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Is Crescent Moon Symbol of Islam?
There is a misconception amongst some of the non-muslims that Crescent moon is a symbol of Islam, and some go as far as saying that Muslims take it as their God(which is not true at all).
The crescent moon and star symbol actually pre-dates Islam by
several thousand years. Information on the origins of the symbol are difficult
to ascertain, but most sources agree that these ancient celestial symbols were
in use by the peoples of Central Asia and Siberia in their worship of sun, moon,
and sky gods. There are also reports that the crescent moon and star were used
to represent the Carthaginian goddess Tanit or the Greek goddess Diana.
The city of Byzantium (later known as Constantinople and Istanbul) adopted the
crescent moon symbol. According to some reports, they chose it in honor of the
goddess Diana. Others indicate that it dates back to a battle in which the
Romans defeated the Goths on the first day of a lunar month. In any event, the
crescent moon was featured on the city's flag even before the birth of Christ.
The early Muslim community did not really have a symbol. During the time of the
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) Islamic armies and caravans
flew simple solid-colored flags (generally black, green, or white) for
identification purposes. In later generations, the Muslim leaders continued to
use a simple black, white, or green flag with no markings, writing, or symbolism
on it.
It wasn’t 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. Legend
holds that the founder of the Ottoman Empire, Othman, had a dream in which the
crescent moon stretched from one end of the earth to the other. Taking this as a
good omen, he chose to keep the crescent and make it the symbol of his dynasty.
There is speculation that the five points on the star represent the five daily
prayers, but this is pure conjecture. The five points were not standard on the
Ottoman flags, and it is also not standard on flags used in the Muslim world
today.
For hundreds of years, the Ottoman Empire ruled over the Muslim world. After
centuries of battle with Christian Europe, it is understandable how the symbols
of this empire became linked in people’s minds with the faith of Islam as a
whole.
archived from History Islam group
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