Flag of Bahrain - Colours, Meaning, History ??

Bahrain is an island country situated between Saudi Arabia and Qatar in the Arabian Gulf. It is the smallest among Middle Eastern countries but the first to discover petroleum in 1932. Bahrain’s flag consists of a white band separated from the red areas by five triangles serving as a serrated line. These five triangles are a symbol of the five pillars of Islam. You can easily mistake it for the Qatar flag, but there is a difference in color and points. The Qatar flag is maroon with nine points and has a greater length to width ratio than that of Bahrain.

History of the Flag of Bahrain

The Bahrain national flag was red before 1820 but changed when the country signed a general maritime treaty with the British. They added a white stripe as a symbol of the peace signified by the treaty. It was also to distinguish it from flags the pirates used. The country gained independence in 1971 from the British and became a member of the United Nations and the Arab League. The white and red design remained unchanged for the next 112 years and in 1993, the government added the serrated white stripe. This was to distinguish the flag from those of Dubai, Ajman and the old Abu Dhabi flag. The serration had 28 triangles, but no information is available as to what these 28 points represented.

In 1972, these triangles were reduced to eight and later to five in 2002. This reduction symbolized the five pillars of Islam. These five pillars represent the five obligations every Muslim is expected to live by to achieve a responsible and good life. They include:

Shahadah that represents the profession of faith. “There is no God but God and Muhammad is his prophet.”
Salat. The Salat indicates that Muslims must pray five times a day. They should recite the Salat 5 times. The prayer does not have to be in a mosque, but they should pray facing the direction of Mecca.
Zakat. The third pillar they should live by is almsgiving. Muslims are required to share their wealth with those who are less fortunate.
Saum. The Muslims should fast during Ramadan. From dawn to dusk, Muslims are expected to fast during this month, with exceptions for the elderly, pregnant and sick.
Hajj. At least once in their lives, those capable should make the pilgrimage to Mecca and surrounding holy sites.

The royal family incorporated the design of the national flag into the imperial family flag in 2002. The Bahrain army and Bahrain defense force also did the same. The royal flag is similar to the national flag but has a white stripe at the bottom and top. It also has a gold crown outline at the top left-hand corner. Before 2002, the Emir used a flag like the national flag with no golden crown.

Charles Belgrave, the British governor, originally designed the coat of arms in 1932. He was the adviser to the Sheikh of Bahrain then. The design has undergone modifications since then, in 1971 and 2002. The current Bahrain coat of arms, adopted in 2002, is influenced by the original design even though the mantling and indentations were modified. It features a shield that has the five white triangles that depict five Muslim pillars on the national flag. A red mantling surrounds the shield and a white lining that was added in 1971 when the British withdrew from Bahrain. The Bahrain military flags are several. They include:

The Royal Bahrain army flag that features a green field. The national flag is located on the top left-hand corner while a crowned coat of arms is at the center. The crowned coat of arms has four white horizontal lines, and two crossed golden scimitars.
The Bahrain Defense force flag is like the Royal Bahrain flag but with a blue anchor.
The Royal Bahrain Navy flag has a blue field. It features a red-crowned anchor with a golden laurel surrounding a white ship’s wheel.
Royal Bahrain Air Force flag is light green. It features the coat of arms protecting a crowned blue and gold bird. Behind it is a roundel that is black-red and white.

The white and red band separated by five triangles is, however, the official flag of Bahrain and is used on both land and sea as the civil, national and war ensign. In 2014, the Bahrain King approved a law against anyone who insults in a public manner the King of Bahrain, the emblem or flag. Those responsible are liable to a seven-year jail sentence or a fine of up to 10,000 dinars.

What is the meaning behind the colours of the Bahrain Flag?

Colors
The history of the colors on the Bahrain flag date back to the 19th century, during the signing of the General Treaty of peace between the Arab countries and the British. The signing countries were required to include a white band that signified the new peaceful relationship. The Bahrain flag and that of many Arab countries already had the red band. The red color represents the Kharijite sect of the Islamic religion, which controlled this part of the Arabian Peninsula. In 1932, Bahrain decided to add a zigzag design that would set it apart from other members on the treaty. The red color on the flag depicts the beliefs of the Bahrain people while the white symbolizes peace.

Shape
The Bahrain flag has a white and red band. The white band is situated on the left and takes up a third of the background while the red band is located on the right and covers two-thirds of the space. A zigzag design separates the two bands with five white points (triangle shapes). The flag’s height to width ratio is 3:5.

Interesting Facts about the Bahrain Flag

Did you know that in 2004, Bahrain hoisted the largest flag and set a Guinness World Record? The flag was 97.1 m wide and 169.5 m long, but the record was later broken by another country’s flag.
The flag of Bahrain is similar to the flag of Qatar. The only differences are that the flag of Bahrain has fewer points, a 3:5 ratio proportion and a red color instead of maroon.

Do you know any other interesting facts about the flag of Bahrain? Share your thoughts below.

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