Is it permissible to eat "croissants" knowing that their history is attributed to commemorating the defeat of the Ottoman Empire?
"Croissant" is a type of bread. Some Arab and foreign sources mention that its crescent shape was made to celebrate the defeat of the Ottoman armies in the Battle of Vienna (1683 CE), or to celebrate the defeat of the Muslims in the Battle of Tours (732 CE). As for the Islamic ruling, there is no harm in consuming it as long as its dough does not contain anything that would make it unlawful, such as intoxicants. It is not forbidden because of the aforementioned story for several reasons:
1. The story is conjectural and cannot be confirmed.
2. It cannot be definitively asserted that its current shape is identical to the shape it had when it was made according to the story.
3. The story is ancient, and its psychological effects fade with time.
4. The crescent is not a symbol of Islam, but rather of the Ottoman Empire.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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