Monday, May 22, 2006



The Crescent Moon And Star - Symbol Of Islam?

The crescent moon and star is an internationally-recognized symbol of the faith of Islam. The symbol is featured on the flags of several Muslim countries, and is even part of the official emblem for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The Christians have the cross, the Jews have the star of David, and the Muslims have the crescent moon, right?

What is the history behind the crescent moon symbol? What does it symbolize or mean? How and when did it become associated with the faith of Islam? Is it a valid symbol for the faith?


The crescent moon and star symbol actually pre-dates Islam by several thousand years. Information on the origins of the symbol are difficult to ascertain, but most sources agree that these ancient celestial symbols were in use by the peoples of Central Asia and Siberia in their worship of sun, moon, and sky gods. There are also reports that the crescent moon and star were used to represent the Carthaginian goddess Tanit or the Greek goddess Diana.

The city of Byzantium (later known as Constantinople and Istanbul) adopted the crescent moon symbol. According to some reports, they chose it in honor of the goddess Diana. Others indicate that it dates back to a battle in which the Romans defeated the Goths on the first day of a lunar month. In any event, the crescent moon was featured on the city's flag even before the birth of Christ.

The early Muslim community did not really have a symbol. During the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Islamic armies and caravans flew simple solid-colored flags (generally black, green, or white) for identification purposes. In later generations, the Muslim leaders continued to use a simple black, white, or green flag with no markings, writing, or symbolism on it.

It wasn't until the Ottoman Empire that the crescent moon and star became affiliated with the Muslim world. When the Turks conquered Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1453, they adopted the city's existing flag and symbol. Legend holds that the founder of the Ottoman Empire, Osman, had a dream in which the crescent moon stretched from one end of the earth to the other. Taking this as a good omen, he chose to keep the crescent and make it the symbol of his dynasty. There is speculation that the five points on the star represent the five pillars of Islam, but this is pure conjecture. The five points were not standard on the Ottoman flags, and it is still not standard on flags used in the Muslim world today.

For hundreds of years, the Ottoman Empire ruled over the Muslim world. After centuries of battle with Christian Europe, it is understandable how the symbols of this empire became linked in people's minds with the faith of Islam as a whole.

Based on this history, many Muslims reject using the crescent moon as a symbol of Islam. The faith of Islam has historically had no symbol, and many refuse to accept what is essentially an ancient pagan icon. It is certainly not in uniform use among Muslims.

Source: http://islam.about.com

9 Comments:

At 8:10 PM, Blogger I Feel Good said...

Wow thanks for the info! I didn't know that..no wonder my Christian friend once told me about the symbol and she correlates Islam as ....satanic..:(

 
At 12:54 AM, Blogger kilamxx said...

It's a bit worrying, isn't it? We take certain things for granted and then they turn out to be something else. I think as long as we sincerely keep looking for the truth Allah will keep us on the right path, Insya Allah.

 
At 10:25 AM, Blogger styxian said...

I guess all the things that we learned about Islam from day one needs to go through a thorough "revision" to ensure we have it right this time. Mmmmm... tough! But I am all FOR IT!

 
At 7:40 PM, Blogger I Feel Good said...

Yeah...what about those words like Mecca and Mosque..check out the real meaning.....:(

 
At 9:13 PM, Blogger styxian said...

Think I've read about the real meaning of "mosque" somewhere, but can't quite recall .... mosquito or something?? nuisance?? Dunno about Mecca.

 
At 1:14 AM, Blogger kilamxx said...

Styxian,
Renewal or revision is a vital part of Islam, I think. That's why we have the Mujjadids like Ibn Taimiyah and Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahab, etc. appearing after a certain period.

Apples,
You got me curious now. Would appreciate it if you could enlighten us on those names.

 
At 8:32 PM, Blogger I Feel Good said...

Yeah, read that about Mosque=mosquito too.. here's the link to the Makkah-Mecca issue.

http://hipforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158539

Any other credible references you can find?

 
At 1:56 PM, Blogger kilamxx said...

Thanks for the link, Apples.

 
At 7:25 PM, Blogger I Feel Good said...

welcome! :)

 

Post a Comment

<< Home