IS THE CRESCENT MOON AND STAR THE SYMBOL OF ISLAM?

This article may surprise some. However, I hope many will find it educational or perhaps, a little enlightening.

Is the crescent moon and star the symbol of Islam? The answer is obvious but it will need some unpacking.

Let us start by asking the most important question. Did the Prophet use them as the symbol of Islam? The answer is a definite, NO. Neither did the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali.

While today the crescent moon and star are frequently seen on flags, mosques, and other Islamic art, paving for the perception that they are the symbols of the faith, this is in actual fact a fairly recent construct. The crescent moon and star are not an official divinely intended symbol of Islam. Neither the Quran nor the Hadith collection provides any specific passage that asserts, endorses or suggests the crescent moon and star (or any other objects of creation) as a religious symbol for Islam.

Be that as it may, the Quran speaks extensively about celestial objects. The moon for example, has many mentions and a few times in tandem with the sun especially within the context of time and its cycles (Quran 41:37, 21:33, etc). The Quran also describes the creation of the universe (Quran 21:30, 7:54, etc), the expanding universe (Quran 51:47) and the creation of the earth (Quran 41:9-10).

The celestial verses in the Quran basically highlights their creation, purpose and orderly cosmic structure that follows the laws of the universe as ordained by God. The Quran stresses the idea that the universe is not random or chaotic, but rather governed by principles that God has programmed within His creation. Like gravity – how not only the clusters of galaxies are bound together by gravity, often containing hundreds or thousands of galaxies within them the solar, planetary and stellar systems exist, but also the possibility of life on earth.

These orderly unchanging laws of the universe are God’s favour to mankind.

They give us the stability and certainty about the cosmos that we live in. Therefore, we can plan and live our lives. To tell time, navigate travels, innovate and build structures and machines, plant crops, to contemplate time, space, matter or simply to have the pleasure of enjoying its artistic beauty (Quran 37:6, 67:5, etc).

Yet, there is a big BUT. They are all but, His creations. Nothing more, nothing less. The core Quranic and Prophetic guidance and message is to remember that they are not to be made an object of worship or of servitude (Quran 41:37).

How then did the crescent and star became strongly associated as the symbol of Islam?

The crescent and star association with Islam as a symbol is a recent historical construct rooted in the cultural and political history of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans ruled a large portion of the Islamic world for almost six hundred years. The Ottomans displayed the crescent and star on flags, naval ensigns, and the tops of minarets, including mosques. The crescent moon and star as a symbol became the Ottoman’s official national flag in 1844.

When the Ottoman Empire collapsed, Turkey adopted the same symbol although today the crescent moon and star represents a myriad of meaning like good luck, freedom, hope, and the union of modernism and tradition besides Ottoman’s glorious past. Many Muslim majority countries like Pakistan, Mauritania, Algeria, Libya and Malaysia adopted the same symbol, too. Singapore a Muslim minority nation has the crescent moon and star on their flag due to the nation’s political and cultural history with Malaysia.

Saudi Arabia’s flag, did not adopt the crescent moon and star. The Kingdom of Saudi considered the star and crescent as not part of the Islamic faith. To them it is not rooted in Islamic scripture or early Islamic history. Saudi Arabia's goal is to reflect a focus on the origins and foundational teachings of Islam, rather than a continuation of the Ottomans’ tradition. Bangladesh and Indonesia have their own reasons not to adopt the crescent moon and star on their respective flags, too.

What inspired the Ottomans to use the crescent and star as their symbol?

The crescent moon and star symbol has a long, rich and complex history predating Prophet Muhammad. Before the crescent and star symbol gained prominence within the Muslim world through the Ottomans, it was a symbol used by ancient civilizations like the Akkadians dating back to 2300BC.

Archaeologists discovered many Mesopotamian kudurrus, depictions of the "astral triad" portraying the symbols of the three main astral deities: the sun-God Shamash, the moon-God Nanaya/Sin, and the Goddess Ishtar. While the Quran does not use the term astral triad, some Muslim scholars link the Quran’s story about Abraham’s journey towards monotheism (Quran 6:76-79, 2:102, 7:54) with the concept.

