Adopted in 1916, the flag of the Arab Revolt serves as the primary genetic blueprint for the "Pan-Arab colors" seen across the Middle East and North Africa today. This iconic banner was born from a unique blend of local leadership by the Hashemites and British strategic interests. While British diplomat Mark Sykes is often credited with the specific layout, the design was intended to provide a unified banner for Arab forces fighting for independence from the Ottoman Empire.
While the layout was refined in the 20th century, the soul of the colors predates the revolt by centuries. The palette may be linked with the Iraqi poet Safi al-Din al-Hilli, who wrote: "White are our deeds, black are our battles, green are our lands, and red are our swords." These verses would have been adopted by groups like the secret Arab nationalist society Al-Fatat to represent different eras of history too, considering the Abbasid, Umayyad, and Fatimid Caliphates, creating a combination that may have inspired Mark Sykes, who connected it with the red of the Hashemites.
Today, this historical legacy has evolved into two distinct visual styles. The "Triangle Style" is preserved by nations like Jordan, Palestine, and Sudan, which maintain the red triangle of the original Hashemite design. Conversely, the "Arab Liberation" style, characterized by horizontal stripes, became the standard for nations like Egypt, Iraq, and Yemen during the republican movements of the 1950s. Understanding this flag offers a window into the deep connection between medieval poetry and modern political revolution.
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