What do you make of this?
"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, Osman, 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 pillars of Islam, but this is pure conjecture. The five points were not standard on the Ottoman flags, and as you will see on the following page, it is still not standard on flags used in the Muslim world today.
For hundreds of years, the Ottoman Empire ruled over the Muslim world.
2007-07-22 16:31:36 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
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.
Based on this history, many Muslims reject using the crescent moon as a symbol of Islam. The faith of Islam has historically had no symbol, and many refuse to accept what is essentially an ancient pagan icon. It is certainly not in uniform use among Muslims.
http://islam.about.com/od/history/a/crescent_moon.htm
2007-07-22 16:32:03 · update #1
Some people think that Muslims actually worship the moon, but its not true.
Thanks a lot for sharing this story i never knew it before.
Jazaki allah khayran
2007-07-22 23:08:46 · answer #1 · answered by Nourhan 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you are wrong - explain the significance of the Pakistan flag, Mauritania flag???? A star and a moon!!! The crescent was a symbol adopted by the Ottoman Empire, and it has stayed with islamic countries. They could have chosen a picture of the earth if they had wanted to Look at the Saudi Arabia flag - the birth place of Islam. Not a single moon or a single star Allah is not the moon God - this is a misconception that is being spread Islam does not worship God in the same way that Christians do... it seems Christianity's God died on a cross and Christians are more infatuated with the cross rather than God Himself
2016-04-01 08:06:00 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I thought I would also add another part of the article that you posted since many might be interested in this information as well:
"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."
2007-07-22 16:50:36 · answer #3 · answered by nicky 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Crescent moon is a symbol of "the way to Awakening". Full awakening is often symbolized by the Full Moon. Remember that in agricultural societies, the phases of the Moon are very meaningful, since they show to people when they have to see, take care of the plants and get the fruits. The phases of the Moon are still having influence on our lives, the way they always had. If they refuse the "Hilal", they can refuse it. Just be aware of the meaning of it. Inner Light.
2007-07-22 19:24:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Alhamdulliah it is knowledge. I understood that the crescent and star symbol is not from the Quran and Sunnah and that it was introduced by Muslims of Turkish origin but I didn't know the specific details.
2007-07-22 16:43:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
actually i asked my muslim roommate about the crescent moon symbol and he said its because they have a lunar calendar. and the crescent moon symbol was used a lot in arabia, way before the ottoman empire
2007-07-22 16:34:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Arabia had been using this symbol for centuries before there ever was a Mohammad...
2007-07-22 16:34:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
I never heard about it before
thanks for sharing
2007-07-22 18:17:28 · answer #8 · answered by marhama 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What the hell are you getting at?? I see NO question here whatsoever. I'm muslim and YES i knew that. That's why I have a tattoo of it on my shoulder. By the way, did you know Akon is muslim?
2007-07-22 16:36:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
a good one asusual sister
2007-07-23 00:29:30 · answer #10 · answered by Syed Aleemuddin Noor 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