If you’ve kept an eye on the few images of Iranian protesters available to Western media, you’ve probably noticed a lot of protesters are clad in green. Actually, a lot of them are wearing black now, to mourn their murdered cohorts.

Why green? Well both the AP and Slate have recently published explainer pieces on Muslims’ affections for the color.

The AP says green has long had a special place in Islam. “Many flags in the Muslim world use the color, including those of Saudi Arabia and Libya. The cover of the Quran, Islam’s holy book, is green, and the color has been used in the decoration of mosques.

However, it is not entirely clear why the color became so closely associated with the faith.”

Slate says green “was supposedly Mohammed’s favorite color. The Islamic prophet is said to have worn a green cloak and turban, and his writings are full of references to the color. A passage from the Quran describes paradise as a place where people `will wear green garments of fine silk.’ One hadith, or teaching, says, `When Allah’s Apostle died, he was covered with a Hibra Burd,’ which is a green square garment.”