Muslim Use of the Swastika

1 Reply

Asiatic Muslims have been using

swastikas in calligraphy and
architecture for a long time. But is
this Islamic?
First of all, the swastika is not anti-Semitic. If all you (think you) know about the swastika is
that it was used by National Socialist (“Nazi”) Germany, then be aware of two facts:

⦁ The swastika has been used around the world, even Sub-Saharan Africa(!) for
thousands of years:

⦁ Arabs and Ethiopians (among others) are Semites. They USE the swastika, so it
can’t be anti-Semitic:

1
Ethiopian Orthodox Church

http://www.gnosis.us.com/45633/ancienthistorical-swastikas/

If that’s not enough to convince you read more about swastika use in Africa here: Afrikan
Swastikas – Knowledge of Self.

Now let’s take a virtual tour the

Muslim world, past and present…
Makkah (Mecca)
Makka is Islam’s holiest city. It is where the Qur-an was revealed. It houses Masjid al-
Haram (The Sacred Place of Prostration) the direction to which all Muslims pray. Recently,
the government currently controlling Makka has overseen the tallest clock tower in the world
(apparently overlooking the fact that most Muslims have mobile phones to tell time
with). Believe it or not, that clock, that monument, has swastikas. Look how the white lines
intersect:

2
The Makkah Clock Tower, Mecca, Saudi Arabia

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=334299&page=571

Persia
Persia is much larger than modern day Iran. Basically, ‘Persia’ refers to the homeland
of Persians, who since ancient times have used the term Aryan (hence, Iran) to describe
themselves and their language:

3
We will look at swastika use in what is now Iran and Tajikistan.

Iran

Friday Mosque in Isfahan, Iran

http://www.swastika-info.com/

4
Ceiling of the Ali Qapu Pavilion in Isfahan, Iran from the 17th century.

http://www.proswastika.org/

Ali’s name in tilework Kufic calligraphy, next to swastikas, Friday Mosque, Yazd

http://www.paulstravelblog.com/wp/?m=200805&paged=2

The column of Darvazeh Dowlat in Tehran

5
http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread809237/pg7

The column of Darvazeh Dowlat in Tehran

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread809237/pg7

Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas, Iran

http://www.proswastika.org/

Tajikistan
Like other post-Soviet countries, Tajikistan has taken a fresh look its history following
independence in 1991. The result is a state campaign to promote the notion that the Tajiks
as a Aryan nation – and the widespread use of the swastika. (Aryan Myth and Metahistory)

6
A Tajik emblem that is based on the swastika

http://aryan-myth-and-metahistory.blogspot.com/2011/08/tajikistan-aryan-revival-and.html

Iraq

“This is…on the wall of Baghdad’s oldest university which is older than Oxford – by a few

years.”

https://maryrussellwriter.wordpress.com/tag/mosque/

Turkic Countries
Anatolian Peninsula (Modern Turkey)
This was the center of power of the Uthmani (“Ottoman”) Empire, which ruled over many
Muslim territories for centuries.

7
“The Great Mosque of Diyarbakır (Diyarbakır Ulu Camii / Mizgefta Mezin a Amedê), located

in Diyarbakır, Turkey, is the oldest and one of the most significant mosques in Anatolia. The

mosque is considered by some to be the fifth holiest site in Islam. It can accommodate up to

5,000 worshippers and is famous for hosting four different Islamic traditions.”

http://svasticross.blogspot.com/

A part of the Topkapi Scroll

“The Topkapi architectural design scroll is probably the best-preserved and oldest scroll of

this kind to have survived. Aproximated between 1500 – 1600 made

It is of great importance for an understanding of Timurid and Turkmen geometric design

principles. The scroll is 29.5 meters long, with 114 drawings, it bears no date and is not

signed. The drawings represent geometrical designs, murqanas designs and contain

patterns and elements of square kufic. It entered the Ottoman imperial treasury at an

unknown date and is now housed at the Topkapi Place Museum in Istanbul, Turkey.”

http://svasticross.blogspot.com/

8
Sivas, Şifahiye Medresesi, Turkey

“Sifaiye Medresesi is a medrese built in 1217 in Sivas, Turkey. It bears typical Seljuk

features and was built by the Rûm Seljuk Sultan Kaykaus I, who was known for his fondness

for the city of Sivas where he spent the large part of his period of reign.

The complex consists of a Darüşşifa (Dâr al-Shifâ, literally “house of health”, a hospital) and

the medrese where medicinal studies were also taught. The complex is also alternatively

called under the sultan Izeddin Keykavus I’s name whose tomb is located within the

compound.”

http://svasticross.blogspot.com/

Uzbekistan

Entrance to the Poi Kalon Mosque, Uzbekistan

http://newsoftomorrow.org/esoterisme/chamanisme/olga-kharitidi-le-maitre-des-reves-lucides-au-coeur-de-

lasie-une-psychiatre-russe-apprend-comment-guerir-les-esprits-du-trauma/attachment/swastika-kalyan-

9
mosque

Kashgar, China
Though controlled by China, Kashgar is predominately peopled by
Muslim Uyghurs, a Turkicethnic group living in Eastern and Central Asia.

“Mosque in Kashgar, China, near the border of Pakistan”

https://solotravelblog.net/swastikas-in-asia/

Indian Subcontinent
The Indus River Valley civilization (mostly in modern Pakistan) is where the names ‘India’
and ‘Hindu’ come from. It is from this civilization that many religions like Hinduism, Jainism,
Buddhism and Sikhism, famous for their use of the swastika, ultimately originated.

Buddhism

10
Sikh Deity Stand (SikhBazaar.com)

Jainism

The Mughal (Mongol) dynasties which ruled India used this symbol in their
architecture. They either adopted its use from locals, or had already been using it.

