The Rub el Hizb is an Islamic symbol in the shape of an octagram, represented as two overlapping squares ۞. While its main utility today is to mark a division inside some copies of the Quran to facilitate recitation, it has originally featured on a number of emblems and flags in the past and continues to do so today. It has traditionally been called the Seljuk Star. In Arabic, rubʿ means 'one-fourth' or 'quarter', while ḥizb (plural aḥzāb) translates to 'a group'. The Quran is divided into 60 aḥzāb (groups of roughly equal length in turn grouped into 30 ajzāʾ), with instances of Rub el Hizb further dividing each ḥizb into four, for a total of 240 divisions.

History

The symbol was used as a cultural symbol in the time of Al-Andalus in the Iberian Peninsula, appearing on the coins. In addition, the use of it in so many areas led to its name being changed to "the star of Abd al-Rahman I". From al Al-Andalus it was exported to the rest of the Arab world. It has also been used extensively in Turkic Islamic culture and history.

Variants

Contemporary use

Architecture

The symbol has been used as a basis for plans of buildings, as in the case of the Petronas Towers.

Former flags

Current flags

Emblems