The Crescent moon, often with a five or six pointed star, became a prominent symbol for Islam early in the 19th century. The Ottoman sultan Selim III (r. 1789-1807) used this symbol for the imperial flag of his military, in imitation of official flags in Europe. Later in the twentieth century under Ottoman influence, a number of countries with Muslim majorities adopted variations of the crescent and star for their own flags, while the Red Crescent Organization became the Muslim equivalent to the Red Cross. Though the crescent and star have only recently become a popular world-wide symbol for Islam, crescents and stars were marked features of official coins, mosques, banners, textiles, and ceramics produced in Islamic lands since the seventh century. Further, given the official lunar calendar of Islam, the crescent of the new moon has had an important ritual and legal role in signaling the beginning and end of the fast of Ramadan, as well as the date of the Hajj, the great annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Finally, according to popular tradition, whenever the Prophet Muhammad first caught sight of a new moon he would say: "O crescent moon of good and guidance, my faith is in Him who created you!"

[Th.E.H.]

Last modified: Wednesday, 27-Apr-2005 14:14:53 EDT