QUESTION:
What do the scholars of the Din and muftis of the Sacred Law state regarding the following issue: What importance does a moon and star have in Islām, why is there a moon and star on the flags of Muslim countries, and how is it to put this on a flag?
Questioner: Sister from England
ANSWER:
بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب
In Islām, one comes to know of timing [for worldly & religious tasks] and the month from the increasing or decreasing of the moon. Many of our religious worships such as the dates for fasting & Hajj are based on lunar months, and this is what has been mentioned in the Qur’ān with regards to the moon as well. Just as it is stated in the Majestic Qur’ān,
{یَسْـَٔلُوۡنَکَ عَنِ الۡاَہِلَّۃِؕ قُلْ ہِیَ مَوٰقِیۡتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَالْحَجِّؕ}
{They ask you (O Beloved), regarding the new moon; say you, “They are indicators of time for the people (to perform their worldly and religious tasks) and for Hajj”}
[Sūrah al-Baqarah, 189]
Perhaps the reason as to why there is a moon on the flags of Muslim countries is that we come to know of the timing of our worships through the increasing or decreasing of the moon; this is how this is related to Islām, and the moon is also a sign of success, which is well known. The five-pointed star indicates towards the five pillars of Islām, therefore there is no problem, nor sin in placing a moon and star on an Islamic flag.
واللہ تعالی اعلم ورسولہ اعلم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم
کتبہ ابو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء قادری
Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadiri
Translated by Haider Ali
Read the original Urdu answer here: [Q-ID0726] Why do many Muslim countries have a moon and star on their national flags?
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