Symbols of Islam: Difference between revisions

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Islamic symbols are non-textualm non-verbal visual

symbols that have been used, or are used, to express identification with Islam or a particular tradition within Islam, to evoke feelings of joy, sadness, devotion, etc., or even to stand for beliefs and ideas. Some symbols, such as the color green, have been associated with Islam for a long time and in many areas; others are of more limited duration and extent. Muslim art often uses such symbols to represent complex ideas (see Iconography). architecture may also incorporate such symbols in the decoration of religious edifices such as mosques, khanqahs, dargahs

, etc.

Star and crescent

The

Islamic world, notably Turkey and Pakistan

.

The crescent and star are believed to be the traditional insignia of the city of

Ottoman empire, which ruled much of the Middle East and North Africa for centuries. The Ottomans claimed to have inherited the caliphate

and the right to represent all Islam; hence their star and crescent banner was, for a time, the banner of much of Sunni Islam.

However, some say that the crescent and star are ultimately derived from the cult of the goddess Diana or Artemis, the Greek and Roman goddess of the moon, and that they were retained even after the Roman Empire converted to Christianity. As it was once a symbol of a non-Muslim faith, the star and crescent, say these critics, is not a fit symbol for Islam. ^{[citation needed]}

Zulfiqar

Ali ibn Abi Talib

. Ali is believed to have been a prodigious warrior who performed miracles of valor with this sword. Hence Zulfiqar symbolizes both his inheritance of power and authority from Muhammad (at least in Shi'a eyes) and his great bravery.

Colors

In early accounts of Muslim warfare, there are references to flags or battle standards of various colors: black, white, red, and greenish-black. Later Islamic dynasties adopted flags of different colors:

The
Umayyads
fought under white banners
The
Abbasids
chose black
The
Fatimids
used green
Various countries on the Persian Gulf have chosen red flags

These four colors, white, black, green and red, dominate the flags of Arab states. See [1] and [2].

The color white symbolises purity and peace. Many Muslims wear the color white when they attend Friday prayers.

The color black is often considered the color of mourning. It is often worn by Shi'a Muslims, who mourn the death of

sayids, men who descend from Muhammad though his daughter Fatima

and his son-in-law Ali.

While the color red has no special significance in Islam, it is commonly used on the flags of Muslim countries. Also, the

Red Cross

.

The color

Qur'ans, the silken covers for the graves of Sufi

saints, and in the flags of various Muslim countries.

The color green has been associated with Islam for many centuries. It is not clear why this is so. Some say green was Muhammad’s favorite color and that he wore a green cloak and turban. Others believe that it symbolizes nature and life, hence the physcial manifestation of God. In the Qur'an {Surah 18:31), it is said that the inhabitants of paradise will wear green garments of fine silk. While the reference to the Qur'an is verifiable, it is not clear if other explanations are reliable or mere folklore. Regardless of its origins, the color green has been firmly cemented in Islamic culture for centuries. During the Crusades, Crusaders avoided using any green in their coats of arms, so that they could not possibly be mistaken for their Muslim opponents in the heat of battle.

