Ni lazima kuwa na bendera na mabango. Tofauti kati ya bendera (liwa) na bango (rayah) ni kwamba liwa ni kitu kinachofungwa juu ya ncha ya mkuki na kukunjwa kuuzunguka, na huitwa "al-‘alam" (alama kuu). Inasemekana inaitwa "liwa" kwa sababu inakunjwa kutokana na ukubwa wake, hivyo haifunuliwi isipokuwa inapohitajika. Ni bendera kubwa na ishara ya Amiri wa jeshi, hivyo hutumika popote alipo. Kwa upande wa rayah, ni ishara inayopewa jeshi na kwa mafumbo huitwa "mama wa vita", na wingi wake ni "rayat". Bango hufungwa juu ya mkuki au mlingoti na huachwa hadi upepo uizungushe.

It is necessary to have the flags and banners. The difference between the flag and banner is that the flag (liwa) is what is tied at the edge of a spear and bent around it, and it is called “al-‘alam” (the standard). It is said it is called “liwa” because it is bent due to its largeness so it is not spread except when necessary. It is a large standard and a sign for the Amir of the army, so it is enacted wherever he is. As for the banner (rayah), it is a sign given to the army and is metaphorically called the “mother of war” and its plural is “rayat”. The banner is tied on a spear or a mast and is left until the wind swirls it.

Jeshi la Kiislamu wakati wa Mtume ﷺ lilikuwa na bendera zake na alama zake. Al-Bukhari alisimulia kutoka kwa Anas kwamba Mtume ﷺ aliwatangazia watu kifo cha Zayd (ra), Ja'far (ra) na ibn Rawaha (ra) kabla habari zao hazijawafikia watu, akasema:

The Islamic army in the times of the Messenger (saw) had its banners and flags. Al-Bukhari narrated from Anas that the Prophet (saw) announced the death of Zayd (ra) , Ja’far (ra) and ibn Rawaha (ra) to the people before their news reached the people and said:

Imepokewa kuwa Mtume ﷺ aliwahimiza watu kupigana na Roma mwishoni mwa mwezi wa Safar, akamwita Usamah. Kisha akamwambia:

It is narrated that the Prophet (saw) encouraged the people to fight Rome at the end of Safar, and he called Usamah. Then he said to him:

Ugonjwa wa Mtume wa Allah ﷺ ulianza siku ya tatu, naye akamfungia bendera Usamah kwa mikono yake mwenyewe. Usamah alilichukua na kumpa Buraydah, naye akapiga kambi huko Al-Jurf. Imepokewa kutoka kwa Al-Harith bin Hasan Al-Bakri aliyesema:

The illness of the Messenger of Allah (saw) began on the third day and he tied a flag for Usamah by his own hands. Usamah took it and gave it to Buraydah, and he encamped at Al-Jurf. It has been narrated from Al-Harith bin Hasan Al-Bakri who said:

Ilikuja katika Sahihi mbili (vitabu vya hadithi)

It came in the two Sahih (books of ahadith)

Imepokewa kutoka kwa Anas katika An-Nisai

It has been narrated from Anas in An-Nisai

Ni wazi kutokana na hadithi zilizotajwa hapo juu kwamba jeshi katika zama za Mtume ﷺ lilikuwa na bendera zake na alama zake. Uchunguzi wa kina wa matini unaonyesha kwamba bendera (rayah) ni ndogo kuliko alama (liwaa), na alama ni kubwa kuliko bendera. Alama hufungwa kwa ajili ya kiongozi wa jeshi, na bendera hupewa jeshi. Alama huwekwa katika kambi ya jeshi kama ishara ya kiongozi wa jeshi, na bendera ziko kwa viongozi wa vikosi na misafara, na kwa vitengo mbalimbali vya jeshi. Jeshi lina bendera nyingi, ilhali lina alama moja tu. Huu ndio uhusiano wa moja na lingine.

It is clear from the aforementioned ahadith that the army in the time of the Prophet (saw) had its banners and flags. Close scrutiny of the texts clarifies that the banner is smaller than the flag and the flag is bigger than the banner. The flag is tied for the leader of the army and the banner is given to the army. The flag is located at the camp of the army as a sign for the army leader, and the banners are with the leaders of regiments and expeditions, and with different army units. The army has many banners for it whereas it has only one flag. This is the relationship of one with the other.

