Every religion has its own characters.They - not just drawings, which invented the ancient peoples because of their own whim or the love of art.They created the image - abstract vision and their understanding of God, his essence.It is an allegory to help people understand the basics beliefs, its depth, the relationship with the emotional beginning.In our life, a lot of character, but only represent a spectrum of religious moral values, and have a great strength and an undeniable impact on the common man.
essence of Islam.The main symbols of religion
belief is widespread in Asia.About 23% of people in the world practice Islam, which was founded back in the VII century, the prophet Mohammed.The very notion is translated as "obedience to God and the world," which is already displaying basic dogmas of religion.Muslims preach humanity and harmony of relationships, correct honest life for the good of society and the homeland, as well as the simplicity, rationality, unity of the material and the spiritual.
All these rules are described in the holy "Quran".According to legend, the name of the book of Allah gave Muhammad the archangel Gabriel.Since then, Muslims revere as described on these pages canons, even the slightest violation of the rules in Asia is severely punished.Symbol of Islam - a crescent and five-pointed star is a faithful companion.They invariably flaunt all the mosques - the temples, where true believers pray to his God.In addition to religious buildings, the symbol of Islam is also common on the flags of many nations: Turkey, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Singapore, Pakistan and others.
story of Crescent
When Islam was born Muslim communities, symbols of faith have not yet come up with: the heads of people do not even occurred to him the need for their existence.During his lifetime, Muhammad Army used a simple monochrome flags: white, green or black.This continued right up to 1453, when the Turks seized power in Constantinople and occupied the caliphate.From the local people and they adopted crescent: it began to draw on flags and decorate their mosques.
According to another legend, the founder of the Ottoman Empire had a dream in which he saw a huge crescent that extends from one end of the earth to the other.The governor considered it a good sign and decided to make it a symbol of his dynasty.In these times of crescent and star became an emblem of battle banners and standards.But do not forget that the image of the night lights are actively used long before the emergence of this religion.For example, the current symbol of Islam - a crescent - crowned head of the Greek goddess Artemis.
Crescent and the Ottoman Empire
As is known, the Turkish power has existed for hundreds of years.Its inhabitants actively used the creed of Islam - a crescent moon, so today many people associate it with this religion.While at first he remained simply an emblem of the Ottomans, not their beliefs.After all, Muslims for many years vehemently condemned the worship of idols, graven images, any images.They did not have the amulets and talismans, icons and religious attributes.Therefore, during the Ottoman Empire, and in the modern world crescent - more a symbol of the Turkish people, as well as the crossed swords and a palm tree - the emblem of Saudi Arabia.Muslims in this regard may use different images, as long as they do not contradict the Sharia.
In the Ottoman Empire revered holy month.The Turks said that he plays an important role in people's lives.Firstly, the road lights at night, in the pitch darkness.Secondly, due to modifications, a person can navigate through time.Symbol of Islam - crescent and star, his neighbor constant over time evolved into the concept of "Lights in the Darkness", which points the way to all true believers.
scientists believe Muslim
They adamantly argue that the symbol of Islam, the crescent moon appeared over the Turkish minarets thanks to the ancestors of Alexander the Great.One of them laid siege to Constantinople, which in those days was called Bayzantom.Residents were not frightened, and gave a worthy rebuff and expelled the invaders.The victory coincided with the appearance in the sky of dawn.She called a good sign: the crescent began to portray the great power in the documents as a memory about those important events for the city.Next picture of the night lights have inherited Caesar, who later ruled the city, the center of the Byzantine Empire.Well, he went after them, and the Ottoman Empire, which managed to win the land.
Today, many Muslims say their religion of the representatives believe that the crescent - the symbol of Islam, as well as the cross - a symbol of Christianity.But this is a big mistake.True believers, they say, worship only Allah and not pagan images.Therefore, true Muslims are building mosques, should not spend money on something to decorate the building characters that have nothing to do with their religion.
What their opponents say
As opposed to the previous judgment, some religionists bring opposing arguments.The symbols of Islam and their importance they interpret in their own way.Like, five-pointed star - the five pillars of their religion, as well as the five required daily prayers.With regard to the crescent, it is displayed on the mosques and minarets as a symbol of reverence Muslims lunar calendar.
discussions between the two opposing sides has been going on for decades, and more convincing arguments still operates with the first group.Indeed, if you look deep into the history, we can see that at the beginning of the founders of Islam and their disciples did not worship any images and statues.They just went around the world and preach their faith.Even religious buildings were then without ornaments and symbols.Unlike Christian churches, mosques have a very poor view.In the middle there are no icons, altars and gilding - only mosaic on the walls, flowers near the window and carpets for the convenience of the faithful, who bowed in prayer.
Where else used the crescent
answer to this question is very interesting for all lovers of history.Why is the crescent moon symbol of Islam?This, and the essence of the legends associated with his appearance, the value of the emblem and its use - we have already learned.Now we plunge into ancient beliefs of peoples who worshiped night and light and worshiped him.For example, Buddhism treats the crescent as a symbol of man's control over the mind.The Egyptians also believed in his power: an inverted "horns" up, he always depicted next to the goddess Isis.
Sumerians associated it with the moon god Sin, the Persians - with their higher forces.But the most interesting thing is that the Christian Celts often depicted it to religious figures: next to the Virgin Mary.Painted horns up against the belly saint, he is likely to symbolize feminine and fruitful womb.Analyzing all this, we can say: assume a crescent symbol of Islam or not, everyone decides for himself.The main thing is that it is widely used by many religions, and therefore rightly belongs to all humanity.
