Instead, the leading theory among most Islamic scholars is the fact that various iterations of the Crescent symbol have been used in the Middle East for millennia, going as far back as the formation of the Parthian Empire. However, as Constantinople followed the Christian faith, many Islamic historians reject this idea. Some historians speculate that the Ottoman Turks adopted it after conquering Constantinople, as the Crescent Moon was a common Byzantian symbol. True Origin of the Star and CrescentĪs for the true Ottoman origin of the Star and Crescent sign and its meaning – that is not entirely clear. In fact, supporters of the use of the Star and Crescent symbol as an Islamic symbol have even found certain passages in the Quran which can be interpreted as supporting the use of the symbol even though the Quran was written long before the formation of the Ottoman Empire. They did adopt it over time from the Islamic states they had conquered, however, and, as a part of the “cultural diffusion”, Islam adopted the Star and Crescent symbol. When the Ottoman Turks conquered the Middle East, Northern Africa, and much of Eastern Europe, they didn’t initially follow Islam. While Turkey is predominantly Muslim today, that wasn’t always the case. The Star and Crescent was the symbol of the Ottoman Turks. ![]() In the case of the Star and Crescent symbol, the symbol originated in the Ottoman Empire, the predecessor of modern-day Turkey. an interchange of cultural symbols, ideas, styles, etc. In fact, historians view this sign as a “case of cultural diffusion”, i. A Case of Cultural DiffusionĪs for how the symbol originated – it wasn’t an Islamic symbol at all. ![]() So much so that you can now find the Star and Crescent symbol over most Muslim mosques and even on the flags of some Islamic countries such as Pakistan, Turkey, Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria. While that’s not necessarily the case according to all religious leaders, the majority of Muslim followers do revere this symbol as a holy representation of their religious faith. Most people today recognize the Star and Crescent symbol as the official symbol of Islam. In this list, we’ve also included colors that hold deep, symbolic meanings for Muslims. Most of them are simple words or phrases written in Arabic that have deep religious meanings and so Muslims have started using them as symbols. ![]() The Most Popular Symbols of IslamĮven though written symbols are not officially recognized by Muslim authorities, multiple symbols have been formed and recognized by the broader Muslim population over the years. However, as people are naturally drawn to symbols as easy representations of ideas, there have been many Islamic symbols developed over the years with or without the support of Muslim leaders and authorities. ![]() This means that, unlike the Christian cross or the Star of David of Judaism, Islam doesn’t have an official symbol. Muslim authorities have been prohibiting the use of any geometric shape or symbol as a representation of Islam since the religion’s very inception. The official position of Islam is that no “holy symbols” should be worshipped and revered. Let’s explore the status of symbols in Islam and the most popular Islamic symbols that hold meaning for its followers. While there are several meaningful Islamic symbols out there, some specifics about Islam make it less focused on written and painted symbols compared to other religions. With a rich history and cultural heritage spanning a millennium and a half, you’d think that there are thousands of fascinating Islamic symbols we can explore. Islam is currently the second most popular religion in the world with nearly 2 billion followers all over the globe.
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