The crescent moon became the symbol of the Greco-Roman Byzantine Empire around 300 BC and became the distinct symbol of the city of Byzantium (later named Constantinople). Accordingly, it originated from the cult of the goddess Hecate, who was revered as a protector of the city. Greek mythology tells the story of how she saved Byzantium from an attack by Philip II of Macedon. By the first century the symbol was also found on Byzantine coins and military insignia.

The Byzantine Empire, with Constantinople as its capital, lasted for over 1000 years, until the city was captured by the Ottomans in 1453. The Ottoman Empire adopted the crescent moon and star as their symbol soon after.

Conclusion: What is the symbol of Islam?

The crescent moon and star is not a religious symbol in the strict sense. Today Muslims adopts it with various interpretations. There are those who explain that the five-pointed star reflects the Five Pillars of Islam, the central faith of Sunni Muslims. Some also relate it to the greatness of the creator. In the context of holy month of Ramadan, they reflect the beauty of the cyclical nature of time and the celebration of Eid. Some Muslims disagree about the crescent moon and star being a symbol of Islam, in toto.

Personally, I do not feel that Islam can be represented by any external symbols. Islam can only be represented by good Islamic practices, our deeds. Defending external symbols as Islamic symbols are futile attempts. This is especially true when dealing with thoughtless people who belittle any symbols assigned to the faith. The Quran’s guidance in dealing with these individuals is practical and wise.

“The ˹true˺ servants of the Most Compassionate are those who walk on the earth humbly, and when the foolish address them ˹improperly˺, they only respond with peace.” Quran 25:63

I would like to conclude this article by sharing a dozen Islamic practices that can represent the true symbols of Islam through deeds.

1. Practice mercy. Be like the Prophet (Quran 21:107)

2. Be just and fair. (Quran 4:58)

3. Do not lie. (Quran 2:42, 16:116)

4. Keep your promises and agreements. (Quran 17:34)

5. Be truthful (9:119)

6. Repel evil with goodness (Quran 41:34)

7. Be kind to parents (Quran 17:23)

8. Help the poor and needy (Quran 2:215)

9. Work and strive hard, avoid being lazy (Quran 53:39)

10. Read, study, increase in knowledge and skills (Quran 96:1, 20:114)

11. Do not practice double standards (Quran 83:1-6)

12. Aim to die an Abrar* (Quran 3:193, 2:177)

“And say, "Do [as you will], for Allah will see your deeds, and [so, will] His Messenger and the believers. And you will be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, and He will inform you of what you used to do." Quran 9:105

Peace, anas

*Most Muslims seem to be oblivious to what is being an Abrar.

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MALAYSIA - USA AND CHINA

Let's get it right.

What we need is for both these superpowers to find an amicable solution to the current challengers.

Both are important to us. We are part of the Non-Aligned Movement.

The US is still one of our largest trading partners and is traditionally considered to be our oldest and closest ally in military, economic and education . We established bilateral ties with the US since 1957.

While China & Malaysia established diplomatic ties in 1974, our history with China goes back for centuries.

We are here to work with both of them. Not choosing one over the other.

Peace.

(posted on FB on April 18th)

SIN CHEW DAILY AND JALUR GEMILANG - posted on FB April 18 and 20

 I have strong convictions that the Jalur Gemilang mistake is a genuine one. Nothing malicious.

When we look at familiar pictures and words, our mind automatically fills up the missing pieces. In psychology, the term for when our brain fills in missing details in familiar pictures or words is called "filling in" or "completion".

Yes, the Editors should have been more careful. That is their job. However, they have been rebuked by no other than the YDP Agong. Sin Chew has apologized and are taking the appropriate actions.

Today, our concern should be the many parties and individuals who are consciously being vicious and malicious in dealing with the situation. Those who are using a genuine mistake for selfish political and bigoted purposes. Their actions and words are worse than the original mistake. In fact, they are being disrespectful to the YDP Agong – acting as though his decree is not adequate.

From an Islamic perspective, while Islam emphasizes the importance of not being silent about mistakes, it also recognizes the possibility of making genuine blunders. One must seek forgiveness and exercise self-correction – of which Sin Chew is doing. This is because Islam emphasizes the importance of learning from past errors and striving to improve one's actions.

“Verily, Allah has overlooked for my nation their honest mistakes, forgetfulness, and what they are forced into doing.” - Prophet Muhammad (Sunan Ibn Mājah 2045)

Peace, anas.

