Alternate Islamic symbols?

[Tom Colton]

I only recently learnt that the crescent moon (and/or star) wasn't actually a Muslim symbol until fairly recently, and that's because of the Ottomans' adoption of secular moon-and-star symbolism (from the Byzantines and/or Turkic peoples), and subsequent reinterpretation in the wake of their dismantling.

Given that, what other symbols (as antithetical as icons are to Islam) could have arisen? I'm favoring Zulfiqar, but are there any abstract symbols which would lend themselves well to the proselytising of Islam?

 

[Essam]

Hand of Fatima/Hand of Mariam/"Khamsa" (particularly common in the Maghreb)

Evil Eye symbols against Hassad "Al Ain" (particularly common in the Mashrek and Turkey and Asia)

(Combination of the two above, particularly common in Egypt)

Sword of Ali as you mentioned

 

[Ridwan Asher]

Anything Stylized-Iconized Shahada can also do.

 

[Falecius]

Anything Stylized-Iconized Shahada can also do.

This applies to OTL as well.

Other than that, perhaps the Seal of Muhammad (sadly hijacked by ISIS & friends recently IOTL)?

 

[ramones1986]

How about the eight-pointed star (Rub Al Hizb)

 

[John7755 يوحنا]

I think that it is difficult to choose a single symbol for a religion that in its beginnings lacked such symbols, as is shown with the flags of the Umayyads and Rashidun caliphates. However I am definitely in favour of Zulfiqar, this in combination with various shahadas or Allah written in Kufic script would look quite well. To me it fits the unique character of Islam quite well and thus, is its best symbol (other than the Shahada or Allah written in calligraphy).

 

[The Professor]

How about the eight-pointed star (Rub Al Hizb)

I would suggest that too since the Zulfiqar (rather than swords in general) is more a Shia symbol

 

[John7755 يوحنا]

I would suggest that too since the Zulfiqar (rather than swords in general) is more a Shia symbol

True, but Sunni have used Zulfiqar as a war symbol on certain regiment flags and swords are used today as symbols of certain Wahabbi groups (Saudi Arabian flag). So it is not like it is some sort of fundamental difference and that swords are 100% Shia.

 

[SvoHljott]

الله is the most obvious symbol of Islam. In fact, for many Muslims, it's much more important than the moon and crescent even today.

Here are some OTL modern day Islamic symbols:

Shahada (The testimony: There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is God's messenger):

Green (important colour in Islam):

Tawhid (Oneness) - here is the symbol found on the Iranian flag, a very stylized form of the word Allah:

It's really worth considering the importance of caligraphy in the Islamic world, it holds much more prominence than symbols.

 

[John7755 يوحنا]

الله is the most obvious symbol of Islam. In fact, for many Muslims, it's much more important than the moon and crescent even today.

Here are some OTL modern day Islamic symbols:

Shahada (The testimony: There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is God's messenger):

Green (important colour in Islam):

Tawhid (Oneness) - here is the symbol found on the Iranian flag, a very stylized form of the word Allah:

It's really worth considering the importance of caligraphy in the Islamic world, it holds much more prominence than symbols.

Agreed. As I said it is the best symbol for Islam from what I can see. However I think Zulfiqar is an interesting alternative to the crescent moon and was used more often in Islamic history.

 

[Roger II]

Allah written as a square is one option; a Shia option is the writing of Ali's name in the shape of a lion.

 

[The Professor]

True, but Sunni have used Zulfiqar as a war symbol on certain regiment flags and swords are used today as symbols of certain Wahabbi groups (Saudi Arabian flag). So it is not like it is some sort of fundamental difference and that swords are 100% Shia.

Hence why I said the Zulfiqar specifically and not swords in general