

The Crescent MOON and the STAR!
Seen (May 16 2010,around 6-7:30pm)
There is no basis in sharee'ah for taking the crescent                or star as a symbol of the Muslims. This was not known at the time                of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), or at                the time of the Khulafa' al-Raashidoon (the first four leaders of                Islam after the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah                be upon him), or during the time of the Umawis (Umayyad dynasty).                It emerged some time after that, and historians differ as to when                this symbol was first adopted and who was the first to adopt it.                Some say it was the Persians, others say it was the Greeks, and                that this symbol was somehow passed to the Muslims. (See Al-Taraateeb                al-Idaariyah by al- Kittaani, 1/320). It was said that the reason                why the Muslims adopted the crescent was that when they conquered                some western countries, the churches there had crosses on top of                them, the Muslims replaced the crosses with these crescents, and                the practice spread in this way. Whatever the case, symbols and                banners must be in accordance with the teachings of Islam, and as                there is no evidence that this symbol is prescribed by Islam, it                is better not to use it. Neither the crescent nor the star are symbols                of the Muslims, even though some Muslims may use them as symbols.              
             As regards what Muslims think about the moon and the stars, they                believe that they are part of the creation of Allaah, and as such                can neither benefit nor harm people, and they do not have any influence                over events on earth. Allaah has created them for the benefit of                mankind, an example of which is seen in the aayah or verse of the                Qur'aan (interpretation of the meaning):
             "They ask you (O Muhammad) about the new moons. Say: These                are signs to mark fixed periods of time for mankind and for the                pilgrimage…" [al-Baqarah 2:189]
             [The commentator] Ibn Katheer said, explaining the phrase Say:                these are signs to mark fixed periods of time: "From them (the                new moons) they may know the times for repaying loans, the `iddah                (waiting period) of their women [after being divorced or widowed]                and the timing of their Hajj (pilgrimage)… Allaah has made                them signs to mark the times when Muslims should start to fast and                break their fast [the beginning and end of Ramadaan], to count the                `iddah of their women and to know the times for repaying loans."                (Tafseer Ibn Katheer).
             [Another commentator] Al-Qurtubi (may Allaah have mercy on him)                said in his commentary on this aayah [verse]: "This explains                the wisdom behind the waxing and waning of the moon, which is to                avoid any confusion in appointed dates, dealings, oaths, Hajj, `iddah,                fasting, breaking fasts, length of pregnancy, rentals and other                matters that concern mankind. Similar to this aayah are others (interpretation                of the meanings): 
             `And We have appointed the night and the day as two aayaat (signs).                Then, We have made dark the sign of the night while We have made                the sign of day illuminating, that you may seek bounty from your                Lord, and that you may know the number of the years and the reckoning…"                [al- Isra' 17:12]
             `It is He Who made the sun a shining thing and the moon as a light                and measured out its (their) stages, that you might know the number                of years and the reckoning…' [Yoonus 10:5]
             Counting the new moons is easier than counting days." (See                Tafseer al- Qurtubi).
             With regard to the stars, the scholars of Islam say that Allaah                created these stars for three reasons: to adorn the heavens, to                drive away the devils (shayaateen) and as signs for navigation.                (Saheeh al- Bukhaari, Kitaab Bad' al-Khalq), as Allaah says (interpretation                of the meaning): 
             "It is He Who has set the stars for you, so that you may guide                your course with their help through the darkness of the land and                the sea…" [al-An'aam 6:97]
             "And indeed We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps,                and We have made such lamps (as) missiles to drive away the shayaateen                (devils), and have prepared for them the torment of the blazing                Fire." [al-Mulk 67:5]