11
Sikandra. This is the “buland darwaaza” (great gate) leading to the gardens of the tomb of

Akbar, the greatest, ablest, and probably the most enlightened of the Mughal emperors.

Early 17th century, local red sandstone with ornate marble inlay (including Koranic

calligraphy in letters at least a foot high)

http://mise-en-trope.blogspot.com/2011/03/sikandra-and-agra-akbars-tomb-and-taj.html

“This is where they say Shah Jahan, the man behind the Taj Mahal, was imprisoned BY HIS

SON.”

http://www.aroundtheworldl.com/2014/06/29/agra-fort-india/

Andalus (Modern Iberian Peninsula/Spain)

Andalus was a medieval Muslim cultural domain and territory occupying at its peak most of
what are today Spain and Portugal.

12
Al-Andalus & Christian Kingdoms (wikipedia)

The fact that Spain was the first [West Asian] country to acquire technical supremacy at the
dawn of modern times and for a certain period dominate the world can only be explained by
the [Muslim] contribution during the time of its colonization. (Diop, Cheikh Anta, Precolonial
Black Africa (Chicago: Lawrence Hill Books, 1987), p.36)

The Mosque of Cordoba, Andalus (Spain), construction completed in 987 CE.

http://www.proswastika.org

Muslim Calligraphy

13
“All Sovereignty to Allah”, by Fatma Mohammad Abdel Rahim from the United Arab Emirates

http://svasticross.blogspot.com/2012/04/swastika-allah.html

By Ahmad Zeid

http://www.flickr.com/photos/93272306@N05/9762358206

14
Ahmad Zeid

http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7389/9452801696_ac86e59071_m.jpg

As you can see from the calligraphy especially, the swastika is a consequence of lines
intersecting at right angles. Muslims have historically avoided depicting living things in
artwork, so geometric patterns are where they focused their creativity. Perhaps at least
some of the swastikas are unintentional apexes that allow uninterrupted patterns. However,
some are obviously a continuation of pre-Islamic use of the swastika by central Asian
populations and their diaspora, which includes Arabia. Which brings us to the next question:

But is using the swastika symbol Islamic?

No, but neither is using the crescent moon and star, the supposed symbol of Islam.
Though the crescent was originally a secular symbol of authority for Muslim rulers, it is now
often used to symbolize the Islamic faith. However, the crescent was not a symbol used
for Islam by Muhammad or any other early Muslim rulers, as the Islamic religion is, in fact,
against appointing “holy symbols” (so that during the early centuries of Islam, Muslim
authorities simply didn’t want any geometric symbols to be used to symbolize Islam, in the
way that the cross symbolizes Christianity, the menorah was a commonly occurring symbol
of Judaism, etc.). This is why early Islamic coins were covered with Arabic writing, but
contained no visual symbols. (wikipedia)

The crescent, like the swastika, is a pre-Islamic symbol.

15
Unlike the swastika, however, whose origins are debated, the crescent and star have clear
polytheist (mushrik/pagan) significance:
The crescent is one of the oldest symbols known to humanity. Before Islam, the crescent
was the symbol of Sassanids and after capturing Persian lands, the crescent has been
adopted by Arab Muslims and later by other Muslims. The crescent and star also appears on
pre-Islamic coins of South Arabia.
In the 12th century the crescent and star were adopted by the Turks and since then the
crescent has been a frequent symbol used by powerful Muslim empires such as the
Ottomans and the Mughals. It is a historical symbol of the Turks, associated especially with
the Ottoman Empire, but pre-Islamic Turkic nations such as the Göktürks used the crescent
and star figure on their coins. (wikipedia)

So it’s no worse to use the swastika on a mosque, or as a Muslim symbol (it obviously can’t
be Islamic) than it is to use the crescent.
Can a Pagan Symbol Represent Islam?
Swastikas, crescents, stars, eagles, etc. may or may not be “bad”, but a government that
uses a pagan symbol doesn’t seem to be saying they represent Allah as
sovereign. Coincidentally, no government is doing a good job implementing the authority of
Allah and his Messenger (sA’a&s).
“And he shares his authority with no one (Qur-an 18.26)

Decorating Mosques is a Sign of Spiritual Decline and Materialism

“Narrated / Authority of: Anas bin Malik: The Messenger of Allah (sAaws) said: ‘The Hour
will not begin until the people compete in (building) masjids (mosques).’” (Sunan Ibn Majah)
(ahadith.co.uk)
‘Umar ordered that the mosque be rebuilt and he said: Protect the people from rain, but
beware of using red or yellow (for adornment) and distracting the people.

Anas said: They build mosques and boast about that, but they do not use them for worship
except rarely.
Ibn ‘Abbaas said: You are going to adorn (mosques) as the Jews and Christians adorn (their
places of worship) (Islam Question & Answer)

——————————

16
Verily the Safa and Marwa [two small mountains now located in the Masjid al-Haram in
Makka] are among the Symbols of Allah. So, if one visits the House in the Season or at
other times, there is no blame on him if he should compass them round. If any one obeys his
own impulse to good, be sure that God is Thankful and All Knowing (Qur-an 2.158)
And [mention, O Muhammad], when We designated for Abraham the site of the House,
[saying], “Do not associate anything with Me and purify My House for those who perform
Tawaf and those who stand [in prayer] and those who bow and prostrate.

And proclaim to the people the Hajj [pilgrimage]; they will come to you on foot and on every
lean camel; they will come from every distant pass –

That they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allah on known
days over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals. So eat of them and feed the
miserable and poor…

Then let them end their untidiness and fulfill their vows and perform Tawaf around the
ancient House.
That [is so]. And whoever honors the symbols of Allah – indeed, it is from the piety of
hearts. (Qur-an 22 (Suratu-lHajj))

17