Geometric Patterns in Islamic Art: Design and Meaning

Geometry and Pattern
Meaning and Design
Resources

Often characterised by a certain stylistic consistency Islamic art isn’t limited to the artistic expressions of religious devotion. It encompasses all the popular art forms in Muslim culture, inside and outside of the Middle East. While individual pieces of Islamic art tend to exhibit regional influences and intersections with art from other cultures, they usually portray concepts and feelings instead of concrete physical objects.

It’s rare to see depictions of people in Islamic art, as it is considered by some to be a form of idolatry that is forbidden in the Islamic faith. Given that, Islamic art over the years has primarily focussed on calligraphy and geometric motifs as opposed to sculptures and paintings.

Geometry and Patterns

Geometric patterns are believed to mirror the infinite nature of Allah in several ways. Circles for example, have neither a beginning nor an end. The repetitive, complex geometric designs in Muslim art give the impression that even the smallest element of pattern plays a distinctive role in the infinite repetition of the whole.

Muslims are not the only ones who use geometric shapes and calligraphy in their art. The ancient Romans, Greeks and Sassanians also used similar motifs. But in Islamic civilisations, mathematicians and scientists played a major role in developing the complicated forms of Islamic geometric art that we see today. The four basic groups of shapes in Islamic geometric designs are circles, squares and other quadrilaterals, the six-pointed star and other polygons.

Islamic art in Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque — *You can see Islamic geometric patterns mosque interiors and other Muslim architecture*

Geometric patterns reflect the unity and order of the universe while giving the artist an exceptional degree of flexibility and freedom. Such patterns transformed ordinary structures into extraordinary works of art. This is another reflection of a key tenet of Islam: the idea that Allah and Islam infuse life and make it more beautiful. Geometric patterns have been used to adorn citadels, mosques, mausoleums and homes. They are also used for ornamental bowls and mosaics.

Many geometric designs include arabesque patterns with flowing lines inspired by plant structures. In Muslim art, they take the form of repeated floral patterns, tendrils or leaves that

intersect with the other shapes to create an intricate design. The most common plant shape used in Islamic arabesques is the acanthus – a plant native to the Mediterranean that was first used by the Greeks in their art.

Meaning and Design

Islamic art embodies a sense of religious and cultural values. The artistic coherence of Muslim art stems from the core principles of the unity and oneness of Allah at the heart of this faith. The purpose of Islamic art isn’t to create an imitation of what already exists – any imitation would only fall short of Allah’s creation.

Therefore, those who create Islamic art do their best to convey the concepts and meanings in existing objects as a spiritual representation of what they are. Allah is at the center of all Muslims’ lives, so Islamic art also revolves around what would best please Allah. A hadith (prophetic saying) states, “Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty.” This hadith has been laid the foundation of the development of art in the Muslim world.

Inside Blue Mosque in Turkey — *Muslim art is characterised by vibrant hues of blue, green, red and gold*

Colors used in Muslim art have varied greatly from one region to the next. Gold leaf was commonly used to accentuate geometric patterns, but the color scheme could be red, blue, green, black and white or in sandy hues, depending on the location of the artist and the materials at hand. Many ancient artists believed that green symbolised Islam. White and blue represented fluidity, water and purity.

Arabic lettering and calligraphy may also be inserted into geometric patterns to enhance them. Calligraphy was used to write Quranic verses and sometimes even entire chapters. At times, calligraphy was limited to the repetition of a certain phrase, endlessly intertwined within geometric confines. As poetry and literature flourished in the Islamic world, calligraphy was also used as a medium for writing poems and praising rulers.

Appreciating the Islamic art online, through images, definitely provides a window into the beautiful world of religious art from Dubai. However, seeing them in context, living them with all of your senses when you visit Dubai gives a whole new dimension to the experience.
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