Islamic Geometry: Patterns That Shape Art, Math, and Faith

By Maya D. '28

Tomb of Hafez (Hafezieh) in Shiraz, Iran

What do ancient mosques and palaces, modern tech design, and Bay Area architecture have in common? Islamic geometry. 

Intricate stars, endlessly repeating patterns, and perfectly balanced designs appear across centuries and continents. Known as Islamic geometric designs, these patterns are more than decoration; they combine mathematics, religious belief, history, and art into a visual language that has influenced the world far beyond Muslim societies. 

Below are some of the most fascinating questions and answers that help explain what Islamic geometry is, where it comes from, and why it still matters today.

1. What is Islamic geometry? 

Islamic geometry refers to a style of design made from repeating geometric shapes, such as stars,  polygons, and interlaced lines, that fit together perfectly without gaps or overlaps. Many of these  designs are tessellations, meaning they can theoretically extend forever across a surface. These  patterns appear in mosques, palaces,   manuscripts, rugs, metalwork, and everyday objects across the Islamic world.  

Unlike many Western art traditions, Islamic geometry avoids figurative imagery and instead focuses on abstraction, symmetry, and order,  creating a sense of balance and harmony.

2. Why didn’t Islamic art use images of people or animals? 

In Islamic tradition, the depiction of living beings, especially in religious contexts, is discouraged to prevent idolization. Consequently, Muslim artists developed alternative ways to express beauty and devotion. Over time, three major branches of Islamic art emerged: 

● Calligraphy (often verses from the Qur’an) 

● Geometric patterns 

● Arabesque (flowing, plant-like 

designs) 

Geometry became especially important because it allowed artists to decorate spaces richly  without depicting life, while still reflecting spiritual ideas like unity, balance, and order. 

3. How does Islamic geometry connect to religion? 

Islamic geometric patterns are often linked to the concept of Allah’s (God’s) perfection and  boundlessness. While Muslims believe that only Allah (God) is truly infinite, repeating  geometric designs visually suggest continuity beyond  what the eye can see. This  creates a reminder of divine greatness without claiming literal infinity within creation. Patterns guide the viewer away from individual objects and toward the idea of a larger, ordered system,  

encouraging reflection, humility, and contemplation. This idea echoes the words of the medieval  scholar Ibn Khaldoun, who wrote: “Geometry enlightens the intellect and sets one’s mind right.”  

4. What shapes are Islamic geometric patterns made from? 

Despite their complexity, most Islamic geometric designs are built from three basic shape  systems:  

● 4-fold patterns (based on 

squares) 

● 5-fold patterns (based on 

pentagons) 

● 6-fold patterns (based on 

hexagons) 

These patterns often begin with a single circle, surrounded by secondary circles that create stars  and polygons. Squares and hexagons tessellate easily, while pentagons require combinations of  other shapes, making 5-fold patterns more  

5. When and where did Islamic geometry develop? 

Islamic geometric art developed alongside the expansion of the Islamic Empire, beginning in  the 7th century after the death of Prophet Muhammad. As Muslims spread across  

West and Central Asia, North Africa, Spain, and beyond, many artistic traditions  

blended. Because dynasties frequently moved capitals, such as from Damascus to Baghdad, Cairo, Córdoba, and Istanbul, craftsmen from different regions exchanged ideas. This movement helped create a shared visual style across the Islamic world,  even though it spanned thousands of miles. 

Islamic Empire

6. How did history shape Islamic geometric art? 

Political change played a major role. Empires rose and fell, from the Umayyads and Abbasids to  the Fatimids, Seljuks, Mamluks, Ottomans, and Safavids. Each dynasty supported art and  architecture, often blending local traditions with Islamic design.  

Influences from Byzantine, Persian, Central Asian, and even Chinese artistic traditions  shaped Islamic geometry. Trade brought new materials like porcelain, while wealthy courts  funded mosques, palaces, and schools covered in intricate designs. 

7. Where can famous examples be seen today? 

Some of the most stunning examples of Islamic geometry appear in:  

● The Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain 

● The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria 

● The Great Mosque of Kairouan in Tunisia 

● Mosques in Istanbul, Cairo, Isfahan, and Samarkand 

These buildings use  geometry on walls, ceilings, floors, windows, and domes to create immersive visual experiences.  

8. Where might people find Islamic geometry in the Bay Area? 

People in the Bay Area may encounter Islamic geometry more often than they  realize. Examples include decorative tile patterns in museums like the de Young Museum or the Asian Art Museum Architectural details in mosques and cultural centers across Northern California Repeating geometric motifs in modern graphic design, tech logos, and digital art patterns in rugs, textiles, wallpapers, and even phone wallpapers are inspired by Islamic  art. Many modern designers borrow Islamic geometric principles because of their  mathematical precision and visual balance.  

9. Why does Islamic geometry still matter today? 

Islamic geometry shows how math, art, faith, and history can intersect, demonstrating how creativity thrives under constraint and how abstract design can carry deep meaning. Even centuries later, these patterns continue to inspire architects, mathematicians, artists, and designers around the world. Far from being limited to the past, Islamic geometry remains a living tradition— one that connects cultures, disciplines, and generations through pattern, symmetry, and beauty.