Flower: Red Rose
Sacred Symbol: Crescent Moon and Star
Mantra/Prayer:
Dhikr after Salah (remembrance after prayer)
Subhaan Allah, Al-hamdu Lillah, Allahu Akbar
(Glory to Allah, all praise belongs to Allah, Allah is the Greatest)
The rose, called the ‘Flower of Heaven’ in Islam, symbolises the
Prophet Muhammad (570-632 CE) (peace be upon him). According to
legend, the Prophet’s sweat emanated a fragrance like that of the rose,
making the rose a strong symbol of his holiness and his divine guidance.
In Islam, Hajj is the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia,
which every adult Muslim must make at least once in their lifetime, if
possible. They enter Mecca and walk seven times around the Kaaba, a
cubic stone shrine at the centre of the Great Mosque (Masjid al-Haram).
The interior of the Holy Kaaba is ritually washed with Zamzam water
mixed with rose water. Oil lamps in the Kaaba burn a fragrant rose oil.
The sacred symbol in the middle of the painting is the
‘Crescent Moon and Star’. This is a recognized symbol of Islam, featured
on the flags of several Muslim countries, as well as the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
The ‘Crescent Moon and Star’ has become closely associated with the
Islamic calendar, in which a month begins with the sighting of the new
crescent moon, making it an important part of calculating key Islamic
holy events. Thus, the holy month of Ramadan, a period of purification
and reconciliation, as well as its concluding feast Eid-al-Fitr, are
determined by the appearance of the crescent moon.
Surrounding the rose are the Arabic words Subhaan
Allah, Al-hamdu Lillah, Allahu Akbar, translating to ‘Glory to Allah, all
praise belongs to Allah, Allah is the Greatest’.
These three expressions are repeated after finishing salaat, the ritual
prayer, made five times a day. The first two are said 33 times and the
third is said 34 times, making 100 in all. Prayer beads or fingers may be
used to keep count. Praise is at the heart of Muslim prayer.