Representatives of other religions mistakenly consider the crescent a symbol comparable to the Christian cross. The crescent is a rather conventional symbol of Islam.

Crescent - a symbol story

Crescent with a nearby star - ancient symbols that appeared millennia before Islam. Similar symbols were used in ancient Greece, in Byzantium, and other ancient peoples who worshiped various pagan deities. There is a symbol in Christianity.

There are many versions of the statement of the crescent as a symbol of Islam. The most common is associated with Byzantium. According to this version, in the IV century. BC e. Macedonian troops tried to capture Constantinople. The assault failed: on the night when the attack happened, a bright moon shone, betraying the intentions of the Macedonians. The Byzantines, fighting off the invaders, began to consider the month a symbol of the country.

Already in 1453, the Byzantine Empire was captured by the Ottomans. The winners preserved the traditions of the disappeared country, and began to actively use the symbols that had already taken root.

Another often voiced version says that the crescent began to symbolize Islam in 1299. Then the ruler of a very small Asian principality named Osman had a dream where a crescent moon occupied the whole sky: from one end of the earth to the other. The ruler regarded the dream as a good omen and appointed the young moon a symbol of his princedom.The dream actually turned out to be prophetic - Osman’s grandchildren were able to create the greatest Muslim state and become religious leaders of the Islamic world.

According to another, less common version, the lunar sickle became a symbol of Islam thanks to Sultan Murad II. Followers of this theory believe that after a difficult battle, the Sultan saw a crescent reflection. Murad II considered the phenomenon a sign from above, and approved the image of the crescent as a symbol of the Islamic world.

The crescent is not only a Muslim symbol

The young moon was revered long before the advent of Islam. In Hinduism, the crescent was considered a symbol of the god Shiva.

In Mesopotamia - the goddess of fertility Ishtar.

In ancient Greece, the crescent was recognized as a symbol of Artemis, the goddess of hunting and female chastity. In Persia, the images of the lunar sickle adorned the crowns of the rulers.

In the construction of Orthodox churches they also use a crescent called tsata. Contrary to popular belief, the tsat in the lower part of the Orthodox cross is not connected with Islam in any way. Tsata was also depicted on the most ancient Orthodox churches.

In the first half of the 20th century, the lunar sickle and star began to be depicted on the national flags of 5 countries: Mauritania, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Malaysia. In the Muslim world, the crescent moon has finally established itself as a symbol after 1950.. Later, another 2 countries began to use the crescent on the emblems, not related to Islam: Nepal and Singapore.

Experts say

Islamic scholars point out that when the Muslim religion was founded, the crescent was not considered its symbol.The early rulers did without symbolism at all: in the Qur'an and the Sunnah no specific religion symbols are indicated.

They distributed the image of the young moon and star, as a symbol of Islam, by the Turks after the capture of Constantinople. The Ottoman Empire for a long time dominated the Muslim world, so the symbol is recognized in almost all Muslim states. The exception was Shiite Iranians, who consider any drawings to be part of paganism.

Islamists have no unequivocal opinion whether to consider the crescent as the official symbol of the Muslim world. Most scholars are of the opinion that the crescent is part of the culture of the Turks, but not religion itself. Other theologians believe that the symbol should be considered official - even if we discard the controversial versions, the moon still remains the main instrument of the Muslim chronology (as well as the Jewish one), and the five-pointed star symbolizes the 5 pillars of faith in Islamic creed.

In one, all Islamic scholars agree: the use of a crescent moon is not prohibited if a person wears jewelry or clothes with the image of a young moon only for beauty. To rely on the protection of a symbol, from the point of view of Muslim scholars, is sinful, only the Almighty protects a person.

In the modern world, the crescent moon is decorated with minarets and domes of mosques, flags of many Muslim countries. Not all Muslims wear a symbol on their necks - in Arab countries there is no such custom. For those who put on a pendant with Islamic symbols, the crescent becomes a marker of religious affiliation.

A symbol familiar to the world: a crescent moon - has a rich and ambiguous history. It was first used in pagan times, then took its place in Islam, Christianity, and even Hinduism. However, the image of the moon was used even on the flags of secular states.