Codex of FaithsAn illustrated atlas of belief

Stars

Nine-pointed star

The nine-pointed star of the Bahá’í Faith: why the number nine stands for completeness and unity, how the star is used and how it differs from other Bahá’í symbols.

Also called Bahá’í star

In brief

  1. I.The nine-pointed star is the most common emblem of the Bahá’í Faith.
  2. II.Nine, the highest single-digit number, stands for completeness and for the unity of the world’s religions.
  3. III.The numerical value of the Arabic word bahá, “glory”, is nine.
  4. IV.Bahá’í Houses of Worship have nine sides and nine entrances.

Chapter I

What it means

Nine is the highest single number, and so a sign of completion: everything contained in one. For Bahá’ís it stands for the oneness of God, of religion and of humanity, the three central teachings of the faith.

It also recalls the faith’s name. In the abjad system, which gives each Arabic letter a number, the letters of bahá, “glory”, add up to nine, and Bahá’u’lláh means “the Glory of God”.

Chapter II

Where it comes from

The Bahá’í Faith arose in 19th-century Iran with the Báb (1819–1850) and Bahá’u’lláh (1817–1892). The number nine was given importance in the writings, and the nine-pointed star became popular as an emblem in the 20th century, especially in the West.

Chapter III

Where you see it today

The star appears on Bahá’í publications, websites and jewellery. Every Bahá’í House of Worship, from Wilmette near Chicago to the Lotus Temple in New Delhi, is built with nine sides, open to people of all faiths.

Questions people ask

Is it the official symbol?

Bahá’í writings do not prescribe it, but it is widely used. The calligraphic “Greatest Name” and the “ringstone symbol” designed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are also important Bahá’í symbols.

Is there one correct form?

No. The star can be drawn in several ways, with points of different sharpness; all are used.

Sources and further reading

  1. Peter Smith, An Introduction to the Baha’i Faith (Cambridge University Press, 2008)
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Religious symbolism and iconography”

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