Flag of Saudi Arabia
From Free net encyclopedia
Image:Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg The flag of Saudi Arabia is the flag used by the government of Saudi Arabia since 1973-03-15. It is a green flag featuring in white an Arabic inscription and a sword. The script on the flag is written in the Thuluth script. It is the shahada or Islamic declaration of faith:
- لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله
- La ilaha Ila Allah Muhammada Rasulu allah
- "There is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah"
The sword, symbolising the victories of Ibn Saud, is underneath the inscription.
Green flags bearing this or other Arabic scripts are frequently seen in Islam and should not be confused with the Saudi national flag. These other flags normally do not bear the sword symbol.
The green color of this and other Islamic flags is said to be derived from the fact that the Prophet Muhammad wore a green cloak.
Use
The flag is manufactured to ensure the shahada reads correctly from each side at all times, with the two sides are stitched together. The sword points from hoist to fly on both sides of the flag.
Because the creed is considered holy the flag is not normally used on T-shirts or other items. Saudi Arabia protested against its inclusion on a planned football to be issued by FIFA, bearing all the flags of the participants of the 2002 Football World Cup. Saudi officials said that kicking the creed with the foot was completely unacceptable.
Since it bears the Word of God, the flag is never lowered to half-mast as a sign of mourning.
The flag use to have had to swords and a stripe in 1932. Then changed March 15 1973 with a one sworded flag.
Other flags
The civil flag, for use by the general public, is green with a golden palm tree over two crossed swords. The civil ensign, for use at sea, is a green flag with the national flag in the canton with a white border. The royal standard is the national flag with the palm tree and swords in the canton.
External link
ar:علم سعوديةde:Flagge Saudi-Arabiens es:Bandera de Arabia Saudita fr:Drapeau de l'Arabie saoudite it:Bandiera saudita he:דגל ערב הסעודית ms:Bendera Arab Saudi nl:Vlag van Saoedi-Arabië ja:サウジアラビアの国旗 no:Saudi-Arabias flagg pl:Flaga Arabii Saudyjskiej pt:Bandeira da Arábia Saudita sv:Saudiarabiens flagga zh:沙特阿拉伯国旗