Origin of crescent moon symbolism

[Nina]

even the crescent moon was originally a Byzantine symbol,

In Christ
Byron

I would like to know more about this, please. Since in a book I read about Islam it was written that the crescent moon was transfered by Mohamed from the pagan religion he followed previous to starting his own religion. I think it was written that the crescent moon was the mother of the stars and a pagan goddess (in Mohamed's pagan religion). However I do not have that book with me at the moment to double check.

[Moses Ibrahim]

From what I researched a long time ago... Mohammed's god for his tribe (the Quraish tribe) was allah. He basically kicked out all the other idols out of the kaa'ba and kept his god in there... the idol of his tribe. His god, allah, is attributed to the moon god baal. And that is why the crescent has become the symbol for islam. Please do not take my words for more than just words, ask an expert for an exact and true explanation.

[Chris S.]

The crescent moon originally had no connection to Islam. From the seventh century until the late thirteenth century, Islam had no symbol whatsoever. It is a religion, of course, which forbids all images. Therefore, it was not appropriated by Muhammad, but rather by the Ottoman Turks when they seized Constantinople/Istanbul. In the process they appropriated the city's Byzantine symbol (the crescent moon). The Ottomans claimed the caliphate and ruled over much of the known Muslim world, thus their symbol came to represent Islam, especially amongst the Christians whom they battled.

A decent, quick-to-read article on the subject can be found here:

http://islam.about.com/od/history/a/crescent_moon.htm

[Herman Blaydoe]

Actually, the crescent and star was the symbol of the Ottoman Empire, which happened to be Moslem. It was used because it was a relatively "universal" symbol of authority in the East, since it was the originally the symbol of the Sassanian Empire of Persia. I do not believe that early Islam used any sort of symbol, such a thing would have been considered antithetical since Mohammed was very much against images of any kind.

So, contrasted to the Cross, which was a Christian symbol that became the symbol of empires, the crescent was the symbol of a conquering empire that became a symbol of Islam. Interestingly enough, there are many Moslems who are not happy about that, and do not consider it "their" symbol. None of the Arab states of the Arabian peninsula use it nor do many mosques.

[Nina]

From what I researched a long time ago... Mohammed's god for his tribe (the Quraish tribe) was allah. He basically kicked out all the other idols out of the kaa'ba and kept his god in there... the idol of his tribe. His god, allah, is attributed to the moon god baal. And that is why the crescent has become the symbol for islam. Please do not take my words for more than just words, ask an expert for an exact and true explanation.

Yes Moses. That is what I have read also. That it was his tribal goddess.

[Herman Blaydoe]

I suppose, but it is good to base your belief on more than "I read somewhere..."

Not everything we read is true. It is good to check your sources and their credibility. Test all things, keep what is good, so says the good Apostle Paul.

[Moses Ibrahim]

Actually, the crescent and star was the symbol of the Ottoman Empire, which happened to be Moslem. It was used because it was a relatively "universal" symbol of authority in the East, since it was the originally the symbol of the Sassanian Empire of Persia. I do not believe that early Islam used any sort of symbol, such a thing would have been considered antithetical since Mohammed was very much against images of any kind.

So, contrasted to the Cross, which was a Christian symbol that became the symbol of empires, the crescent was the symbol of a conquering empire that became a symbol of Islam. Interestingly enough, there are many Moslems who are not happy about that, and do not consider it "their" symbol. None of the Arab states of the Arabian peninsula use it nor do many mosques.

On the contrary, I was born in Kuwait and lived there for 17 years... and all mosques there have the crescent moon on it. So do the ones in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan and many other Arab states. And yes you are correct, it did become a symbol of Muslim empire.

[Herman Blaydoe]

Not to be argumentative, but I do not believe that any of the Arabian states use the crescent in their flags or governmental seals, that is what I meant to say.

Also, I did not say none of the mosques have crescents, but I don't think you need to look hard to find those that don't use it.

[Moses Ibrahim]

Not to be argumentative, but I do not believe that any of the Arabian states use the crescent in their flags or governmental seals, that is what I meant to say.

Also, I did not say none of the mosques have crescents, but I don't think you need to look hard to find those that don't use it.

