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Islamic State / Syria / Iraq: The flag of the Islamic State (IS), also known as 'Islamic State of Iraq and Syria' (ISIS) or 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' (ISIL).

Islamic State / Syria / Iraq: The flag of the Islamic State (IS), also known as 'Islamic State of Iraq and Syria' (ISIS) or 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' (ISIL).

The Islamic State flag is similar to the flags of other extreme Salafi-Jihadi Sunni Muslim movements. It is based on the Black Standard flown by Muhammad in Islamic tradition and on the Black Banner of the Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258).

In the flag of the Islamic State the shahada or Islamic statement of belief - la ilaha illa-llah, Muhammadun rasulu-llah ('There is no god but God, Muhammad is the messenger of God') - is emblazoned above the seal of the Prophet Muhammad (now kept in the Topkapi Palace, Istanbul), with black Arabic script on a white background reading: Allah rasul Muhammad ('Muhammad, Messenger of God').

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