2006-10-07 05:39:02 · 12 answers · asked by ~Hanan~ 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No they are not.
They started to be taken as symbols only by the othmanic turks
2006-10-07 05:41:01 · answer #1 · answered by Kimo 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The star and crescent is a symbol consisting of a crescent with a star at the concave side. In its modern form, the star is usually shown with five points (though in earlier centuries a higher number of points was often used). It is often regarded as a symbol of Islam.
In Unicode, the "Star and crescent" symbol is U+262A (☪).
Historical Symbol
The star and crescent historically was a symbol of the Ottoman Empire, but later became associated with Islam in general. Now its popularity among Muslims makes it comparable to the Christian cross and the Star of David. Many Muslim nations such as Pakistan use it on their national flag, as does the secular Republic of Turkey, the successor state to the Ottoman Empire.
The crescent moon and star symbol actually pre-dates Islam by several thousand years.[1] 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. The star and crescent (with the crescent under the star, which was simply a round circle) were also widely used in ancient Ethiopia and South Arabia (modern day Yemen and southern Saudi Arabia). Its image can still be seen on the Hawulti at Matara, Eritrea and all of the Aksumite coins prior to its conversion to Christianity, for example. According to some reports, the Greek colony of Byzantium also used the emblem on their flag as an official governing symbol. In 339 BC the city of Byzantium, (later known as Constantinople and then Istanbul), won a decisive battle under a brilliant waxing moon which they attributated to their patron Goddess Artemis whose symbol was the crescent moon.[2] In honor of Artemis the citizens adopted the crescent moon as their symbol.[3] When the city became the Christian Constantinople in 330 AD, Constantine also added the Virgin Mary's star on the flag. When the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1453, they adopted the city's existing flag and symbol.
The cresent moon and star were not completely abandoned by the Christian world after the fall of Constantinople. To date the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem official church flag is a labarum of white with a church building with two towers and on either side of the arms, at the top, are the outline in black of a crescent moon facing center, and a star/sun with rays.[4]
The predominantly Sunni Muslim ethnic Bosniaks use a similar flag; as their native country Bosnia and Herzegovina is also homeland to two other constituent peoples, Serbs and Croats, the flag is not the official flag of the country.
The star possibly symbolises Venus. Venus indeed may often appear prominently close to the Moon at the first sighting of the new crescent (the hilal) after New Moon, usually shortly after sunset, which marks the start of the first day of a new month in the lunar Islamic calendar.
2006-10-07 05:42:35 · answer #2 · answered by elephantman12004 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
no isn't a symbol that we use it as (christens use cross as symbol) .
the Muslim calender follow the crescent to know the starting of the month .. so they like to but it in the some minaret of mosque and in some places but as a Muslim i dont think that its mean more than that .
2006-10-07 05:55:28 · answer #3 · answered by Alone 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some of the Islamic nations have 7000 year old civilizations at their roots. We don't have all of that history in our possession yet (although it appears some are making progress in taking it from them). Those symbols probably go back before Islam, just like the pope's beanie comes from pagan religions before Christ.
2006-10-07 05:44:52 · answer #4 · answered by water boy 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It's the flag of the Ottoman Empire. It's like people of the south that fly the Confederate Flag.
2006-10-07 05:46:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
as muslims have been using lunar calender from the day one consequently they celebrate religious events according to lunar calender i-e counting of dates when they see moon thats why moon has got importance
2006-10-07 05:47:29 · answer #6 · answered by cosmopolitan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually I think a machete & a decapitated head of an innocent reporter is the symbol of Islam....at least in the media it is....
2006-10-07 05:44:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
no
it is widely used as a sign of purity
2006-10-07 06:08:42 · answer #8 · answered by imranrashid1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I thought it is symbol of LOVE
2006-10-07 05:40:31 · answer #9 · answered by rav 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Yes,
From their "Moon god"!
http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/moongod.htm
2006-10-07 05:40:57 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