Hawk of Quraish

The so-called Hawk of Quraish is a symbol which is found on a number of emblems, coat of arms and flags of several states of the Arab world. The Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula, today especially those from the Persian Gulf coast, are traditionally falconry experts; falcons (and hawks) are seen as status symbols and one of the Arabs' favourite animals. Also the traditions and recorded history about the Quraysh and Muhammad claim a falcon had been used as clan symbol. Therefore, several variants of the Quraishi hawk were and are seen in the flags, coat of arms, seals and emblems of several Arab states until today. In that meaning, the Hawk of Quraish is a rival to the so-called Eagle of Saladin.^[1][2]

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  Quraishi hawk in the Emblem of Kuwait
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  Quraishi hawk in the Emblem of the United Arab Emirates
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  Hawk in the emblem of Emirate of Abu Dhabi (UAE)
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  Quraishi hawk in the emblem of Emirate of Dubai (UAE)

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  Quraishi hawk in the former Coat of arms of Libya (until 2011)
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  Quraishi hawk in the arms of the former Federation of Arab Republics (including Egypt, Syria, and Libya) (1972–1980)
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  Quraishi hawk in Coat of arms of the Syrian Republic (1930–58) and (1961–1963)
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  Quraishi hawk in Coat of arms of the Syrian Republic (1963–1972)
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  Quraishi hawk in the Coat of arms of Syria (since 1980)

References

1. Karl-Heinz Hesmer: Flaggen und Wappen der Welt, pages 93, 155 and 171. Bertelsmann Lexikon Verlag, Güstersloh 1992
2. Syed Junaid Imam: The Flag of Quraish, Flags Of The World (1999)

Sources

• This article is based on a translation of the corresponding article from the German Wikipedia.