Islamic Symbols

There are no official Islamic symbols, but several symbols or images have a

special place in Islam.

Star and Crescent • The star and crescent is the best-known symbol used to represent Islam.

• It features prominently on the flags of many countries in the Islamic world, notably Turkey and Pakistan

• It is a polytheistic icon adopted during the spread of Islam

• Originally a political symbol for the Ottoman Empire (Turkish)

Islamic Colour Symbolism• Some say green was Muhammad’s

favorite color and that he wore a green cloak and turban, while others believe it symbolizes vegetation and life.

• In early accounts of Muslim warfare, there are references to flags or battle standards of various colors: black, white, red, and greenish-black. Later Islamic dynasties adopted flags of different colors:

• Green: Saudi Arabian Flag• All colours: United Arab Emirates

Ka’bahMuslims believe that God told

Abraham to build a holy temple.

Ka’bah means the cubeIt contains silver and gold

lamps and a black oval stone that was have been given to Abraham that turned black from the kisses of worshippers seeking forgiveness.

This is the reason for the pilgrimage to Mecca

The Black stone of the Ka’bahMuslim object of reverence, which

according to Islamic tradition dates back to the time of Adam and Eve. It is the eastern cornerstone of the Ka’aba

When pilgrims circle the Kaaba as part of the Tawaf ritual of the Hajj, many of them try, if possible, to stop and kiss the Black Stone,

emulating the kiss that it received from the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

If they cannot reach it, they are to point to it on each of their seven circuits around the Ka’aba.

Black with sin

• some Muslims believe that this stone fell from the sky during the time of Adam and has the power to cleanse worshippers of their sins by absorbing them into itself.

• when it was a pure and dazzling white, but has since turned black because of the sins it has absorbed over the years.