the crescent. distinctive symbol that can be seen on the minarets of almost every mosque. is it the symbol of islam? the use of it is so widespread that even mosque, as far as the philippines are adapting this as a ritual. there are even some folks, that will not honor it as mosque unless if it has a crescent symbol.
to answer the question, it is not a symbol. islam thoroughly prohibits association of any form of idols, and symbols. so, how the hell it started?! actually it was during the reign of ottoman empire that the crescent moon and star became affiliated with the Muslim world. when the turks conquered constantinople (istanbul) in 1453, they adopted the city's existing flag and symbol. legend holds that the founder of the ottoman empire, osman, had a dream in which the crescent moon stretched from one end of the earth to the other. taking this as a good omen, he chose to keep the crescent and make it the symbol of his dynasty.
for hundreds of years, the ottoman empire ruled over the muslim world. after centuries of battle with christian europe, it is understandable how the symbols of this empire became linked in people's minds with the faith of islam as a whole. in short, it is a non-islamic tradition.
for hundreds of years, the ottoman empire ruled over the muslim world. after centuries of battle with christian europe, it is understandable how the symbols of this empire became linked in people's minds with the faith of islam as a whole. in short, it is a non-islamic tradition.
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