Which country's flag includes a sword and the Shahada inscription?
Answer
Saudi Arabia
Answer
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's flag includes a sword and the Shahada inscription.
The flag has a green field with the Shahada written in white Arabic Thuluth script above a horizontal white sword. The inscription is the Islamic declaration of faith: “There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God.” The sword's hilt is toward the hoist, or flagpole side, and its tip points left when the flag is displayed conventionally.
The Shahada has appeared on Saudi-associated banners since the era of the First Saudi State. In 1921, Abdulaziz Al Saud added a sword to the banner; later versions sometimes included two swords or a white stripe. The present design was officially standardized on 15 March 1973.
A common mix-up is confusing the sword on the national flag with Saudi Arabia's national emblem, which consists of two crossed swords beneath a palm tree. The flag is also made with matching obverse and reverse designs so the sacred inscription reads correctly from either side. Because the Shahada is considered holy, the flag is not normally lowered to half-mast.
Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026