Kuhusu rangi, imethibitishwa kuwa bendera ya Mtume ﷺ ilikuwa nyeusi na bendera yake ilikuwa nyeupe. Imepokewa kutoka kwa Ibn Abbas (ra) ambaye alisema:

As for the colour, it has been established that the Messenger (saw)’s banner was black and his flag was white. It has been narrated from ibn Abbas (ra) who said:

Imepokewa kutoka kwa Jabir:

It has been narrated from Jabir:

Katika hadith iliyotajwa hapo juu ya Al-Harith bin Hasan imesimuliwa

In the aforementioned hadith of Al-Harith bin Hasan it has been narrated

Hadithi hizi zinaonyesha kwamba bendera (raya) ina rangi nyeusi, ilhali bendera ndogo (liwaa) ni nyeupe.

These ahadith indicate that the banner has a black colour whereas the flag is white.

Kuhusu umbo lake, imepokewa kwamba bendera ina pembe nne na imetengenezwa kwa sufu. Imepokewa kutoka kwa Al-Bara bin Azib, ambaye aliulizwa: Bendera ya Mtume ﷺ ilikuwaje? Akasema:

As for its shape, what came is that the banner has four corners and it is made of wool. It has been narrated from Al-Bara bin Azib who was asked how was the Messenger (saw)’s banner? He said:

Maana ya "namirah" yaani "hibarah" yaani "baradah" kutoka kwenye sufu. Imeandikwa juu yake "La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammad Rasul-Allah ﷺ." Ibn Abbas (ra) alisimulia katika Abu Shaykh maneno yafuatayo:

The meaning of “namirah” i.e. a “hibarah” i.e. “baradah” from wool. It is written upon it “La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammad Rasul-Allah.” Ibn Abbas (ra) narrated in Abu Shaykh the words:

Kinachosemwa kuhusu bendera (liwa) pia kinasemwa kuhusu bendera ndogo (rayah). Bendera hiyo ina pembe nne (arkan), imetengenezwa kwa sufu, na imeandikwa juu yake "La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammad Rasul-Allah" ﷺ, isipokuwa kwamba ni kubwa kuliko liwa, na maandishi yake ni herufi nyeusi, wakati liwa lina herufi nyeupe.

What is said of the banner is also said of the flag. The flag has four corners (arkan), and is made of wool and “La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammad Rasul-Allah” is written upon it, except that it is bigger than the banner and the writing is black letters whereas the banner has white letters.

Kulingana na umbo lililokuja katika matini na kulingana na uhalisia wa viwango, imebainika kwamba kwa kila bendera na alama (mwenge) kuna pembe nne wazi (arkan) zilizonyoshwa kwa urefu wake na upana wake. Kipimo cha upana wake ni theluthi mbili ya urefu wake. Urefu wa bendera ni sentimita 120 na upana wake ni sentimita 80, na urefu wa alama ni sentimita 90 na upana wake ni sentimita 60. Inaruhusiwa kutumia bendera na alama zenye vipimo vikubwa zaidi au vidogo zaidi. Inapendekezwa kwamba kila kitengo na kila kikosi kiwe na alama yake yenye umbo na rangi yake, inayoinuliwa pamoja na bendera ya Dola ili iwe ishara mahsusi ya kitengo hicho na kikosi hicho.

According to the form which came in the texts and in conformity to the reality of the standards, it is noted that for each banner and flag are four clear corners (arkan) extended in its length and breadth. The measurement of its breadth is two-thirds its length. The length of the flag is 120 centimetres and its breadth 80 centimetres, and the banner’s length is 90 centimetres and its breadth is 60 centimetres. It is allowed to use flags and banners of greater or lesser measurement. It is preferred that each division and unit has its own banner in shape and colour, raised together with the State’s flag so as to be a specific sign for the division and unit.

Kama bendera na mabango yanavyotumiwa kwa jeshi, pia hutumiwa kwa miundo ya Dola, idara zake na huduma zake. Bendera huinuliwa katika ofisi ya Khalifah juu ya makazi ya Khalifah, na mabango katika huduma zote za Dola, idara zake, utawala wake na taasisi zake. Pia inaruhusiwa kwa raia binafsi kuinua bendera juu ya taasisi, barabara na nyumba.

Just as flags and banners are used for the army, they are also used for the State’s structures, departments and utilities. The flag is raised in the office of the Khalifah above the residence of the Khalifah, and the banners in all the utilities of the State, its departments, administration and institutions. It is also permitted for individual citizens to raise it over the institutions, roads and houses.