The Star and 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.
The fact that there is a significant difference between
'symbols of the Islamic faith' and 'symbols adopted by
Muslims'. The symbols of the Islamic faith are only those,
which have been declared as symbols by the Qur'an or the
Sunnah of the Prophet (Peace be Upon him). These may
include the Ka`bah, the black stone of the Ka`bah
etc. All these things symbolize one or the other major
reality ascribed to by the Islamic faith.
History of the origin in the usage of the Crescent and
Star:
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.
The Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam)'s Flag
As to what the actual Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi
wassallam) used, we find some very interesting information.
It has been reported that the Holy Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi
wassallam)'s first standard or flag was a black flag to
contradict the white flag of the Quraish, who had a black
eagle on it as well. The earliest such flag or banner used by
the Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) was a sable curtain
which hung in the chamber of his wife, Ayesha (R.A.) In the
center, the Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) attached a
white cloth which was a turban that he captured from the city
of Boreide. On it was written the inscription, Nasr um min
Allah, which meant "the help of Allah." Most appropriate.
One can see how powerful a symbol this was to be used as a
banner or flag.
In modern times, some governments, like Saudi Arabia, prefer
not to use the star and crescent of the Turkish government,
but instead use a plain green field with the shaha'da
on it in white. There is also a white sword underneath.
Several modern day Muslims use the shaha'da in white on a
green field as their way of showing they are Muslim.
Moonsighting: The Hilaal:
There is no symbolic significance of the Crescent in Islam.
No special event of Islamic history or faith is associated
with it. People of Arabia been had associated with many
superstitions concerning different forms of crescent. The
answer of Quran to them is the same: They ask you
concerning crescent. Say, they are but signs to mark fixed
periods of time for men... (2:189).
With a crescent, starts a new month of Islamic calendar and
it is religiously important for the Muslims to keep track of
moon cycles as fixed dates of the year are set for rituals
like fasting and Hajj. Quran has recognized the importance of
both solar and lunar systems of reckoning of time. The sun
and the moon follow courses (exactly) computed (55:5) and
(God has created) the sun and moon for the reckoning (of
time). Such is the ordinance of the Exalted in power, the
Omniscient (6:96). The length of a day is to be counted
on the basis of earths revolution around its axis. Each new
date starts with the sunset. The months are to be reckoned on
the basis of cycles of moon, so the Islamic rituals gradually
rotate in all the seasons of the year for the people of
northern and southern hemispheres. A lunar year as you know
is about 10 days shorter than the solar year. The length of
the fasting time (from dawn to sunset) in a day in the
fasting month of Ramadhan when drinking water is also
prohibited during fasting, also gradually varies, with each
year, for all the people of the earth. If the fasting was
observed in a solar month, say January, then the length of
fasting time in a day for the people of the northern
hemisphere would always be shorter than for the people of the
other half. The thirst of water will be no problem for
northern people while their counterparts will always observe
fasts in longer days of fierce summers. Keeping track of a
crescent is more important for Muslims than any other
religious community who follow the lunar calendar for their
religious occasions. Fasting for consecutive 29 or 30 days is
compulsory for all Muslims in the 9th month of Islamic
Calendar. The first date of the month starts with the sunset
and Taraweeh (Additional long prayers in the 9th month named
Ramadhan) have to be started a short while after the start of
the date. It is important that the starting of the month is
known precisely. The crescent is visible only for a short
duration after the sunset on the first date of the new lunar
month. On its first date, the moon sets only a little after
the sunset. Sometimes because of its faint light and
sometimes because of clouds or dust it cannot be seen. The
occurrence of crescent may not necessarily be announced on
the basis of news from other places, as for people on eastern
longitudes it might not have occurred before the moonset time
while those in west had witnessed it. By traditions the
Muslims have been relying on actual sighting of the moon for
starting their month of Ramadhan. Similarly the first date of
the 10th month is their festival of Eid. It is obligatory
that nobody keep fast on the day of Eid. The Muslims all over
the world anxiously try to see the moon on the evening of the
29th day of fasting in Ramadhan. Where it is not visible, the
month of Ramadhan is taken as of 30 days for that place.
The significance of tracking the crescent for observing the
religious rituals and feasts in Islam has been explained
above. It does not assume any symbolic significance of
any kind whatsoever. There are no such symbols representing
Islam like in almost all other religions. When the seat of
power of the Islamic world shifted to Turks from Arabs, and
Muslim dynasties spread in Central Asia and other parts of
the world, many people under the cultural influence of other
religions, felt the need of a distinct symbol. They started
using crescent as their distinct mark. The use of crescent as
a mark by some people is a gradual innovation instead of
being associated with any tenet or historical event of Islam.
Now, as Muslims, why should we be so concerned about all
this? Well, for one thing we should never want to look to any
person, nation, government or anything as a source of
guidance or direction over Allah. To do so would be shirk.
No one is worthy of that honor except Allah, the Almighty.
There are several Muslim countries that currently feature the
crescent moon and star symbol on their national flag. Even
more have used the symbol previously in history, but the
color, size, orientation, and design features continue to
vary widely from country to country. It is also interesting
to note the diversity of the countries represented. The
majority of these countries are not Arabic-speaking, but
rather are part of the greater Muslim World. Some Countries
that use the crescent and the star are: Algeria, Azerbaijan,
Comoros, Malaysia,Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, Tunisia,
Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
What does all this have to do with the symbol of the 'star
and the crescent'? Well, for one thing, both symbols, the
star and the crescent, come from the false worship or
adoration for someone other than Allah. In the case of the
crescent, it was the goddess Diana and with the star
it was Mary (Peace be upon her), the mother of Jesus
(Peace be upon him). As much as we love and respect
Mary(Maryam- Peace be upon her), the mother of Jesus, peace
and blessings be on her, she is not worthy of worship and she
would be the first to tell you so. For that matter neither is
Musa (Moses) or 'Isa (Jesus) or even our beloved Prophet
Muhammad, peace and blessings be on all of them . Nor is the
Qur'an worthy of worship or the entire record of ahadith or
the two Holy Mosques or the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs (R.A.)
or anything in this universe, past, present or future. Only
Allah stands alone as worthy of worship. Yet some of us carry
these symbols around as an expression of identity with those
very beings and are proud to associate ourselves as Muslims
by them.
Proper attention should be given, however, to the use of a
symbol or icon that at one time represented the worship of a
goddess or to one that symbolizes our 'godly' adoration for a
righteous person whom some may place on the same plane of
reverence reserved only for Allah. May Allah guide us as we
search to perfect our worship of Him as He has perfected our
religion. In the end we all return to Him and He will teach
us what was best; for He is the best to decide (10:108-109).
Therefore, in Conclusion, due to the history of the
CRESCENT and STAR, one should be cautious in it's usage on
letterheads, minarets, flags, masjids etc. as a symbol that
represents ISLAM.
Compiled by AL-ISLAAH PUBLICATIONS