Rub el Hizb Symbol ❋ Copy & Paste: Islamic Star & Meaning

The Rub el Hizb (❋) is an Islamic symbol shaped like two overlapping squares, creating an eight-pointed star with a circle in the center. It is used in Quranic calligraphy to mark the end of a chapter or section, and it appears extensively in Islamic art, architecture, and decorative design across the Muslim world.

Copy the Symbol

Meaning and Origins

The name comes from Arabic: "Rub" means quarter or one-fourth, and "Hizb" means group or party. In Quran recitation, a Hizb is a division of the text — the Quran is divided into 60 Hizb (or 30 Juz). The Rub el Hizb marks the midpoint of a Hizb, meaning it indicates you have completed one-quarter of a Hizb section.

The symbol predates Islam as a geometric pattern but became deeply associated with Islamic art and scholarship. The eight-pointed star design, created by overlapping two squares at 45 degrees, is called a "Khatam" or "Seal of the Prophets" in some traditions.

Uses in Islamic Art and Architecture

• Quran manuscripts: Marks the end of verses, chapters, or Hizb sections in traditional handwritten Quran copies
• Mosque decoration: Carved into stone, wood, and plasterwork in mosques across the Islamic world
• Tile work: The eight-pointed star pattern tiles entire walls in Moroccan, Turkish, and Persian architecture
• Textile design: Woven into carpets, fabrics, and prayer mats
• Metalwork: Engraved on brass and copper decorative objects
• Calligraphy: Used as an ornamental border or section marker in Arabic calligraphy compositions

The Geometry Behind the Symbol

The Rub el Hizb is constructed by overlapping two squares. Start with one square, rotate a second identical square by 45 degrees, and overlay them. The intersection creates eight triangular points around a central octagon. The circle in the Unicode version (❋) is a stylistic addition to the geometric form.

This construction method — overlapping regular polygons — is fundamental to Islamic geometric art. The same principle creates increasingly complex patterns by overlapping hexagons, octagons, and other polygons.

Cultural Significance

The Rub el Hizb appears on the national emblem of Uzbekistan and has been used as a decorative element on flags, coins, and official documents across various Muslim-majority countries. In Turkey, similar eight-pointed star patterns are associated with the Seljuk and Ottoman artistic traditions.

In modern digital use, the symbol is sometimes used in social media profiles, messaging, and online content to indicate Islamic identity or to mark important sections of text, similar to its original purpose in Quranic manuscripts.

Related Symbols

• Star and Crescent ☪: Widely recognized symbol of Islam, found on many national flags
• Bismillah ﷽: The Arabic phrase "In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful"
• Shahada ☤: The Islamic declaration of faith
• Eight-pointed star ✳: Similar geometric form but without the specific Islamic association
• Khanda ☬: The symbol of Sikhism, which also uses intersecting geometric forms

How to Type Rub el Hizb

Windows

• Hold Alt and type 10059 on the numeric keypad
• Or use Character Map: search for "eight pointed"

Mac

• Control+Command+Space to open Character Viewer, search "eight pointed"

HTML

• Use ❋ or ❋