Ṣafī al-Dīn al-Ḥilli

…honoured a 13th-century poem by Ṣafī al-Dīn al-Ḥilli referring to red as willingness to shed blood, green for Arab fields, black for battles, and white for purity of motives and deeds. On Jan. 14, 1991, the flag was modified by order of Pres. Ṣaddām Ḥussein through the addition of the…

…recalled a 13th-century poem by Ṣafī ad-Dīn al-Ḥilli that included the words:

…in the 13th century by Ṣafī ad-Dīn al-Ḥilli. He spoke of the green fields of the Arabs, the black battles they face, the white purity of their deeds, and the red blood on their swords. Historically, the first use of those four colours in a modern Arab flag dates from…