(April 18)

JALUR GEMILANG PICTURE BANK

It won't be a surprise if we discover more incomplete Jalur Gemilang pictures in the future which mostly went undetected because the brain tends to fill up and complete familiar patterns even when they are missing.

Naturally today, our mind will be more conscious of our flag and the brain will be more vigilant paying attention to the crescent. Just like when someone close buy a new car model, say a Toyota Yaris, you will "suddenly" see the model everywhere in town

The gaffe is likely from the same shared resources or picture bank website.

I am confident PDRM will find the source and we can nip it in the bud.

Peace, anas

Additional note : See if you start noticing more TOYOTA YARIS after reading this post ya

YARIS!YARIS!YARIS!

(April 20)

CHUANG TZU: WHAT HAPPENED TO DAP?

 

Be it when I am in KL or Penang and especially in WhatsApp groups discussion, the off-repeated question is, “ What happened to DAP?”

Chuang Tzu may have the answer.

“When an archer is shooting for nothing,

he has all his skill.

If he shoots for a brass buckle,

he is already nervous.

If he shoots for a prize of gold, he goes blind or sees two targets -

He is out of his mind!

His skill has not changed. But the prize divides him.

He cares. He thinks more of winning than of shooting-

And the need to win drains him of power.” -

                                              Chuang Tzu (c.360 BC - c. 275 BC)

Perhaps DAP will reflect. Is Putrajaya the brass buckle or pot of gold that will drain them of power?

Peace, anas

 

HOW TUN DR. M AND TS LIM KIT SIANG CAN HELP HEAL THE NATION

We are a nation with wounded hearts.

Most of us are fairly richer and better off than we were before, across the board.

Yet today, every single community is feeling as though they have been short-changed. Each community feels that they have being treated unfairly – that they are the ones at the losing end. We see almost everything as a zero-sum game – politics, economics, religion. If the other side gets more, it can only mean our side is getting less. Such is our psyche.

We are suspicious of each other. We question each other's intentions. We have a trust deficit.

We are a young nation chasing big dreams. We come from different backgrounds – ethnicities, religions, cultures and geographical locations. It is expected that along the way, we have intentionally and unintentionally hurt the other. The fact is, we have over-used our differences especially that of ethnicity and religion as political tools. Conveniently using real politics as an excuse to not work harder with a better approach. As such, over the decades, we pressed on building partisan politics based on unhealthy ethnic competition.

We created scars that slowly but surely grew us to be a nation with wounded hearts. This must not go on. We need to heal.

Tun Dr. Mahathir and Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang can help heal our nation.

I have been harbouring this idea since 2003 when Tun first resigned. I was waiting for Tan Sri to retire too, to promote the idea. However, events the last two decades have made me hold back the idea.

But today, it is not too late.

Tun and Tan Sri are leaders of all Malaysians. At the same time, they are both also seen as the ultimate advocates of the Malays (Tun) and non-Malays, particularly the Chinese (Tan Sri). They both help carved our modern history. For decades, they coloured our political, economic and social realities. They represented the uppermost leadership on both sides of our political divide. They, till today, carry an unmatched, respected and may I say, legendary, aura.

I have strong convictions that if Tun and Tan Sri are seen together chatting and sharing their thoughts and feelings about the past, the present and their hopes for our future, we will take our first steps to heal and bring our nation closer together.

Imagine Tun and Tan Sri at a park in Putrajaya, each assisting the other every now and then as they stroll through the walking path. Or, visiting Parliament and having a friendly banter about how they ripped at each other in the good old days. Perhaps in another session, sharing their grandfatherly bliss and introducing their grandchildren to each other – and share their hopes for the future generations.

Perhaps, ‘Keluar Sekejap’ could facilitate the sessions and meetings. Plan for a good number of episodes. The goal is to heal the nation. Bring us closer.

We need to show that while Tun and Tan Sri are opposed to the other, both are working for Malaysia in their own way. They are just “musuh politik”, not real enemies.

I pray and hope that Tun and Tan Sri find resonance in this idea and see it as their greatest final gift to Malaysia and Malaysians.

Let’s heal our wounded hearts.

Thank you.

Peace.

Anas Zubedy

Penang

 Note : Pix from Berita Harian Website