raised upward, among Muslims is a symbol of the proclamation of monotheism, that is, translated into Russian it means: “There is no God but Allah!”
- In Germany, this gesture says: “Everything is fine.”
- IN Slavic countries an index finger raised up means a call for the attention of others, and in American schools, students thus ask the teacher for permission to answer a question.
- If during a conversation you raise your index finger up and shake it from side to side, then the interlocutor of almost any nationality will understand this as a refusal of what was proposed or an unwillingness to discuss the topic.
What are we talking about when we raise our thumbs up?
The symbol - the index and thumb connected with the rest raised up, means in America and most European countries: “Everything is fine!” But in Brazil and Turkey such a gesture would be perceived as an insult.
A resident of Holland, inviting you to a friendly drinking session, will raise his little finger up and his thumb to the side. This is where you probably want to respond to him with the gesture described above. Still: “Everything is great”! And a Frenchman can raise his little finger in response, which will mean: “Leave me alone!”
If someone raises their thumb up, the symbol hardly needs any special decoding - it is a sign of wishes for good luck, recognition that everything is going as it should, agreement with the proposed program of action, etc.
True, in Turkey and Arab countries such a gesture is a phallic symbol, and in Greece it is a demand: “Shut up!”
Most common symbol
Thumbs up in other cases too. The truth is not one, but two: we are talking about the V-shaped sign with the index and middle fingers, known in European countries.
It was introduced during the Second World War by Winston Churchill to signify victory, and since then the gesture has become very popular. True, for the English, one nuance is important in it: which side is the palm facing the speaker at that moment. If it is from the back, then it is: “victory”, but if it is with the palm, then its interpretation becomes offensive.
Another gesture is no less popular: “goat”. We are talking about the index finger and little finger raised up. In the CIS this is a notorious “rocker” symbol. A thumbs up is raised in a similar way as a sign of superiority over someone, a desire to humiliate him. Although in mystical rituals this sign is protection from dark forces.
What does a raised index finger mean?
๏̯͡๏-๏̯͡๏
A raised index finger in Germany means “wonderful,” but a French waitress will mistake this gesture for ordering one glass of wine.
There are differences in the gestures of different peoples.
A raised index finger in Germany means “wonderful,” but a French waitress will mistake this gesture for ordering one glass of wine.
Two fingers raised up means:
In Germany - victory
in France - peace
in the UK – 2
in Greece - go to hell, damn it.
Five fingers raised up have the meaning:
IN Western countries – 5
everywhere - stop!
in Turkey - go away
in other countries - believe me, I'm telling the truth!
Raised little finger and index finger:
In the Mediterranean - your wife is cheating on you
in Malta and Italy - a sign that protects against danger and the evil eye
Raised index finger and thumb:
In Europe – 2
in the UK - 1
in the USA - please serve me, bring the bill
in Japan it is an insult.
Little finger raised up:
In France - leave me alone!
in Japan - woman
in Mediterranean countries - sexual innuendo
Thumbs up:
In Europe – 1
in Greece - swear word
in Japan – man, 5
in other countries - well done, good, a sign to stop traffic on the road.
The index finger and thumb are connected; the other fingers are raised up:
In Europe and North America- good, great
in the Mediterranean, Russia, Brazil, Turkey - swearing, sexual insult,
in Tunisia, France – 0
The little finger raised up and the finger pointed to the side:
In Holland - how about having a drink?
in Hawaii - no panic! Calm down!
Photographer
The straightened index finger of the right hand is a symbol of the proclamation of monotheism among Muslims.
The raised index finger of the right hand means not “Allahu Akbar”, but “La Ilaha Ilalah”!
Everyone who has prayed at least once in their life knows this, because during the performance of rak'ah, the person praying raises his finger up to read the "Shahadah" - the statement that there is no God except Allah (Lord) - in Arabic "La Ilaha Ilalah"!
Danil Arnaut
Among Wahhabis, a common sign is the index finger extended upward. According to the naive ideas of the “Salafis”, this sign should demonstrate their commitment to monotheism - after all, God is one, like a finger. Wahhabis love to pose in photos with such a “finger,” thereby wanting to show their “monotheism.”
However, there are no hadiths that speak of such a finger as a symbol of Islam or monotheism.
Where did this gesture come from?
Christina Kim
What does this gesture mean? 
What does the index finger up sign mean for Muslims?
Quite often lately you can see in photographs or video reports how Muslim militants raise their index finger up. It turns out that this gesture in itself does not mean anything offensive or provocative for Muslims. This is simply a statement expressed by a gesture that Allah is one, that is, the index finger simply means one. Although some people seriously suspected that this gesture was an analogue of the European raised middle finger, and I even had to read an explanation that this was an offensive gesture, because this finger in the desert lands is considered an analogue of the Russian burdock.
Azamatik
The Muslim gesture - the index finger raised up - means "Allah is one"(there is no God but Allah).
I don’t understand why they should do this for show, take pictures while performing this gesture, etc.
It’s strange when the same gesture is made by non-Muslims (the same militants, terrorists). They contradict themselves: after all, Islam does not condone the killing of people.
Yannet
This does not mean at all the well-known gesture where the raised middle finger of the hand carries an offensive tone. We are talking about the index finger of the right hand raised vertically. This is a religious gesture, such a gesture is considered a sign of "tawhid", which expresses the Muslims' belief in the uniqueness of Allah.
Why do Muslims always show their index finger up? What does this gesture mean?
Alla ㋛ ♠♣♦
The raised finger of the right hand is a symbol of the proclamation of monotheism among Muslims) by the way, among those who profess Islam, left hand considered "unclean". Therefore, if you offer a gift or money with your left hand, you may offend a Muslim.)
Evgeniy Ardynsky, is your god Jesus? You don’t even know who your God is, how can you call everything else evil!?
The central figure for Christian worship is the Son of God - Jesus
Christ (hence the name “Christians”).
It is through him that Christians come
to God the Father. God the Father is the one image of God for Christians, Jews and Muslims.
They heard a ringing, but they don’t know where it came from! Among Wahhabis, a common sign is the index finger extended upward. According to the naive ideas of the “Salafis”, this sign should demonstrate their commitment to monotheism - after all, God is one, like a finger. Wahhabis love to pose in photos with such a “finger,” thereby wanting to show their “monotheism.” However, there are no hadiths that speak of such a finger as a symbol of Islam or monotheism.
Where did this gesture come from?
The fact is that the index finger extended upward is one of the main symbols of Freemasonry, which, in turn, borrowed it from ancient pagan religions, where this finger symbolized a person’s connection with “higher powers” (that is, Satan).
Also, in black magic rituals, Satan himself is usually depicted with his finger raised up, as can be seen in the photo below.
Thus, since Wahhabism was an invention of English Freemasonry, someone introduced this sign into it so that the “Salafis” would bear the satanic mark on themselves.
What does a raised index finger mean? READ EXPLANATION
I know that this gesture is among Muslims, such as Allah is one. But not long ago I saw a photo on the Internet where RUSSIANS have a thumbs up
Elena
If the finger is raised vertically, it means “stop!” , "attention!" .
If you shake your finger to the side at the same time, this gesture will mean refusal.
A finger tilted slightly forward and swinging up and down means a threat or a lesson.
If you twist your index finger at your temple, it means they consider you a fool.
A hand raised up with an index finger says: “Attention, I want to say something!” .
There is one hidden position of the index finger: if a person speaks and his gaze is directed in one direction, and the index finger in the other, while it is slightly bent, then the person is telling a lie. 