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The ''' | The '''crescent [[moon]] and star''', as with the Cross for Christianity and the Star of David for Judaism, is today a common and almost universal symbol for [[Islam]]. | ||
It is used on countless mosques and minarets, by charities,<ref>[http://www.ifrc.org/en/ International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies]</ref> and as part of the flags for various Muslim nations, including, [[Algeria]], [[Azerbaijan]], [[Comoros Islands]], [[Malaysia]], [[Maldives]], [[Mauritania]], [[Pakistan]], [[Tunisia]], [[Turkey]], [[Turkmenistan]], Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, [[Uzbekistan]], and Western Sahara.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.fotw.net/flags/isl-ori.html|2=2011-05-09}} Islamic flags] - Flags Of The World, October 18, 2008</ref> | It is used on countless mosques and minarets, by charities,<ref>[http://www.ifrc.org/en/ International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies]</ref> and as part of the flags for various Muslim nations, including, [[Algeria]], [[Azerbaijan]], [[Comoros Islands]], [[Malaysia]], [[Maldives]], [[Mauritania]], [[Pakistan]], [[Tunisia]], [[Turkey]], [[Turkmenistan]], Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, [[Uzbekistan]], and Western Sahara.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.fotw.net/flags/isl-ori.html|2=2011-05-09}} Islamic flags] - Flags Of The World, October 18, 2008</ref> | ||
== Origins and adoption == | |||
The '''Crescent moon''' was originally the symbol of [[Hubal]], the moon god worshiped by [[Paganism|Pagans]] at the [[Kaaba|Ka'aba]].<ref>Karen Armstrong (2000, 2002) - [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Islam-Short-History-Universal/dp/1842125834 Islam: A Short History] - p. 11. ISBN 0-8129-6618-x.</ref> | |||
However, in 1453 the crescent and star symbols were not a part of any known Byzantine flags,<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/gr_byz.html|2=2011-05-09}} Byzantine Empire] - Flags Of The World, April 24, 2010</ref> and they were already widely used in different parts of the Muslim world, long before the fall of Constantinople. | It has been claimed that it was not 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".<ref>Christine Huda Dodge - [{{Reference archive|1=http://islam.about.com/od/history/a/crescent_moon.htm|2=2011-05-09}} Crescent Moon - Symbol of Islam?] - About.com, accessed May 9, 2011</ref> However, in 1453 the crescent and star symbols were not a part of any known Byzantine flags,<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/gr_byz.html|2=2011-05-09}} Byzantine Empire] - Flags Of The World, April 24, 2010</ref> and they were already widely used in different parts of the Muslim world, long before the fall of Constantinople. | ||
A few examples include; Islamic coins from as early as the 7<sup>th</sup> century,<ref>S. Album & T. Goodwin - [http://www.amazon.com/Sylloge-Islamic-Coins-Ashmolean-Pre-Reform/dp/1854441736 Syllogue Of Islamic Coins In The Ashmolean - The Pre-Reform Coinage Of The Early Islamic Period] - 2002, Volume I, Ashmolean Museum: Oxford (UK), pp. 6-7</ref> [[Egypt|Egyptian]] and [[Syria|Syrian]] jewellery from the 11<sup>th</sup> century,<ref>"[http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/30.95.37 Pendant (Egypt) (30.95.37)]". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. (October 2006)</ref><ref>"[http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1979.278.2ab Pair of earrings (Greater Syria) (1979.278.2ab)]". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. (October 2006)</ref> Persian armor of the 10<sup>th</sup>-12<sup>th</sup> century, and paintings and drawings depicting Islamic mosques from areas, which then were not covered by the Ottoman Empire and from the times before the fall of Constantinople.<ref>"[http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1994.232.4 Possibly Mir Khalil and Ja'far: Laila and Majnun at School: Page from the Khamsa of Nizami (Quintet of Nizami) (1994.232.4)]". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. (October 2008)</ref> | A few examples include; Islamic coins from as early as the 7<sup>th</sup> century,<ref>S. Album & T. Goodwin - [http://www.amazon.com/Sylloge-Islamic-Coins-Ashmolean-Pre-Reform/dp/1854441736 Syllogue Of Islamic Coins In The Ashmolean - The Pre-Reform Coinage Of The Early Islamic Period] - 2002, Volume I, Ashmolean Museum: Oxford (UK), pp. 6-7</ref> [[Egypt|Egyptian]] and [[Syria|Syrian]] jewellery from the 11<sup>th</sup> century,<ref>"[http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/30.95.37 Pendant (Egypt) (30.95.37)]". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. (October 2006)</ref><ref>"[http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1979.278.2ab Pair of earrings (Greater Syria) (1979.278.2ab)]". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. (October 2006)</ref> Persian armor of the 10<sup>th</sup>-12<sup>th</sup> century, and paintings and drawings depicting Islamic mosques from areas, which then were not covered by the Ottoman Empire and from the times before the fall of Constantinople.<ref>"[http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1994.232.4 Possibly Mir Khalil and Ja'far: Laila and Majnun at School: Page from the Khamsa of Nizami (Quintet of Nizami) (1994.232.4)]". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. (October 2008)</ref> | ||
== Admissibility in Islam == | |||
Many scholars of Islam have raised objection to the use of the crescent moon and star as a "symbol of Islam", citing Islam's strict position against iconography.<ref><nowiki>https://islamqa.info/en/answers/1528/taking-the-crescent-as-a-symbol</nowiki> (salafi/hanbali)</ref><ref><nowiki>https://islamqa.org/hanafi/askimam/13035</nowiki> (hanafi)</ref> | |||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
{{Hub4|Moon|the Moon}} | {{Hub4|Moon|the Moon}} | ||
{{Hub4|Paganism|Islam and Paganism}} | {{Hub4|Paganism|Islam and Paganism}} | ||