Green in Islam

infobox color
title= Green in Islam
hex= 009900
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source=VexillologicalGreen is considered the traditional color of Islam and is sacred to the faith.

The color in this form is the shade of green used in the Flag of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Islam used/uses this shade of green symbolically because the tribe of the prophet Muhammad had a green banner and because to them green represented paradise (the Persian word for garden) to desert-dwelling Bedouin tribes when they gathered at an oasis.

Islam venerates the color, as it expects paradise to be full of lush greenery.

Many flags of the Islamic world are green, as the color is considered sacred in Islam. [Matthews, John. The Quest for the Green Man. Wheaton: Quest Books, 2001. ISBN 0835608255 pg. 30]

Religion and philosophy

Green is considered the traditional color of Islam, likewise because of its association with nature. This is for several reasons. First, Muhammad is reliably quoted in a hadith as saying that “water, greenery, and a beautiful face” were three universally good things. [cite web
last = Wilson
first =Peter Lamborn
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title = CLOUD PAPERS FOR PHILIP TAAFFE
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url =http://www.philiptaaffe.info/Critical_Commentary/PLW.php
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accessdate = 2007-11-30 ] In the Qur'an, sura Al-Insan, believers in God in Paradise wear fine green silk.cite web
last =Khalifa
first =Rashad (trans)
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title =Sura 76, The Human (Al-Insaan)
work =Quran The Final Testament
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url =http://www.masjidtucson.org/quran/noframes/ch76.html#21
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accessdate = 2007-11-30 ] [cite web
last = Khalifa
first =Rashad (trans)
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title =Sura 18, The Cave (Al-Kahf)
work =Quran The Final Testament
publisher =masjidtuscon
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url =http://www.masjidtucson.org/quran/noframes/ch18.html#31
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accessdate = 2007-11-30 ] Also, Al-Khidr (“The Green One”), is a Qur’anic figure who met and traveled with Moses. [cite web
last =Catherine
first =David
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title =Al-Khidr, The Green Man
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url =http://khidr.org/
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accessdate = 2007-11-30 ] The flag of Hamas, [Friedland, Roger and Richard Hecht. To Rule Jerusalem. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2000. ISBN 0520220927 pg. 461] as well as the flag of Iran, is green, symbolizing their Islamist ideology. [Kaplan, Leslie C. Iran. ISBN 1404255486 pg. 22]

In the metaphysics of the "New Age Prophetess", Alice Bailey, in her system called the Seven Rays which classifies humans into seven different metaphysical personality types, the "third ray" of "creative intelligence" is represented by the color green. People who have this metaphysical personality type are said to be "on the Green Ray". [cite book | last = Bailey| first= Alice A. | authorlink = Alice Bailey | title = The Seven Rays of Life | location= New York| year= 1995 |publisher = Lucis Publishing Company | isbn = 0853301425] In Hinduism, Green is used to symbolically represent the fourth, heart chakra (Anahata). [Stevens, Samantha. The Seven Rays: a Universal Guide to the Archangels. City: Insomniac Press, 2004. ISBN 1894663497 pg. 24] Psychics who claim to be able to observe the aura with their third eye report that someone with a green aura is typically someone who is in an occupation related to health, such as a physician or nurse, as well as people who are lovers of nature and the outdoors. [Swami Panchadasi "The Human Aura: Astral Colors and Thought Forms" Des Plaines, Illinois, USA:1912--Yogi Publications Society Page 35]

Also, Roman Catholic and more traditional Protestant clergy wear green vestments at liturgical celebrations during Ordinary Time. [cite web
last =
first =
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title =Diocese of The British Isles and Europe
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publisher =Anglican Independent Communion
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url =http://www.aic.btik.com/p_Campaign.ikml
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accessdate = 2007-11-30 ] In the Eastern Catholic Church, green is the color of Pentecost. [cite web
last =
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title =Liturgical Vestment Colors of the Orthodox Church
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date =2004
url =http://aggreen.net/vestment/liturgical_colors.html
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accessdate = 2007-11-30 ] Green is one of the Christmas colors as well, possibly dating back to pre-Christian times, when evergreens were worshipped for their ability to maintain their color through the winter season. Romans used green holly and evergreen as decorations for their winter solstice celebration called Saturnalia, which eventually evolved into a Christmas celebration. [Collins, Ace and Clint Hansen. Stories behind the Great Traditions of Christmas. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003. ISBN 0310248809 pg. 77]

ee also

*Green
*Islamic flags
*Symbols of Islam

References

External links