Taking the crescent and star as a symbol for Islam

Question:
What is the symbolism behind the Muslim star and crescent? I did a keyword search of your site and searched my library's reference books and cannot find anything more than a reference to the flag of the Ottoman Empire. Thank you for your interest.

Answer:

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). It emerged some time after that, and historians differ as to when this symbol was first adopted and who was the first to adopt it. Some say it was the Persians, others say it was the Greeks, and that this symbol was somehow passed to the Muslims. (See Al-Taraateeb al-Idaariyah by al-Kittaani, 1/320). It was said that the reason why the Muslims adopted the crescent was that when they conquered some western countries, the churches there had crosses on top of them, the Muslims replaced the crosses with these crescents, and the practice spread in this way. Whatever the case, symbols and banners must be in accordance with the teachings of Islam, and as there is no evidence that this symbol is prescribed by Islam, it is better not to use it. Neither the crescent nor the star are symbols of the Muslims, even though some Muslims may use them as symbols.

As regards what Muslims think about the moon and the stars, they believe that they are part of the creation of Allaah, and as such can neither benefit nor harm people, and they do not have any influence over events on earth. Allaah has created them for the benefit of mankind, an example of which is seen in the aayah or verse of the Qur’aan (interpretation of the meaning):

“They ask you (O Muhammad) about the new moons. Say: These are signs to mark fixed periods of time for mankind and for the pilgrimage…” [al-Baqarah 2:189]

[The commentator] Ibn Katheer said, explaining the phrase Say: these are signs to mark fixed periods of time: “From them (the new moons) they may know the times for repaying loans, the ‘iddah (waiting period) of their women [after being divorced or widowed] and the timing of their Hajj (pilgrimage)… Allaah has made them signs to mark the times when Muslims should start to fast and break their fast [the beginning and end of Ramadaan], to count the ‘iddah of their women and to know the times for repaying loans.” (Tafseer Ibn Katheer).

[Another commentator] Al-Qurtubi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in his commentary on this aayah [verse]: “This explains the wisdom behind the waxing and waning of the moon, which is to avoid any confusion in appointed dates, dealings, oaths, Hajj, ‘iddah, fasting, breaking fasts, length of pregnancy, rentals and other matters that concern mankind. Similar to this aayah are others (interpretation of the meanings):

‘And We have appointed the night and the day as two aayaat (signs). Then, We have made dark the sign of the night while We have made the sign of day illuminating, that you may seek bounty from your Lord, and that you may know the number of the years and the reckoning…” [al-Isra’ 17:12]

‘It is He Who made the sun a shining thing and the moon as a light and measured out its (their) stages, that you might know the number of years and the reckoning…’ [Yoonus 10:5]

Counting the new moons is easier than counting days.” (See Tafseer al-Qurtubi).

With regard to the stars, the scholars of Islam say that Allaah created these stars for three reasons: to adorn the heavens, to drive away the devils (shayaateen) and as signs for navigation. (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Kitaab Bad’ al-Khalq), as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“It is He Who has set the stars for you, so that you may guide your course with their help through the darkness of the land and the sea…” [al-An’aam 6:97]

“And indeed We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps, and We have made such lamps (as) missiles to drive away the shayaateen (devils), and have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire.” [al-Mulk 67:5]

Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

http://www.islam-qa.com/index.php?ref=1528&ln=eng&txt=star symbol

hmmmm the pakistani flag has a crescent and star on it as well

--From what I know the cresent and star symbol was first used by the christians of constantinople before Islam and the Ottomans, Once the Ottomans turks conquered the city they took that symbol from the christians because the Turks were sufis and they had many superstitious beliefs they believed if they took that symbol of their conquered land they will get good luck. The cresent initially represented Mary and the star represented Jesus which was depicted as the bright Shining Star according to their Religion of the Christians. My question is why do muslims still use this symbol as if it is part of Islam or has any thing to do with Islam and Shariah? I see many flags of countries including my own country Pakistan which uses it when it has no bases in Islam or the life of the Salaf (First 3 generations of the Muslims). Woudn't it be better if Muslims just used a plain white flag with the Shahadah on it instead of this christian cresent and star symbol?

Hanging electrically illuminated crescents and stars on the outside of buildings during Ramadaan

Question:
Here in Jordan a new tradition has appeared and become widespread, which is hanging electrically illuminated crescents and stars on the outside of buildings and balconies to celebrate the blessed month of Ramadaan, throughout the month. Is that permissible, seeing that it involves extravagance and imitation of the Christmas trees which Christians put up in December? Is the people’s ignorance a valid excuse?.


Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly:

We do not think there is anything wrong with putting up decorations such as lanterns and the like to celebrate the beginning of the blessed month of Ramadaan, but we should pay attention to a number of things, such as the following:

1. That should not be regarded as an act of worship, rather it comes under the heading of permissible customs.

2. We should not be extravagant and buy these decorations for high prices.
3. These decorations should not include any images of animate beings or include any musical devices.
4. The mosques should avoid using such decorations, because they will distract worshippers.
The scholars of the Standing Committee were asked:

There is a custom in some mosques during the days of Eid and Fitr and on other religious occasions of adorning the mosque with different kinds of colours and lights and flowers. Does Islam allow such actions or not? What is the evidence for it being permissible or otherwise?

They replied:

The mosques are the houses of Allaah, and they are the best spots on earth. Allaah has given permission for them to be built and be respected by proclaiming the Oneness of Allaah (Tawheed) and remembering Him, and for prayer to be established in them, and for the people to be taught about their religion in them and to be guided to that which will bring them happiness in this world and in the Hereafter, by cleansing them of abominations, idols, deeds of shirk, innovations and myths, and of filth and dirt and impure things, and by protecting them against idle pursuits and foolishness and raising voices, even if that is by making announcements about things that have been found and asking about something that has been lost, and other things that would make them like public streets and marketplaces. And it is forbidden to bury people in mosques, or to build mosques over graves, or to hang up pictures in mosques or draw pictures on their walls, and other things that would promote shirk or distract those who are worshipping Allaah therein and contradict the purpose for which they were built. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) paid attention to these matters, as is well known from his life story and his actions, and he taught them to his ummah so that they would follow his teachings and respect the mosque and take care of the places that were built to establish the rituals of Islam. By doing that, they are following the example of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and there is no report from him (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) which says that he venerated the mosque by illuminating it or putting flowers in it on Eids and special occasions. That was not known at the time of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs either or the time of the guided rulers during the early generations which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) testified are the best of generations, even though the people advanced and became very wealthy, and they developed a fine civilization and adopted all kinds of adornment and colours during the first three centuries. All goodness is in following the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and that of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs who came after him, and those rulers who followed their way after them.

By hanging lamps on them or putting electric lights around the outside or on the minarets, and hanging up flags and banners, and putting flowers on them on Eids and special occasions to decorate them and venerate them is an imitation of what the kuffaar do with their churches and places of worship, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) has forbidden imitating them in their festivals and worship. End quote.

Fataawa Islamiyyah (2/20, 21)

If the lighting in the mosque is sufficient there is no legitimate reason for adding anything else that serves no purpose, and that money should be used for something else.

Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn Taymiyah (31/206).

Secondly:

It should be noted that taking the star and crescent as a symbol of the Muslims has no basis in sharee’ah, and it was not known at the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or the time of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs, or even at the time of the Umayyads. Rather it was introduced after that. Whatever the case, flags and banners should be in accordance with sharee’ah, and as there is no evidence that this (the crescent and star symbol) is prescribed in Islam, it is better to avoid it. The crescent and star is not a symbol of the Muslims, even though some Muslims have adopted it.

This has also been discussed in the answer to question no. 1528.

And Allaah knows best.

Islam Q&A

jazaka Allah khairan, I didn't know this & I have always wodered why "islamic symbol" was like this. But now I know!

Nu'ayman said:

Salaam

then why does turntoislam has it? On top right?????

Click to expand...

:salam2:

This is because our holliest mosques in Makkah and Medina also have hilaals on their minaret tops. Maybe the artist had the minarets of Masjid al-Haram in mind.

Not only the crescents but also much of the architecture, which everybody considers today "islamic architecture" and which can be seen even in our holliest sites, was actually inspired by the architecture of the churches. In the "islamic art", which is based on geometric figures, we have chinese inspiration. This is because we are living in a real world and it is perfectly normal, that we have a drift in our aesthetic sense because of the "others" and we cause a drift in the aesthetic sense of others. Our mosques today do not have the same architecture as they had in the time of the Prophet. Many of the oldest mosques have now got american influences with tinted glasses and straight lined structures.

And what about the green colour? I don't know, why it has become the colour of Islam. I can only think of the green dome on the Prophet's grave, which could have caused it.

If we recall the story, when sahaba were discussing, how people should be called for the prayer, we can feel, that it was perfectly normal for them to get their inspiration from the traditions of the people of the book.

In short, things get evolve with the time, we like them or not. But what we should watch out is, what is pure and what is impure, what is ethical and what is unethical. Our dresses may change with the time but we must watch out, that they do not become unethical. Similarly, if crescent, star, green colour, geometic figures and a certain architecture is associated to muslims today, more things might come in future. What we must watch out is, that we do not associate superstitions with them, because that would be unislamic and unethical. Otherwise the symbols will come and go.