External links

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 {{Islam}}
+'''Islamic symbols''' are non-textualm non-verbal ''visual'' [[symbols]] that have been used, or are used, to express identification with [[Islam]] or a particular tradition within Islam, to evoke feelings of joy, sadness, devotion, etc., or even to stand for beliefs and ideas. Some symbols, such as the color green, have been associated with Islam for a long time and in many areas; others are of more limited duration and extent. [[Islamic art|Muslim art]] often uses such symbols to represent complex ideas (see [[Iconography]]). [[Islamic architecture|architecture]] may also incorporate such symbols in the decoration of religious edifices such as [[mosque]]s, [[khanqah]]s, [[dargah]]s, etc.
-'''Islamic symbols''' refers to various symbols that are used to represent [[Islam]]. These symbols usually have a cultural or spiritual significance. Cultural symbols, such as [[Islamic art|Muslim art]] or [[Islamic architecture|architecture]], is usually specific to a region, place and era. Spiritual symbols are more universal, but less commonly used. Some spiritual symbols may be representative of God.
 ==Star and crescent==
-The [[star and crescent]] is a well-known symbol of Islam. It features prominently on the flags of many countries in the [[Islamic world]], notably [[Turkey]] and [[Pakistan]]. [[Muslim]]s consider the crescent a symbol of Islam, but the crescent is not venerated as [[sacred]] because it is regarded as a creation of [[Allah]]. There are no "art works" prescribed by the [[Qur'an]] or [[Hadith]] as "[[symbol]]s" of [[Islam]], but there are some ''Sha'air'' or signs (of memory) initiated by the Qur'an. Most of the [[Hajj]] rituals are signs of memory of [[Abraham]]'s family.
+The [[star and crescent]] is commonly regarded as a symbol of Islam. It is featured prominently on the flags of many countries in the [[Islamic world]], notably [[Turkey]] and [[Pakistan]].
+The crescent and star are believed to be the traditional insignia of the city of [[Istanbul]], formerly the [[Byzantine empire|Byzantine]] capital of Constantinople. They were proudly adopted by the [[Seljuk]] Turks when they conquered Constantinople and put an end to many centuries of Byzantine rule. The Seljuks established the [[Ottoman empire]], which ruled much of the Middle East and North Africa for centuries. The Ottomans claimed to have inherited the [[caliphate]] and the right to represent all Islam; hence their star and crescent banner was, for a time, the banner of much of Sunni Islam.
-Contrary to popular belief, the symbol is not Muslim in origin. Rather, it was a [[polytheism|polytheistic]] icon adopted during the spread of Islam, and its use today is controversial among the Islamic world {{fact}}. The crescent and star are misunderstood to be Islamic symbols, but historians say that they were the insignia of the [[Ottoman Empire]], not of Islam as a whole.
+However, some say that the crescent and star are ultimately derived from the cult of the goddess [[Diana]] or [[Artemis]], the Greek and Roman goddess of the moon, and that they were retained even after the Roman Empire converted to Christianity. As it was once a symbol of a non-Muslim faith, the star and crescent, say these critics, is not a fit symbol for Islam. {{fact}}
-It is important to keep in mind that Islam has few traditional symbols, and the Crescent moon and star are not ones that are recognized by as traditional symbols by Muslims. The symbol is due to cultural diffusion and the spread of Islam to the Ottoman turks who ruled a large area and also put the Crescent moon & star symbol on their flag. It has since become associated with Islam.
-The [[shi'ite]] Muslims typically identify with a sword that holds its significance with [[Ali]], who most Muslims believe fought with this sword and his life for Islam.
+==Zulfiqar==
-==Symbols in the Holy Scriptures==
+[[Shi'a]] Muslims believe that [[Muhammad]] carried a sword called [[Zulfiqar]], which was inherited by his son-in-law [[Ali ibn Abi Talib]]. Ali is believed to have been a prodigious warrior who performed miracles of valor with this sword. Hence Zulfiqar symbolizes both his inheritance of power and authority from Muhammad (at least in Shi'a eyes) and his great bravery.
-In the Muslim Holy Scriptures, the [[Quran]], various symbols are given. These symbols are said to be "signs of God".
-The [[Surah]] [[Rum]] (Romans) gives six of the many signs of God:
-#Mankind, humans
-#Love between men and women
-#Diversity of races and cultures in the heavens and earth
-#Sleeping and working, and the cycle of night and day
