Pan-Arab colors
{{short description|Color combination first used in the flag of the 1916 Arab Revolt}}
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{{Use American English|date=December 2021}}
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File:Flag of Hejaz (1917).svg, associated with pan-Arabism.]]
The pan-Arab colors are black, white, green and red. Individually, each of the four pan-Arab colors were intended to represent a certain aspect of the Arab people and their history.Abū Khaldūn Sati' al-Husri, The days of Maysalūn: A Page from the Modern History of the Arabs, Sidney Glauser Trans. (Washington D.C.: Middle East Institute, 1966), 46.
History
File:Flag of Libya (1969–1972, 2-3).svg, or Revolutionary flag
(A modern revolutionary flag that spread to the Arab world inspired by the 1952 Egyptian revolution)[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/xo-arabc.html Pan-Arab Colors], crwflags.com]]
The four colors derive their potency from a verse by 14th century Arab poet Safi al-Din al-Hilli: "White are our acts, black our battles, green our fields, and red our swords.".Muhsin Al-Musawi, Reading Iraq: Culture and Power in Conflict (I. B. Tauris 2006), p. 63 The black is the Black Standard, which was used by the Rashidun and Abbasid Caliphate, while white was the dynastic color of the Umayyad Caliphate.{{Cite journal |author=Edmund Midura | url = https://archive.aramcoworld.com/issue/197802/flags.of.the.arab.world.htm | title = Flags of the Arab World | journal = Saudi Aramco World | date = March–April 1978 | pages = 4–9}} Green is a color associated with Islam, the primary religion of Arabs.{{cite book | last=Teitelbaum | first=Joshua | title=The rise and fall of the Hashimite kingdom of Arabia | publisher=New York University Press | publication-place=New York | year=2001 | isbn=1-85065-460-3 | oclc=45247314 | page=205}}{{cite book | last=Marshall | first=Tim | title=A flag worth dying for : the power and politics of national symbols | publisher=Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc | publication-place=New York, NY | year=2017 | isbn=978-1-5011-6833-8 | oclc=962006347 | pages=110–111}} Green is also identified as the color of the Fatimid Caliphate by some modern sources,{{Cite book |last=Znamierowski |first=Alfred |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OwueMQEACAAJ |title=The World Encyclopedia of Flags: The Definitive Guide to International Flags, Banners, Standards and Ensigns, with Over 1400 Illustration |date=2013 |publisher=Lorenz Books |isbn=978-0-7548-2629-3 |pages=122}} despite their dynastic color having been white.{{cite book | last = Hathaway | first = Jane | title = A Tale of Two Factions: Myth, Memory, and Identity in Ottoman Egypt and Yemen | location = Albany, New York | publisher = State University of New York Press | year = 2003 | isbn = 978-0-7914-5883-9 | url = {{Gbook|L-lPC7DgepEC|plainurl=y}} | page =97 | quote = The Ismaili Shi'ite counter-caliphate founded by the Fatimids took white as its dynastic color, creating a visual contrast to the Abbasid enemy.}}{{cite book | title = The Oxford History of Islam | editor-last = Esposito | editor-first = John L. | editor-link = John Esposito | location = Oxford | publisher = Oxford University Press | year = 1999 | isbn = 0-19-510799-3 | first1 = Sheila S. | last1 = Blair | first2 = Jonathan M. | last2 = Bloom | chapter = Art and Architecture: Themes and Variations | pages = 215–267 | quote = ...white was also the color associated with the Fatimid caliphs, the opponents of the Abbasids.}}{{cite book | title=Ritual, Politics, and the City in Fatimid Cairo | series=SUNY series in Medieval Middle East History | first=Paula A. | last= Sanders | publisher=SUNY Press | year= 1994 | isbn=0-7914-1781-6 | page = 44 | quote=...wore white (the Fatimid color) while delivering the sermon (khuṭba) in the name of the Fatimid caliph.}} Finally, red was used as the Hashemite dynastic color.
Pan-Arab colors, used individually in the past, were first combined in 1916 in the flag of the Arab Revolt or Flag of Hejaz.I. Friedman, [https://books.google.com/books?id=yJ9dFmK7qBwC&pg=PA135 British Pan-Arab Policy, 1915–1922], Transaction Publ., 2011, p. 135 Many current flags are based on Arab Revolt colors, such as the flags of Jordan, Kuwait, Palestine, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, and the United Arab Emirates.
