Origin Of The Crescent, Islams symbol of faith - Crescent and star Options

[Jim]

Origin of the Crescent

The star and the crescent as depicted in a few flags of Muslim countries do not have any significance in the Islamic faith. In other words, the reason for depicting these symbols on flags is not Islamic or religious. On the contrary, it is primarily a continuation of a tradition set by the vast Ottoman-empire (for a period of over half a millennium), which has prompted some of the modern Muslim states to depict these two symbols on their flags. One may, however, ask why did the Ottoman-empire opt for the star and the crescent on its flags. No specific answer can be given for this question. There could be a number of possible reasons.

During the Byzantine Empire, the city of Byzantium (a.k.a. Constantinople and Istanbul) was Dedicated to Diana, goddess of the hunt. The crescent was the symbol of Diana. In 330 CE, Constantine rededicated the city to the virgin Mary, whose star symbol was added to the previous crescent. When the Turks took possession of Byzantium, they found lots of crescent flags and adopted it as a symbol of good omen. In 339 BC, Philip of Macedon (the father of Alexander the Great) was thwarted from overtaking the city of Byzantium because his army was spotted due to a bright crescent moon.

"The star and crescent" was first hoisted on behalf of the Muslims by Mahomet II after the capture of Constantinople in 1453 CE. Prior to that, it was common on the arm of knight and esquires. A star within a crescent was a badge of Richard I, 250 years before Constantinople fell. They quit using it when it became the banner of Muslims. It has been used more and more ever since by Muslims in a way to identify themselves. Sultan Othman, founder of the Ottoman empire, had a dream of crescent moon growing bigger and bigger until it reached East to West.

Banners or flags are what people customarily unite around or behind. It may or may not represent some characteristic about them. The twelve tribes of Israel, for example, each had it's own banner or symbol, e.g. 'The Lion of Judah,' etc. An insignia could represent one's cause, philosophy, belief or attitude; whether religious or secular. The color and the symbol's use on national flags is also most interesting. Red is the Ottomon (Turkish) color and thus, a star and crescent on a field of red. In Mauritania, green stands for prosperity and hope. The star represents the people. On the Pakistani flag, the crescent is for progress and the star for enlightenment.

Source


Anyone who knocks you for being a part of non-muslim holiday activities (perhaps with your non-Muslim family) that have their basis in unislamic tradition.... we pray in masjids with a crescent on the minaret or allowing symbolism using the crescent and star as a symbol of our faith!

Being a part of it doesnt nececcarily mean partaking, sanctioning or believing as they do.

[jazain]

my husband told me a long time ago that the crescent and star were not legitimate symbols of islam. i still identify strongly with them. as teza can attest to...he used to make fun of me for always having a crescent somewhere!!

[Jim]

Im not knocking it.

I just wont stand for hypocrisy of some folks who get down on others for having fun on a day when their symbol of faith has much more questionable history than say... halloween yet we accept it openly as a symbol of Islam.

[Coexist]

Great article, Jim. It's funny how people just naturally accept (and even defend) things, without stopping to think where these things actually came from.

[jazain]

right...i did understand youre reasoning behind the post!!

[keithnurse]

Im not knocking it.

I just wont stand for hypocrisy of some folks who get down on others for having fun on a day when their symbol of faith has much more questionable history than say... halloween yet we accept it openly as a symbol of Islam.

That is very interesting about the background of the crescent and moon related to the goddess Diana and Blessed Mary. The Red Crescent is the Muslim equivalent of the Red Cross. Have Muslims thought of having that agency rename itself with a better symbol of Islam? Like maybe the Red Sword? or something else?

[Jim]

That is very interesting about the background of the crescent and moon related to the goddess Diana and Blessed Mary. The Red Crescent is the Muslim equivalent of the Red Cross. Have Muslims thought of having that agency rename itself with a better symbol of Islam? Like maybe the Red Sword? or something else?

Frankly bro, I havent heard or caught wind of the slightest concern over this among Muslims to change it. It is just blindly accepted by Muslims of today as their symbol of faith.

