The Crescent Moon

[LivingforChrist]

What is the significance of the Crescent moon in Islam? It is on every flag of an Islamic nation in the world.

I have learned from a Christian who studies the historical facts of world religions and he has told me what it means and comes from but I would like to hear from a Muslim what it means.

[Sadiq]

Salam to all!

Now this is a good question, now this link deals with it, refuting the christian trait to say it is a form of god or something in those lines. This article answers most of it and i found it useful, hope you do...


http://www.themodernreligion.com/comparative/christ/christ_moongod6.htm

>>Crescent moon as the standard to be used for reckoning of time: "They ask you about new crescent moons, say they are to mark fixed times for mankind and Hajj." (2:189)


If you need any more help, just ask.....

Sadiq!
-------------------------------
"Oh Allah, enrich me with knowledge, adorn me with gentleness, honour me with piety and beautify me with health", Aameen

[LivingforChrist]

I am in no way saying that Muslims worship the moon. But the author of that essay (if you follow the link) does not explain what the meaning of the moon is and its relationship to Islam. The author mentions the Cross for Christianity and that we, Christians, do not worship the cross. this is true but, the corss has a significant meaning in correlation with our religion.

So maybe i will try and re-phrase my question(s), what is the meaning of the crescent moon? why is it a symbol in Islam? What is it's importance to the religion?

[Sadiq]

>I am in no way saying
>that Muslims worship the moon.
> But the author of
>that essay (if you follow
>the link) does not explain
>what the meaning of the
>moon is and its relationship
>to Islam. The author
>mentions the Cross for Christianity
>and that we, Christians, do
>not worship the cross.
>this is true but, the
>corss has a significant meaning
>in correlation with our religion.

I understand your postion, and i am grateful for your honesty. I was in a rush when i posted the above link, so dont mind me. The link dealt with the issue, when some people tried to say we worship the moon or anything similar.

Now after quite alot of searching in books and the net, i found this one article, with a similar question, and it was answered by a islamic scholar, so hope this is alright. Let me know...

>So maybe i will try and
>re-phrase my question(s), what is
>the meaning of the crescent
>moon? why is it
>a symbol in Islam?
>What is it's importance to
>the religion?

This article should help you, it contains the similar sort of question you are trying to ask.



------------------------
Question:


What is the symbolism behind the Muslim star and crescent? I did a keyword search of your site and searched my library's reference books and cannot find anything more than a reference to the flag of the Ottoman Empire. Thank you for your interest.

Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

There is no basis in sharee’ah for taking the crescent or star as a symbol of the Muslims. This was not known at the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), or at the time of the Khulafa’ al-Raashidoon (the first four leaders of Islam after the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), or during the time of the Umawis (Umayyad dynasty). It emerged some time after that, and historians differ as to when this symbol was first adopted and who was the first to adopt it. Some say it was the Persians, others say it was the Greeks, and that this symbol was somehow passed to the Muslims. (See Al-Taraateeb al-Idaariyah by al-Kittaani, 1/320). It was said that the reason why the Muslims adopted the crescent was that when they conquered some western countries, the churches there had crosses on top of them, the Muslims replaced the crosses with these crescents, and the practice spread in this way. Whatever the case, symbols and banners must be in accordance with the teachings of Islam, and as there is no evidence that this symbol is prescribed by Islam, it is better not to use it. Neither the crescent nor the star are symbols of the Muslims, even though some Muslims may use them as symbols.

As regards what Muslims think about the moon and the stars, they believe that they are part of the creation of Allaah, and as such can neither benefit nor harm people, and they do not have any influence over events on earth. Allaah has created them for the benefit of mankind, an example of which is seen in the aayah or verse of the Qur’aan (interpretation of the meaning):

“They ask you (O Muhammad) about the new moons. Say: These are signs to mark fixed periods of time for mankind and for the pilgrimage…” [al-Baqarah 2:189]

[The commentator] Ibn Katheer said, explaining the phrase Say: these are signs to mark fixed periods of time: “From them (the new moons) they may know the times for repaying loans, the ‘iddah (waiting period) of their women [after being divorced or widowed] and the timing of their Hajj (pilgrimage)… Allaah has made them signs to mark the times when Muslims should start to fast and break their fast [the beginning and end of Ramadaan], to count the ‘iddah of their women and to know the times for repaying loans.” (Tafseer Ibn Katheer).

[Another commentator] Al-Qurtubi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in his commentary on this aayah [verse]: “This explains the wisdom behind the waxing and waning of the moon, which is to avoid any confusion in appointed dates, dealings, oaths, Hajj, ‘iddah, fasting, breaking fasts, length of pregnancy, rentals and other matters that concern mankind. Similar to this aayah are others (interpretation of the meanings):

‘And We have appointed the night and the day as two aayaat (signs). Then, We have made dark the sign of the night while We have made the sign of day illuminating, that you may seek bounty from your Lord, and that you may know the number of the years and the reckoning…” [al-Isra’ 17:12]

‘It is He Who made the sun a shining thing and the moon as a light and measured out its (their) stages, that you might know the number of years and the reckoning…’ [Yoonus 10:5]

Counting the new moons is easier than counting days.” (See Tafseer al-Qurtubi).

