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A crescent moon paired with a star.
Also known as: Crescent and star, Hilal, Islamic crescent
The star and crescent is widely associated with Islam and appears on several national flags, though it is a political and cultural emblem in origin rather than a devotional one, and is not universally accepted by Muslims.
Is widely associated with Islam and Muslim communities, and appears on the flags of several majority-Muslim states.
Contexts: Religion
Has no basis in the Quran and is not regarded by all Muslims as a religious symbol; its association with Islam is generally traced to Ottoman use, with earlier history as a civic emblem.
Important qualification: many Muslims regard it as a cultural or national emblem rather than a symbol of the faith itself.
Contexts: Religion
Predates Islam as a motif, appearing in earlier Near Eastern and Hellenistic contexts unconnected with the religion.
Contexts: Religion
A crescent moon opening to the right, with a small five-pointed star near its opening.
A bare crescent is the astronomical symbol for the Moon and carries none of this symbol's religious or national associations. The star is what distinguishes them.