Why is the Muslim symbol a crescent?

Answer 1

The crescent is an Islamic symbol or indication but it is neither a requirement per religion nor a formal religious symbol. It seems that this symbol has come traditionally due to either of or all of the following reasons:

• The potential status of the moon for Arabs in desert life for its symbol of beauty and for shedding some light in desert environment.
• The use of the Hijra Islamic calendar which is lunar calendar with the start of each month based on the moon appearance and disappearance.
• The use of of the crescent on the Turkish flag when the Turkish were controlling the Islamic countries.
• Some think that the star and crescent symbol of Islam is from the Sassanian empire which was the largest Islamic nation in history.
• some think that it is just a counter to the Christian symbol of the Cross but is on no religion reference or requirement.

Answer 2

Short AnswerThe crescent moon is sometimes considered by mistake as a symbol of Islam because it was a symbol of the Turkish dynasty that controlled much of the Islamic world for several centuries. No created object is a symbol of Islam. Use of moon in most Islamic countries flags may be because of using the Lunar Islamic Calendar. Prophet Muhammad's (God bless him and grant him peace) flag was a plain green rectangle.

There is no symbol of Islam religion.

MoreIt is not a religious symbol in the sense as, for example, the Cross in Christianity. It has nothing to do with Islam. Rather it is something cultural where the symbol represents the Islamic calendar, which is based on the moon's way around the earth.

Anyhow, per Islam religion, the moon is not a symbol for Islam religion.

Islam does not have any symbol per Quran or Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) teachings. Refer to related question below.

The star and moon symbol has nothing to matter with Islam religion. There is no symbol for Islam religion.

However, this symbol was used historically by Turkish army during the ottoman dynasty when the Turkish were controlling the Islamic world for hundreds of years. This may be the reason of having this symbol popular in some Islamic countries. It is worthy to mention that the flag in time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was just a rectangular plain green piece of cloth.

Answer 3

The crescent and the star are the symbols of heavenly light, peace, harmony and kindness. The Muslims follow Islam that is the religion given to human beings for their guidance. The Crescent and stars used to be symbols of guidance. Islam is a heavenly religions. So, the crescent and star are the symbols of Islam. The light of Islam dawns in the heart of a Muslim like the crescent and gradually becomes a full moon.

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There is no religious symbol for Islam as the crescent and star or any thing else. These symbols used as political symbols and never as religious symbol as the cross in Christianity or the David Star in Judaism.

Answer 4

http://islam.about.com/od/history/a/crescent_moon.htm This website answers your question.

Answer 5

There is no religious symbol per Islam faith or religion as the cross for Chritians or David star for Jews. Refer to question below.

Answer 6

They show that Islam is a heavenly religion.

Answer 7

The Muslim God worship house is called mosque not church. The sign of the crescent is just a traditional symbol and is not related to religion teachings or rules. refer to question below.

Answer 8

Ramadan starts on a cresant moon