Flag of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
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| Black Banner | |
| Use | National flag, War flag  |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 3:5 |
| Adopted | 13 October 2006 (as Islamic State of Iraq) |
| Design | A black banner with the shahada inscription at the top and the seal of Muhammad in the center in white. |
| Designed by | ? |
| History of the Islamic State |
|---|
 |
|
Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad (1999–2004) Al-Qaeda in Iraq (2004–2006) Jama'at Jaysh Ahl al-Sunnah wa-l-Jama'ah (2004–2006) Jaish al-Ta'ifa al-Mansurah (2004–2006) Mujahideen Shura Council (2006) Islamic State of Iraq (2006–2013) Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (2013–2014) Islamic State (2014–present) |
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The Flag of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant also known as the Black Banner (Arabic: راية السوداء; Rāyat al-sawdā), the Flag of the Eagle[1] or the Black Standard is the flag flown by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, a militant Islamic extremist group operating in Iraq and Syria. The flag is also used by militant group al-Shabaab in Somalia and other militant organizations use the same flag or a variation of it.
History
The black banner of Islam traces its origins to the 8th century when the second dynasty of Islam, the Abbasid Caliphate, came to power with black banners.[2] It was first adopted by ISIL's predecessor, the Islamic State of Iraq.[when?]
Design
The flag consists of a black banner with the first part of the Shahada (an Islamic creed) at the top written in white:[3][4][5]
- لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا الله
- lā ʾilāha ʾillā-llāh
- "There is no god but God"
In center of the flag contains the Seal of Muhammad with the following inscription from bottom to top in black:[4][5]
Usage
The holding of the flag is often accompanied by a single raised index finger. The symbolism behind this hand gesture alludes to their fundamentalist interpretation of the tawhid—"the belief in the oneness of God and a key component of the Muslim religion."[6]
The use of the image the flag for non-educational purposes is forbidden in Germany by the Federal Ministry of the Interior.[when?][7]
See also
References
- ^ "Unfolding Meaning of ISIS Flag". Food World News. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
- ^ "Ever wonder what the black-and-white ISIS flag means?". Public Radio International. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
- ^ N Mohammad (1985), The doctrine of jihad: An introduction, Journal of Law and Religion, 3(2): 381-397
- ^ a b Prusher. "What the ISIS Flag Says About the Militant Group". Time magazine. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
- ^ a b What Does The ISIS Flag Mean? Black Flags Of Jihad Explained
- ^ Skoler, Michael (5 September 2014). "ISIS has a new hand sign—and it means far more than 'We're #1'". Public Radio International. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
- ^ Bundesanzeiger.de Template:De icon
External links
