Flags With a Moon and Star

What does the moon and star symbolize?

The star and crescent is most closely tied to the Ottoman Empire, whose red flag featured it. After the empire's fall, Turkey kept the white star and crescent on red, and many other countries adopted the symbol as a sign of Islamic culture. On modern flags, the crescent often stands for faith and progress, while the star represents light or unity.

The symbol is not purely religious. It was used as a city emblem in Byzantium long before Islam, and some countries use it as a national or political mark, as well.

Flags with a moon and star

• Turkey: a white crescent and a five-pointed star on red.
• Pakistan: a white crescent and star on a green field, with a white stripe on the hoist side. The green is for Islam and the white for minorities.
• Algeria: a red crescent and star on a green and white bicolor.
• Tunisia: a red flag with a white disc holding a red crescent and star.
• Libya: a white crescent and star on a black stripe between red and green.
• Mauritania: a gold crescent and star on green, with red stripes at top and bottom.
• Azerbaijan: a white crescent and eight-pointed star on a blue, red and green tricolor.
• Malaysia: a yellow crescent and 14-pointed star in a blue canton.
• Western Sahara: a red crescent and star between black, white and green stripes and a red triangle.

Colors and design details

Red and green are the dominant colors. Green is the traditional color of Islam, and red appears on several flags that follow Ottoman or regional tradition. The stars have between five and fourteen points. Azerbaijan's star has eight points, while Malaysia's has fourteen, for the thirteen states and the federal territory.

To tell them apart quickly, look at the background. Turkey and Tunisia use red, Pakistan, Algeria and Mauritania use green, Libya and Western Sahara place the crescent on black or between stripes, Azerbaijan has a blue top stripe and Malaysia has a striped design like the American flag.