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Afghanistan 1930-1973

2:3
by Mark Sensen
Flag adopted 31st October 1931

Description
Flag Variant
Fin Flash 1937-1967

See also:

Historical Flags (Afghanistan)

Description

The 1963 Constitution describes the flag of 1930-1973 thus:

Article 4
The flag of Afghanistan is tricolor (black, red and green) all pieces joined together vertically from left to right in equal proportions; the breadth of each strip equalling half of its length, having in the middle the insignia of the mehrab (an arch in a mosque where the praying congregation stands, facing the Kaaba in Mecca) and the mender (a many tiered pulpit placed to the right of the mehrab in a mosque, from which addresses are delivered) in white, flanked by two flags and ensconced in two sheaves of wheat.

The entire constitution can be read at the Afghan Website.

Devereaux Cannon, 8 December 2001

I wonder why the 1963 Constitutional description does not mention the date in Arabic numerals below the mihrab. This was supposed to have been removed only in 1973, so the 1963 description should include it. Perhaps the above text includes post-1963 amendments, one of them a 1973 one relating to flag changes? On the other hand, the description doesn't mention the ribbon with Arabic inscription (shahada) either, so may be the legislator simply forgot a couple of details...

The date in Arabic numerals was actually 1348 —solar islamic calendar equivalent of 1929 AD— the year Zahir Shah's dinasty came to power. Please note that solar islamic is a different calendar from Arab lunar islamic, as discussed here.

Santiago Dotor, 30 January 2002

According to Baert 2001, the 1931 Constitution prescribed new flag and arms. The vertical triband was maintained in its original colours as a reference to Islamic tradition and national history — the use of the Pan-Arab colours is a pure coincidence. On the arms, the mosque was surrounded by a wreath of wheat linked by a scroll bearing the name Afghanistan in Arabic lettering. The date 1348 (1929 in the Western calendar), in Persian, was added below the mosque as the year of accession of Nadir Shah to the throne.

The wreath of wheat symbolized agriculture but also recalled how the Durani tribe got the power in 1747. After the murder of the Persian king Nadir Shah, the leaders of the Pashtun tribes met to decide of the future of the country. During the meeting, a dervish showed up and placed a wreath of wheat on the head of Ahmad Shah, who was immediatly proclaimed King.

The image in Baert 2001 is similar to the one above.

Nadir Shah's son, Mohammad Zahir Shah, was placed on the throne by his uncles in 1933. (...) In 1964, a new Constitution established a new parliamentary regime, but the flag remained unchanged. On 17 July 1973, Zahir Shah's cousin, Prince Mohammed Daoud overthrew the King, then in Italy.

Ivan Sache, 12 April 2002

Flag Variant

2:3
by Mark Sensen modified by Santiago Dotor

Baert 2001 also shows the flag with the arms stretching over the red stripe only and mentions both flags as equivalent variants.

Ivan Sache, 12 April 2002

Fin Flash 1937-1967

by Mark Sensen and Dov Gutterman

From Cochrane and Elliott 1998:

Mohammed Nadir Shah, the victor in the 1929 insurrection, changed Afghan colours from largely red to red, green and black, symbolising bloodshed for independence, hope for the future and the country dark past.

A 1:1 fin flash with those colours was used as fin flash between 1937 —when the Afghan Air Force was reformed— and 1967.

Dov Gutterman, 7 February 2000