Ah okay... that makes more sense about the flags and governmental seals! Yes you are right there are thousands of mosques all over these Arabian states and there are some that don't have the crescent moon. :)

[Antonios]

Not to be argumentative, but I do not believe that any of the Arabian states use the crescent in their flags or governmental seals, that is what I meant to say.

Also, I did not say none of the mosques have crescents, but I don't think you need to look hard to find those that don't use it.


I think Turkey has a cresent moon on their flag.

[Olga]

Yes, Antonios, Turkey's flag is a white crescent moon with white star, on a red field (background). Also the humanitarian organisation Red Cross, when it operates in Moslem countries, uses a red crescent moon on a white field, analogous to the conventional red cross on a white field used in most other countries (which is a reversal of the colours of the Swiss national flag of a white cross on a red field - Henri Dunant, founder of the Red Cross movement in the mid-19th century, was Swiss).

More recently, a new symbol has been approved for use in Israel, as the Israelis weren't comfortable with the use of either the red cross or red crescent. Originally, they asked for a red Star of David, but this was refused, due to the political (Zionist) connotations, as the Red Cross is a non-partisan/apolitical organisation. It was decided that a red diamond, known as the Red Jewel, would be used instead.

[Antonios]

actually, I found this (http://islam.about.com/library/weekly/aa060401b.htm) from a simple google search...
Flags

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Flag_of_the_Democratic_Republic_of_Azerbaijan.svg/120px-Flag_of_the_Democratic_Republic_of_Azerbaijan.svg. png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_the_Democratic_Republic_of_Azerbaija n.svg)

Flag of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijan_Democratic_Republic)


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Flag_of_Pakistan.svg/120px-Flag_of_Pakistan.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Pakistan.svg)

Flag of Pakistan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan)


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Flag_of_Turkey.svg/120px-Flag_of_Turkey.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Turkey.svg)

Flag of Turkey (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey)


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Flag_of_Algeria.svg/120px-Flag_of_Algeria.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Algeria.svg)

Flag of Algeria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algeria)


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Flag_of_Malaysia.svg/120px-Flag_of_Malaysia.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Malaysia.svg)

Flag of Malaysia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia)


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Flag_of_Mauritania.svg/120px-Flag_of_Mauritania.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Mauritania.svg)

Flag of Mauritania (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauritania)

[Antonios]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c8/Flag_of_Western_Sahara.svg/120px-Flag_of_Western_Sahara.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Western_Sahara.svg)

Flag of Western Sahara (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Sahara)


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/Flag_of_Maldives.svg/120px-Flag_of_Maldives.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Maldives.svg)

Flag of Maldives (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maldives)


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/Flag_of_Brunei.svg/120px-Flag_of_Brunei.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Brunei.svg)

Flag of Brunei (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunei)


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Flag_of_Turkmenistan.svg/120px-Flag_of_Turkmenistan.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Turkmenistan.svg)

Flag of Turkmenistan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkmenistan)


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Flag_of_the_Comoros.svg/120px-Flag_of_the_Comoros.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_the_Comoros.svg)

Flag of the Comoros (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comoros)


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Flag_of_Uzbekistan.svg/120px-Flag_of_Uzbekistan.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Uzbekistan.svg)

Flag of Uzbekistan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uzbekistan)

[Antonios]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Flag_of_the_Turkish_Republic_of_Northern_Cyprus.sv g/120px-Flag_of_the_Turkish_Republic_of_Northern_Cyprus.sv g.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_the_Turkish_Republic_of_Northern_Cyp rus.svg)

Flag of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_Republic_of_Northern_Cyprus)


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Flag_of_Tunisia.svg/120px-Flag_of_Tunisia.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Tunisia.svg)

Flag of Tunisia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisia)

[Antonios]

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2006/04/13/jesus_wideweb__470x303,0.jpg

This moon, I really like!

[Herman Blaydoe]

None of the flags shown are from Arab states of the Arabian peninsula, which I was originally talking about.

Turkey, although Moslem, prides itself in being a secular state and imposes almost as strong control over its Moslems as it does the Christians. For example, Moslem women are not allowed to cover their heads on Turkish college campuses.

