The Saudi Arabian flag cannot be flown at half mast
Saudi Arabia’s flag is never lowered to half-mast because it bears the shahada, the Islamic profession of faith. What other rules it has.
Almost all flags can be lowered to half-mast as a sign of mourning. Saudi Arabia’s cannot. It is one of the few in the world that are never lowered, and the reason is what is written on it.
Why it is not lowered
The flag bears the shahada, the Islamic profession of faith: لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا الله مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ الله (“There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God”), written in white on a green background, with a white sword beneath. Since it contains the sacred word, lowering it would be considered blasphemous and desecrating, and it is forbidden. According to the same source, the same happens in Afghanistan, Somaliland and Iraq.
The other flags at half-mast; Saudi Arabia’s green one at the top.
Another picture of the same custom.
Other rules of the Saudi flag
- It is made with identical obverse and reverse, so the text reads correctly from both sides; the sword points left on both.
- It is not normally used on T-shirts or other items, because the shahada is considered holy.
- Under Saudi law, the normal flag cannot be hoisted vertically.
- Since 15 March 1973 it has been the current official design. From 1902 to 1921 a different inscription was used; in 1921 Abdulaziz Al Saud added the sword and by 1938 it had basically reached its present form.
- Green represents Islam and the sword, safety and justice.
Flag of Saudi Arabia.