[Honu]

Maybe the star and crescent is regarded as an Islamic symbol since it is on top of every mosque the same way the cross is found on christian churches?

[jaba]

I heard a different story about the Cresent and star but I know it didn't have anything directly to do with Islam.

[Jim]

Maybe the star and crescent is regarded as an Islamic symbol since it is on top of every mosque the same way the cross is found on christian churches?

Prior to this, it was not a part of the islamic faith. It was not on any Mosque. Even our scholars agree it has no basis in Islam

Here is a salafi scholar saying such

Praise be to Allaah.

There is no basis in sharee'ah for taking the crescent or star as a symbol of the Muslims. This was not known at the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), or at the time of the Khulafa' al-Raashidoon (the first four leaders of Islam after the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), or during the time of the Umawis (Umayyad dynasty).

http://www.geocities.com/islam4allp/starcrescent.html

[Honu]

Prior to this, it was not a part of the islamic faith. It was not on any Mosque. Even our scholars agree it has no basis in Islam

Not to argue, but, why is it such a prominent Islamic symbol. I can understand it being on ME area flags but why on the tops of mosques everywhere in the world? I would have thought that at some time some major sect of Islam would have rejected the symbol. I mean no disrespect, I just don't understand it.

[Firedragon]

Im not knocking it.

I just wont stand for hypocrisy of some folks who get down on others for having fun on a day when their symbol of faith has much more questionable history than say... halloween yet we accept it openly as a symbol of Islam.

Very true.



I have also heard that Byzantium had it on their flag and this was to honour the goddes hecate.made coins with the symbols in it.Lobg before christ.

[Coexist]

That kinda gives 'evidence' to the theory that many have, saying Muslims worship a moon-god. Certainly doesn't help us much.

[Jim]

Not to argue, but, why is it such a prominent Islamic symbol. I can understand it being on ME area flags but why on the tops of mosques everywhere in the world? I would have thought that at some time some major sect of Islam would have rejected the symbol. I mean no disrespect, I just don't understand it.

It became important to the Ottoman's (Turks) because of Prophecy of the Prophet (pubh)

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said. "Verily you shall conquer Constantinople. What a wonderful leader will he be, and what a wonderful army will that army be!"

The Muslims had tried to conquer Constantinople many times but couldnt until Mehmed II (Mohammed II) of the Turks led the final decisive battle and defeated the Romans once and for all. They did it using unthinkable methods of miliitary strategy at the time.

This is why the crescent grew on importance and prominence among Muslims. They conquered the great Roman empire and did it in fulfillment of prophecy. Display of the symbol was a show of strength and might.

Here is a good article about him:

Mehmed II (reigned 1451–80)

[aladdin]

The stars and moon doesn't have any significant to Islam. One can view them that they represent the heavens above us!

[jazain]

The stars and moon doesn't have any significant to Islam. One can view them that they represent the heavens above us!

i have a certain affinity toward the symbol. i hope its not ever taken away. i know what the origins are but i tend to think more of how the months are decided by viewing the crescent especially ramadan and eid.

[Murteza]

^there nothing wrong with crecent untill u are very obsessed with it which makes u turn like crescent junkie...and the latter need some meds

[aladdin]

i have a certain affinity toward the symbol. i hope its not ever taken away. i know what the origins are but i tend to think more of how the months are decided by viewing the crescent especially ramadan and eid.

Very true!

My late father-in-law (God give him Jannat - Amin Ya'Rabb!) used to have Farmer's Almanac and he used to go fishing by this Almanac, which is based on moon seasons. A study done in Pakistan, showed that the monthly cycles of women was linked to the cycles of moon.

[Jim]

^there nothing wrong with crecent untill u are very obsessed with it which makes u turn like crescent junkie...and the latter need some meds

If someone says this, then they must also admin it is permissible for Muslims to be a part of Halloween activities

Like I said, Halloween is everyday for me anyhow

[Jim]

I moved all of the off topic to the Jibber Jabber thread

http://islamfactor.org/index.php?showtopic...amp;#entry54480