With regard to the stars, the scholars of Islam say that Allaah created these stars for three reasons: to adorn the heavens, to drive away the devils (shayaateen) and as signs for navigation. (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Kitaab Bad’ al-Khalq), as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“It is He Who has set the stars for you, so that you may guide your course with their help through the darkness of the land and the sea…” [al-An’aam 6:97]

“And indeed We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps, and We have made such lamps (as) missiles to drive away the shayaateen (devils), and have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire.” [al-Mulk 67:5]


-----------------------------------------------

Sadiq!

[LivingforChrist]

First, if you tried to post a link, it didnt work.


"There is no basis in sharee’ah for taking the crescent or star as a symbol of the Muslims."

Maybe I am not conveying the answer I am looking for

what is the significance of the moon to the religion?

What does it mean?

There MUST be some meaning behind it to make it so important that it is on every flag of every islamic nation.

[Nzingha]

>
>
>what is the significance of the
>moon to the religion?
>
>What does it mean?
>
>There MUST be some meaning behind
>it to make it so
>important that it is on
>every flag of every islamic
>nation.


1. the star and crescent are NOT on every flag of a muslim majority nation. In fact it is only on the flags of 11 nations.

2. the star and crescent were simply adopted during the ottoman empire, very late in Islamic history. It has NO religious significance.

the following link may help you out

http://islam.about.com/library/weekly/aa060401a.htm


- Never do I argue with a man with a desire to hear him say what is wrong, or to expose him and win victory over him. Whenever I face an opponent in debate I silently pray - O Lord, help him so that truth may flow from his heart and on his tongue, and so that if truth is on my side, he may follow me; and if truth be on his side, I may follow him.
al-Imam Al-Shafi'i

[Lulua]

Assalaamu alaikum ya muslimeen.

Greetings and good day to all.

There have been some good answers and explanations offered here, by both Sadiq and Nzingha. I would like to add on some simple thoughts on this.

As Nzingha has pointed out, the crescent and/or star is not on every flag of muslims...and in fact appears on a comparitive few of the flags. But...it has also seemed to develope into a signal (the crescent and/or star design) of muslim presence. Such as the 'red crescent society' which is in the muslim world the comparison to the christian based society of the 'red cross'...all basically medical aids. Or the advent of adding on the crescent shape to the top of the minaret of the mosques. Or as is apparent nowadays on pictures for muslim greeting cards (particularly on recognition of Ramadhan and the Eid following the fasting of Ramadhan)...etc.

I would like to retract attention to one of the earlier posts that Sadiq posted on this thread...his mention that the moon is given to us as a sign, and as a measurement for the passage of time, including the recognition of the completion of the months.

As we (muslims) pass from one month to the next, it is the changing of the moons that signifies this for us. We have been directed that when the new crescent of the new month has been sighted, then the new month is to begin. If for some reason (weather, clouds, non-visibility for any reason) the new moon cannot be viewed, then the month is considered to complete at 30 days. No more and no less. This is the condition on the account of not seeing the moon. For those who have viewed the moon, then the month can (as it many times does) end at 29 days rather than 30.

So...perhaps this small explanation will help to explain the importance of the moon crescent to muslims. Using it as a sign or diagram on flags is something that developed much later after the advent of Islam...but it is apparently neither an obstruction of nor distortion of belief. It is merely an attitude that has moved certain muslims over time to use it as a diagram to indicate muslim association to the outsider looking in.

Allah knows best.

Lulua.

[Rasha]

:)

Just wanted to add to the many great answers here...

Islam is an everyday faith... so how would u represent it??!! There is nothing much.... if i put a symbol of a book....i might mean the quraan, how would u know??!!

if i put a symbol of.......hmm... a bed cause i mean by it that we say prayer before bed....how do u know..u might think muslims are always sleepy... if i put a symbol of a grave... u'll think its a religion of the dead or something.... see what i mean?? islam is indeed hard to represent cause is a general faith that includes everything. Whoever invented the moon symbol must have thought its the best thing to represent the muslims.... it has nothing to do with what the prophet taught us... i do not believe they had these symbols back at the time of the prophet. I don't really why they need to "decorate" the mosques with moons though... it seems to me like a mosque without a moon is just as beautiful as one with a moon so... whatever!!

its only here in the west that i hear many make a fuzz over the moon thingy.. maybe because there is large number of converts and also others who are not muslims...

Allah knows best... but serious... moon means absolutely nothing to our belief... like my brothers/sisters said... its simply to know the months. this way we can keep track of time... :)

peace to all

[Asif]

Assalamu Alaykum !

The following articles may prove helpful, Insha Allah.

http://www.islamonline.net/completesearch/english/FatwaDisplay.asp?hFatwaID=42402


http://www.islamonline.net/completesearch/english/FatwaDisplay.asp?hFatwaID=49011

Wassalam,
Asif.