When and How the crescent was adopted as a symbol and by Whom:
…..The early Muslim community did not really have a symbol. During the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace 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, 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…….
http://islam.about.com/od/history/a/crescent_moon.htm
Islam - Q&A: A selection of questions posed by friends and acquaintances and my answers to them, in the attempt to bring them closer to the beautiful religion of Islam. And the random thoughts n questions that keep sprouting in my mind. May Allah guide us all.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Allah is not the moon-god!
The article posted on Fri Dec 12, 2008 contained some serious mis-information regarding Allah and Islam. Please find below
1. Verses from the Holy Quran directly answering the allegation that Allah was moon-god, and laat, manaat and uzza were his daughters
2. Verses from the Holy Quran regarding Prophet Abraham, and the Jewish and Christian faith
3. History of how, when and by whom was the crescent adopted as a symbol
Holy Quran Chapter 41
37 And of His portents are the night and the day and the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or the moon; but prostrate to Allah Who created them, if it is in truth Him Whom ye worship.
Holy Quran Chapter 53:
19 Have ye seen Lat. and 'Uzza,
20 And another, the third (goddess), Manat?
21 What! for you the male sex, and for Him, the female?
22 Behold, such would be indeed a division most unfair!
23 These are nothing but names which ye have devised,- ye and your fathers,- for which Allah has sent down no authority (whatever). They follow nothing but conjecture and what their own souls desire!- Even though there has already come to them Guidance from their Lord!
And who forsaketh the religion of abraham save him who befooleth himself? Verily We chose him in the world, and lo! in the Hereafter he is among the righteous. ( سورة البقرة , Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #130)
The same did abraham enjoin upon his sons, and also Jacob, (saying): O my sons! Lo! Allah hath chosen for you the (true) religion; therefore die not save as men who have surrendered (unto Him). ( سورة البقرة , Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #132)
And they say: Be Jews or Christians, then ye will be rightly guided. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Nay, but (we follow) the religion of abraham, the upright, and he was not of the idolaters. ( سورة البقرة , Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #135)
Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered. ( سورة البقرة , Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #136)
O People of the Scripture! Why will ye argue about abraham, when the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed till after him? Have ye then no sense? ( سورة آل عمران , Aal-e-Imran, Chapter #3, Verse #65)
Lo! those of mankind who have the best claim to abraham are those who followed him, and this Prophet and those who believe (with him); and Allah is the Protecting Guardian of the believers. ( سورة آل عمران , Aal-e-Imran, Chapter #3, Verse #68)
Say (O Muhammad): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and that which was vouchsafed unto Moses and Jesus and the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered. ( سورة آل عمران , Aal-e-Imran, Chapter #3, Verse #84)
Say: Allah speaketh truth. So follow the religion of abraham, the upright. He was not of the idolaters. ( سورة آل عمران , Aal-e-Imran, Chapter #3, Verse #95)
1. Verses from the Holy Quran directly answering the allegation that Allah was moon-god, and laat, manaat and uzza were his daughters
2. Verses from the Holy Quran regarding Prophet Abraham, and the Jewish and Christian faith
3. History of how, when and by whom was the crescent adopted as a symbol
Holy Quran Chapter 41
37 And of His portents are the night and the day and the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or the moon; but prostrate to Allah Who created them, if it is in truth Him Whom ye worship.
Holy Quran Chapter 53:
19 Have ye seen Lat. and 'Uzza,
20 And another, the third (goddess), Manat?
21 What! for you the male sex, and for Him, the female?
22 Behold, such would be indeed a division most unfair!
23 These are nothing but names which ye have devised,- ye and your fathers,- for which Allah has sent down no authority (whatever). They follow nothing but conjecture and what their own souls desire!- Even though there has already come to them Guidance from their Lord!
And who forsaketh the religion of abraham save him who befooleth himself? Verily We chose him in the world, and lo! in the Hereafter he is among the righteous. ( سورة البقرة , Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #130)
The same did abraham enjoin upon his sons, and also Jacob, (saying): O my sons! Lo! Allah hath chosen for you the (true) religion; therefore die not save as men who have surrendered (unto Him). ( سورة البقرة , Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #132)
And they say: Be Jews or Christians, then ye will be rightly guided. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Nay, but (we follow) the religion of abraham, the upright, and he was not of the idolaters. ( سورة البقرة , Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #135)
Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered. ( سورة البقرة , Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #136)
O People of the Scripture! Why will ye argue about abraham, when the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed till after him? Have ye then no sense? ( سورة آل عمران , Aal-e-Imran, Chapter #3, Verse #65)
Lo! those of mankind who have the best claim to abraham are those who followed him, and this Prophet and those who believe (with him); and Allah is the Protecting Guardian of the believers. ( سورة آل عمران , Aal-e-Imran, Chapter #3, Verse #68)
Say (O Muhammad): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and that which was vouchsafed unto Moses and Jesus and the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered. ( سورة آل عمران , Aal-e-Imran, Chapter #3, Verse #84)
Say: Allah speaketh truth. So follow the religion of abraham, the upright. He was not of the idolaters. ( سورة آل عمران , Aal-e-Imran, Chapter #3, Verse #95)