The Rub el Hizb is an eight-pointed star-shaped symbol, generally constructed from two superimposed squares and accompanied by a small central circle. Its name means “quarter of a hizb.” Its primary function is textual: in many copies of the Quran, it marks the boundaries of subdivisions that facilitate recitation. The motif later spread through Islamic art, architecture, and several emblems of the Islamic world.
| Symbol | ۞ |
|---|---|
| Name | Rub el Hizb, “quarter of a section” |
| Structure | Two superimposed squares or an eight-pointed octagram |
| Function | Marking Quran recitation subdivisions |
| Spread | Calligraphy, architecture, and emblems |
What exactly does “Rub el Hizb” mean?
The Arabic word rubʿ means “quarter,” and hizb designates a section. The symbol therefore marks an internal subdivision of the Quranic text.
Unicode documents U+06DE as the character corresponding to the Rub el Hizb and notes its use to indicate the boundaries of quarter-sections.
Why does the symbol have eight points?
The most recognizable form overlays two squares offset by forty-five degrees.
The result creates eight points arranged around a center. Manuscripts and printed editions may use more floral or decorative variations.
How does it organize the reading of the text?
The divisions into juzʾ and hizb make it possible to divide Quran recitation into regular portions.
The Rub el Hizb serves as a visual reference point in this organization, which explains its presence in the margins and between the lines.
Why does the octagram extend beyond Quranic use?
Eight-pointed stars hold an important place in Islamic arts. Tiles, manuscript covers, and religious objects feature this geometry.
The Metropolitan Museum preserves a small Egyptian Quran whose box, binding, and opening pages use the eight-pointed star as a protective and decorative motif.
How does it differ from the Star of David?
The Magen David is a six-pointed hexagram formed by two triangles. The Rub el Hizb has eight points and is based on a different construction.
The two forms belong to distinct religious and graphic histories.
Historical sources and reference points
The Unicode Consortium documents the Rub el Hizb and its function as a Quranic marker. The Metropolitan Museum of Art preserves a miniature Quran decorated with eight-pointed stars.