In the 1950s, a subset of the Pan-Arab colors, the Arab Liberation colors, came to prominence. These consist of a tricolor of red, white and black bands, with green given less prominence or not included. The Arab Liberation tricolor or the Arab Liberation Flag was mainly inspired by the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 and Egypt's official flag under president Mohamed Naguib,M. Naguib, Egypt's Destiny, 1955 which became the basis of the current flags of Egypt, Iraq, Sudan,and Yemen (and formerly in the flags of Syria, the states of North Yemen and South Yemen), and in the short-lived Arab unions of the United Arab Republic and the Federation of Arab Republics.{{cite book|last1=Znamierowski|first1=Alfred|title=Illustrated Book of Flags|date=2003|publisher=Southwater|isbn=1-84215-881-3|page=123|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8GG6z5qrS-4C|access-date=22 November 2014|quote=The designs of these flags were later modified, but the four pan-Arab colors were retained and were adopted by Transjordan (1921), Palestine (1922), Kuwait (1961), the United Arab Emirates (1971), Western Sahara (1976) and Somaliland (1996).}}
Flags with Pan-Arab colors
= Current National flags =
File:Flag of Egypt.svg|Egypt
File:Flag of Iraq.svg|Iraq
File:Flag of Jordan.svg|Jordan
File:Flag of Kuwait.svg|Kuwait
File:Flag of Palestine (original version).svg|Palestine
File:Flag of Sudan.svg|Sudan
File:Flag of the Syrian revolution.svg|Syria
File:Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg|United Arab EmiratesAlso used as the flag of Fujairah since 1975
File:Flag of Yemen.svg|Yemen
File:Flag of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.svg|Western Sahara
= Flags of first-level administrative divisions =
File:Governadorat de Faium.png|Faiyum Governorate, Egypt
File:Flag of Azal Region, Yemen.svg|Azal Region, Yemen
= Former national flags with the Pan-Arab colors =
File:Flag of Hejaz (1917).svg|Hejaz (1917–20),[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/xo-hejaz.html Kingdom of Hejaz 1915–1925], Crwflags.com OET Administration (1918–20),[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/sy-his1.html Historical Flags Overview (Syria)], Crwflags.com Palestine {{nowrap|(All-Palestine Government,}} {{nowrap|1948–59)}}
File:Flag of Kingdom of Syria (1920-03-08 to 1920-07-24).svg|Syria {{nowrap|(8 March 1920}} – {{nowrap|24 July 1920)}}
File:Flag of Hejaz 1920.svg|Hejaz (1920–26) and Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd (1926–1932), Transjordan (1921–28)
File:Flag of Iraq 1924.svg|Mandatory Iraq and the Kingdom of Iraq (1921–59)[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/iq_kingd.html Kingdom of Iraq (1924–1958)], Crwflags.com
File:Flag of the Emirate of Transjordan.svg|Transjordan (1928–39)[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/jo_his.html Historical Flags (Jordan)], Crwflags.com
File:Syria-flag 1932-58 1961-63.svg|Syria {{nowrap|(1932–58}} and {{nowrap|1961–63)}}, used currently (2011 onwards) by the Syrian Interim Government and the Free Syrian Army
File:Flag of Egypt (1952-1958).svg|Egypt (1952–1958, {{nowrap|flown alongside}} {{nowrap|the national flag)}}
File:Flag of the Arab Federation.svg|Arab Federation of Jordan and Iraq {{nowrap|(14 February 1958}} – {{nowrap|2 August 1958)}}[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/xo-auji.html Arab Federation of Jordan and Iraq], Crwflags.com
File:Flag of the United Arab Republic.svg|{{nowrap|United Arab Republic}} (1958–61), {{nowrap|Egypt (1961–72)}}, Syria (1980–2024)
File:Flag of Iraq 1959-1963.svg|Iraq (1959–63)
File:Flag of the Yemen Arab Republic.svg|North Yemen (1962–90)
File:Flag of Iraq (1963-1991).svg|Iraq (1963–91)[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/iq_evol.html Evolution of the Iraqi Flag, 1963–2008], Crwflags.com
File:Flag of Syria (1963-1972, 1-2).svg|Syria (1963–72)
File:Flag of Palestine - short triangle.svg|Palestine (1964–2006)[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ps_his.html Historical Flags (Palestine)], Crwflags.com
File:Flag of South Yemen.svg|South Yemen (1967–90), used currently (2007 onwards) by the Southern Movement
File:Flag of Libya (1969–1972).svg|Libya (1969–72)
File:Flag of Egypt 1972.svg|Federation of Arab Republics
{{nowrap|(Egypt (1972–84),}} {{nowrap|Syria (1972–80), and}} {{nowrap|Libya (1972–77))}}
File:Flag of Lower Yafa.svg|Lower Yafa
{{nowrap|(Yemen (1800–1967))}}
File:Drapeau de la République Arabe Islamique (Union tuniso-libyenne).svg|Arab Islamic Republic (proposed 1974, {{nowrap|never implemented)}}
File:Flag of Iraq, 1991-2004.svg|Iraq (1991–2004)
= Flags of Arab political and paramilitary movements using Pan-Arab colors =
