Crescent moon and the star: Are they really symbols of Islam?
By: ANAS ZUBEDY
This article may surprise some. However, I hope many will find it educational or perhaps, a little enlightening.
Are the crescent moon and star the symbols of Islam? The answer is obvious but it will need some unpacking.
Let us start by asking the most important question. Did the Prophet use them as the symbol of Islam? The answer is a definite, NO. Neither did the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali.
While today the crescent moon and star are frequently seen on flags, mosques, and other Islamic art, paving for the perception that they are the symbols of the faith, this is in actual fact a fairly recent construct.
The crescent moon and star are not an official divinely intended symbol of Islam. Neither the Quran nor the Hadith collection provides any specific passage that asserts, endorses or suggests the crescent moon and star (or any other objects of creation) as a religious symbol for Islam.
Be that as it may, the Quran speaks extensively about celestial objects. The moon for example, has many mentions and a few times in tandem with the sun especially within the context of time and its cycles (Quran 41:37, 21:33, etc). The Quran also describes the creation of the universe (Quran 21:30, 7:54, etc), the expanding universe (Quran 51:47) and the creation of the earth (Quran 41:9-10).
The celestial verses in the Quran basically highlights their creation, purpose and orderly cosmic structure that follows the laws of the universe as ordained by God.
The Quran stresses the idea that the universe is not random or chaotic, but rather governed by principles that God has programmed within His creation. Like gravity – how not only the clusters of galaxies are bound together by gravity, often containing hundreds or thousands of galaxies within them the solar, planetary and stellar systems exist, but also the possibility of life on earth.
These orderly unchanging laws of the universe are God’s favour to mankind.
They give us the stability and certainty about the cosmos that we live in. Therefore, we can plan and live our lives. To tell time, navigate travels, innovate and build structures and machines, plant crops, to contemplate time, space, matter or simply to have the pleasure of enjoying its artistic beauty (Quran 37:6, 67:5, etc).
Yet, there is a big BUT. They are all but His creations. Nothing more, nothing less. The core Quranic and Prophetic guidance and message is to remember that they are not to be made an object of worship or of servitude (Quran 41:37).
Its evolution towards becoming symbol of Islam
How then did the crescent and star become strongly associated as the symbol of Islam?
The crescent and star association with Islam as a symbol is a recent historical construct rooted in the cultural and political history of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans ruled a large portion of the Islamic world for almost six hundred years.
The Ottomans displayed the crescent and star on flags, naval ensigns, and the tops of minarets, including mosques. The crescent moon and star as a symbol became the Ottoman’s official national flag in 1844.
When the Ottoman Empire collapsed, Turkey adopted the same symbol although today the crescent moon and star represents a myriad of meanings like good luck, freedom, hope, and the union of modernism and tradition besides Ottoman’s glorious past.
Many Muslim majority countries like Pakistan, Mauritania, Algeria, Libya and Malaysia adopted the same symbol, too. Singapore a Muslim minority nation, has the crescent moon and star on their flag due to the nation’s political and cultural history with Malaysia.
Saudi Arabia’s flag did not adopt the crescent moon and star. The Kingdom of Saudi considered the star and crescent as not part of the Islamic faith as it is not rooted in Islamic scripture or early Islamic history.
Saudi Arabia’s goal is to reflect a focus on the origins and foundational teachings of Islam, rather than a continuation of the Ottomans’ tradition. Bangladesh and Indonesia have their own reasons not to adopt the crescent moon and star on their respective flags, too.
What inspired the Ottomans to use the crescent and star as their symbol?
The crescent moon and star symbol has a long, rich and complex history predating Prophet Muhammad. Before the crescent and star symbol gained prominence within the Muslim world through the Ottomans, it was a symbol used by ancient civilizations like the Akkadians dating back to 2300 BC.
Archaeologists discovered many Mesopotamian kudurrus, depictions of the “astral triad” portraying the symbols of the three main astral deities: the sun-God Shamash, the moon-God Nanaya/Sin, and the Goddess Ishtar.
While the Quran does not use the term astral triad, some Muslim scholars link the Quran’s story about Abraham’s journey towards monotheism (Quran 6:76-79, 2:102, 7:54) with the concept.
The crescent moon became the symbol of the Greco-Roman Byzantine Empire around 300 BC and became the distinct symbol of the city of Byzantium (later named Constantinople).
Accordingly, it originated from the cult of the goddess Hecate, who was revered as a protector of the city. Greek mythology tells the story of how she saved Byzantium from an attack by Philip II of Macedon. By the first century the symbol was also found on Byzantine coins and military insignia.
The Byzantine Empire, with Constantinople as its capital, lasted for over 1000 years, until the city was captured by the Ottomans in 1453. The Ottoman Empire adopted the crescent moon and star as their symbol soon after.
Conclusion: What is the symbol of Islam?
The crescent moon is not a religious symbol in the strict sense. Today Muslims adopt it with various interpretations. There are those who explain that the five-pointed star reflects the Five Pillars of Islam, the central faith of Sunni Muslims.
Some also relate it to the greatness of the creator. In the context of the holy month of Ramadan, they reflect the beauty of the cyclical nature of time and the celebration of Eid. Some Muslims disagree about the crescent moon and star being a symbol of Islam, in toto.
Personally, I do not feel that Islam can be represented by any external symbols. Islam can only be represented by good Islamic practices, our deeds. Defending external symbols as Islamic symbols are futile attempts.
This is especially true when dealing with thoughtless people who belittle any symbols assigned to the faith. The Quran’s guidance in dealing with these individuals is practical and wise.
“The ˹true˺ servants of the Most Compassionate are those who walk on the earth humbly, and when the foolish address them ˹improperly˺, they only respond with peace.” Quran 25:63
I would like to conclude this article by sharing a dozen Islamic practices that can represent the true symbols of Islam through deeds.
1. Practice mercy. Be like the Prophet (Quran 21:107)
2. Be just and fair. (Quran 4:58)
3. Do not lie. (Quran 2:42, 16:116)
4. Keep your promises and agreements. (Quran 17:34)
5. Be truthful (9:119)
6. Repel evil with goodness (Quran 41:34)
7. Be kind to parents (Quran 17:23)
8. Help the poor and needy (Quran 2:215)
9. Work and strive hard, avoid being lazy (Quran 53:39)
10. Read, study, increase in knowledge and skills (Quran 96:1, 20:114)
11. Do not practice double standards (Quran 83:1-6)
12. Aim to die an Abrar* (Quran 3:193, 2:177)
“And say, “Do [as you will], for Allah will see your deeds, and [so, will] His Messenger and the believers. And you will be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, and He will inform you of what you used to do.” (Quran 9:105)