-#Lightning, rain, and the weather phenomenon
-#Biological diversity in the heavens and earth
 ==Colors==
@@ Line 34: / Line 23: @@
 These four colors, white, black, green and red, dominate the flags of Arab states. See [http://www.fotw.net/flags/islam.html] and [http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/197802/flags.of.the.arab.world.htm].
-The color white symbolises purity and [[peace]], two concepts that Muslims strongly associate with their religion (one of the meanings of [[Islam]] is peace).  Many Muslims specifically wear the color white when they attend Friday prayers.
+The color white symbolises purity and [[peace]]. Many Muslims wear the color white when they attend Friday prayers.
+The color black is often considered the color of mourning. It is often worn by Shi'a Muslims, who mourn the death of [[Husayn ibn Ali]], killed at the [[Battle of Karbala]]. It is the color of the [[chador]] worn by devout [[Iran]]ian Shi'a women and of the cloaks worn by the [[ayatollah]]s, the Shi'a clergy. In many countries, a black [[turban]] is worn only by male [[sayid]]s, men who descend from [[Muhammad]] though his daughter [[Fatima]] and his son-in-law Ali.
-The color black is that of mourning associated with Shi'a Islam. This color is mostly worn by Ayotallahs and Shia leaders. It is also commonly worn during the first ten days of Muharram.
-While the color red has no significance in Islam, it is commonly used on the flags of Muslim countries. The [[Red Crescent]], is also the Muslim equivalent of the [[Red Cross]].
+While the color red has no special significance in Islam, it is commonly used on the flags of Muslim countries. Also, the [[Red Crescent]] is the Muslim equivalent of the [[Red Cross]].
+The color [[green]] has a special place in Islam. It is used in the decoration of mosques, the bindings of [[Qur'an]]s, the silken covers for the graves of [[Sufism|Sufi]] saints, and in the flags of various Muslim countries.
-The color [[green]] has a special place in Islam, and is often used to represent it among other world religions. One can often find it in [[mosque]]s and other important places, as well as on the flags of Muslim countries. Some say green was [[Muhammad]]’s favorite color and that he wore a green cloak and [[turban]]. Others believe that it symbolizes nature and life, hence the physcial manifestation of [[God]]. In the Qur'an {Surah 18:31), it is said that the inhabitants of paradise will wear green garments of fine [[silk]]. While the reference to the Qur'an is verifiable, it is not clear if other explanations are reliable or mere folklore. Regardless of its origins, the color green has been firmly cemented in Islamic culture for centuries; for example, while it is absent in many [[medieval Europe]]an coats of arms as during the [[Crusades]], green was the color used by the Islamic soldiers.
+The color green has been associated with Islam for many centuries. It is not clear why this is so. Some say green was [[Muhammad]]’s favorite color and that he wore a green cloak and [[turban]]. Others believe that it symbolizes nature and life, hence the physcial manifestation of [[God]]. In the Qur'an {Surah 18:31), it is said that the inhabitants of paradise will wear green garments of fine [[silk]]. While the reference to the Qur'an is verifiable, it is not clear if other explanations are reliable or mere folklore. Regardless of its origins, the color green has been firmly cemented in Islamic culture for centuries. During the [[Crusades]], Crusaders avoided using any green in their [[Heraldry|coats of arms]], so that they could not possibly be mistaken for their Muslim opponents in the heat of battle.
-==Others==
-Amongst buildings, the [[Kaaba]], [[Dome of the Rock]], a minaret accompanied with a dome, As-Safa wal Marwa and other famous mosques are considered appropriate symbols of Islam.
-The [[Adhan]], also considered symbolic, is exclusively unique to Islam.
-Many events are also considered by some to be sacred in Islam. The [[martyrdom]] of [[Husayn bin Ali]] ([[Aashura]]) is widely interpreted by [[Shi'a]] as a symbol of the struggle against injustice, tyranny, and oppression.
-The gardens of the [[Mughal Empire]] in [[India]] were symbols of [[Jannah]] (Islamic concept of [[paradise]]).
-== References ==
-* ''Hujjat-ul-llahi-l-Balighah'' by Shah Wali Ullah Dehlvi
 == External links ==
 * [http://www.hinduonnet.com/folio/fo0006/00060090.htm Islamic symbolism in India]
 * [http://www.arcane-archive.org/religion/sufic-islamic-symbolism-1.php Sufic symbolism]
-* [http://www.religioperennis.org/Document/Blackhshirst/Islam.html The symbolism of Islamic prayer]
 {{Islam-stub}}