Mohammed did not use a crescent moon, it was not a symbol used by Islam in its early years. It was more a symbol of secular imperial power that later became associated with Islam because the secular imperial power that used it was Islamic. The crescent and star are merely holdovers from the Ottoman Empire. At any rate it is certainly a rather ironic development that would no doubt have caused Mohammed much consternation.

[Antonios]

Dear Byron,

I get various explanations from different sources on the internet about the historical origin for symbolically representing Islam with a crescent moon and I remember the explanation you give as being one of them. Now, I am no historian, and certainly not an expert on Islamic traditions (!), but one thing I am certain of! The Cross was sanctified, it was venerated, and still so from the day of His resurrection even unto today in multiple churches worldwide which house these holy relics. For the wood of the Cross is the progenitor to the Heavenly Vine of Christ! That being said, if the crescent moon does not reflect any mohammedian teachings, how do faithful Muslims regard its meaning or usage?

In Christ,
Antonios

[Kosta]

The cescent moon has been used thru-out the centuries by many groups. It was the symbol of the moon god: Nana who was supposed to be the offspring of another moongod Sin (which Sinai is derived from) Nana used the crescent moon while Sin used a full moon.
Others claim the crescent moon used by muslims today was actually a jewish symbol of the jews living in Arabia at the time of Muhammed. There have been jewish archeological finds which depicts a crescent moon in a 45 degree angle. Here is an article on this:
http://www.eretzyisroel.org/~jkatz/crescent.html

The crescent moon including the depiction of a star was quite common among roman coins as well. Here is one example of a coin with Hadrian and the crescent moon on the reverse:
http://tjbuggey.ancients.info/images/hadstar.jpg

The Islamic symbol of a crescent moon and star originated from the Ottomon Turks who simply held onto a flag used by Constantinople. The Byzantine flag had a crescent moon for some battle they had with the goths in whuch they were successful. It took place on the new moon. Later a star was added as some symbolism refering to the Virgin Mary. I dont know how accurate the wiki is but it speaks of this (scroll down to 'emblem'):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantium

[Antonios]

Its interesting that the crescent moon is almost always shown as the waning cresent, right before the new moon which stands in between the sun and the earth, and does not reflect the sun's light towards the earth, creating the darkest nights.


http://www.wpclipart.com/space/illustrations/Moon_Phases.png

[Kris]

That being said, if the crescent moon does not reflect any mohammedian teachings, how do faithful Muslims regard its meaning or usage?


Probably in the same way most Orthodox Christians regard the Byzantine Eagle that adorns all of our churches.

[Nina]

Probably in the same way most Orthodox Christians regard the Byzantine Eagle that adorns all of our churches.

I think it might be a bit more than that. From the Muslim people I know and from the places I have been, I have seen them incorporate it everywhere:

Graves - we do not have BE on our tombstones, but we have the sign of the cross. I have even seen tombstones in the shape of the crescent moon.

Necklaces, earrings, rings (for males and females) - Other than clergy I have not seen Orthodox people wear a BE. They do wear crosses though.

At the outer center of the mosque domes - We see the cross in our churches and not a BE as the first presentation.

BE is more like an emblem for us.

[Jason Adams]

[quote=Kosta;59162]The cescent moon has been used thru-out the centuries by many groups. It was the symbol of the moon god: Nana who was supposed to be the offspring of another moongod Sin (which Sinai is derived from) Nana used the crescent moon while Sin used a full moon.
Others claim the crescent moon used by muslims today was actually a jewish symbol of the jews living in Arabia at the time of Muhammed. There have been jewish archeological finds which depicts a crescent moon in a 45 degree angle. Here is an article on this:
http://www.eretzyisroel.org/~jkatz/crescent.html

I think it was the other way round:

The Sumerian moon god Nannar had two children Utu(sun) and Inanna(Venus).
When the Babylonians took over they became Sin, Shamash and Ishtar.

[Ryan]

The god of Islam is not a moon god, and the Quran is adamant that Allah is not to be identified with any created thing, including the moon, sun, and stars. Allah just means "the god" and Arabic speaking Jews and Christians use the same word. The notion that Allah is a moon god is just a propaganda tactic used by some dishonest Christians.