File:Flag of al-Mountada al-Adabi.svg|alt=Flag of Ottoman era Istanbul-based autonomist "Arab Literature Club" (1909–15), a precursor Arab flag|Flag of Ottoman era Istanbul-based autonomist {{nowrap|"Arab Literature Club"}} {{nowrap|(1909–15),}} {{nowrap|a precursor Arab flag}}Mahdi Abdul-Hadi, [http://www.passia.org/palestine_facts/flag/16.htm Al-Muntadha al-Adhabi] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505085921/http://www.passia.org/palestine_facts/flag/16.htm |date=2014-05-05 }}, passia.org
File:Sdsdsd.svg|Flag of Ottoman era autonomist {{nowrap|"Young Arab Society"}} {{nowrap|(1911–16),}} {{nowrap|a precursor Arab flag}}Mahdi Abdul-Hadi, [http://www.passia.org/palestine_facts/flag/18.htm Jam'yiat al-'Arabiya al-Fatat] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505081407/http://www.passia.org/palestine_facts/flag/18.htm |date=2014-05-05 }}, passia.org
File:Palestinian flag 1938.svg|Flag of the Arab movement used during the 1936–1939 Arab revolt
File:Flag of the Ba'ath Party.svg|Flag of the Ba'ath Party (1947–present), also used by the National Democratic Front for the Liberation of Oman and the Arabian Gulf (active 1969–71)
File:Flag of the Popular Front for the Liberation of the Occupied Arabian Gulf.svg|Flag of the National Liberation Front of Yemen (1963–78), the Dhofar Liberation Front (1965–68), and the Popular Front for the Liberation of the Occupied Arabian Gulf (1968–74)
File:Flag of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman.svg|Flag of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman (1974–92)
File:Flag of Arabistan.svg|Flag used by Arab separatists and autonomists in Khuzestan, Iran[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ir%7Dahwaz.html Al-Ahwaz (Khuzestan) Political Organizations (Iran)] on crwflags.com
File:Flag of Al-Ahwaz.svg|Flag used by the separatist organizations the National Council of Ahwaz and the National Liberation Movement of Ahwaz in Khuzestan, IranS. T. Al-Seyed Naama, [http://www.al-ahwaz.com/english/2006-2007/main.php?file=main&ID=article1&link=HistoryOfAhwaz&title=History_of_Ahwaz Brief History of Ahwaz] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715032419/http://www.al-ahwaz.com/english/2006-2007/main.php?file=main&ID=article1&link=HistoryOfAhwaz&title=History_of_Ahwaz |date=2014-07-15 }}, on al-ahwaz.com
File:Flag of the Arab Movement of Azawad.svg|Flag of the Arab Movement of Azawad (2012–present)
File:Flag of the Syrian Salvation Government.svg| Flag of the Syrian Salvation Government
File:Red flag.svg|Red dynastic color, used by the Hashemites (The Prophet of Islam Muhammad)
File:Umayyad Flag.svg|White dynastic color, used by Umayyads (661–750) and the Fatimids (909–1171)The contrast of white vs. black as the Fatimid/Umayyad vs. Abbasid dynastic color over time developed in white as the color of Shia Islam and black as the color of Sunni Islam: "The proselytes of the ʿAbbasid revolution took full advantage of the eschatological expectations raised by black banners in their campaign to undermine the Umayyad dynasty from within. Even after the ʿAbbasids had triumphed over the Umayyads in 750, they continued to deploy black as their dynastic color; not only the banners but the headdresses and garments of the ʿAbbasid caliphs were black [...] The ubiquitous black created a striking contrast with the banners and dynastic color of the Umayyads, which had been white [...] The Ismaili Shiʿite counter-caliphate founded by the Fatimids took white as its dynastic color, creating a visual contrast to the ʿAbbasid enemy [...] white became the Shiʿite color, in deliberate opposition to the black of the ʿAbbasid 'establishment'." Jane Hathaway, A Tale of Two Factions: Myth, Memory, and Identity in Ottoman Egypt and Yemen, 2012, [https://books.google.com/books?id=L-lPC7DgepEC&pg=PA96 p. 97f]. and the Rashidun Caliphate
File:Black flag.svg|Black Standard used by the Abbasids (750–1258)The Abbasid Revolution against the Umayyad Caliphate adopted black for its rāyaʾ for which their partisans were called the {{Transliteration|ar|musawwid}}s. {{citation | author=Tabari | year=1995 |editor1=Jane McAuliffe | title=Abbāsid Authority Affirmed | publisher=SUNY | volume=28 |page=124}} and the Rashidun Caliphate
File:Rectangular green flag.svg|Green, associated with the Rashidun Caliphate
See also
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
- [http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/xo-arabc.html Pan-Arab colors]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20020624063004/http://www.passia.org/palestine_facts/flag/03.htm Evolution of the Arab Flag], by Mahdi Abdul-Hadi (in Arabic)
{{Arab nationalism}}
{{Vexillology}}