The Role of Sacred Geometry in Forming Islamic Art
The Role of Sacred Geometry in Forming Islamic Art
: ملخص البحث
إن المتأمل فى آيات الكون والخلق يرر، 94 " إنا كل شئ خلقناه بقدر " القمر، 111 "بديع السموات واالرض " البقرة
فكرل شرئ خلقر هللا، رور الكرون ت كمارا روانين مفينرش فكل شئ فى ترتيب وتناسرق تراو وكرل، إبداع هللا فى كل ما خلق
بقدر وهو السر وراء هذا االبرداع الكرونى الفظريو و رد تنراول الفلمراء دراسرش هرذه الاندسرش المنظمرش للكرون وهرى الاندسرش
المقدسش التى ترتب وتنظو كل أشكال الوجود وال ياة بدايش من رنيش الفين وجزيئات ال مض النوو لالنسران وفرى برتالت
DOI: 10.12816/mjaf.2019.25810 13
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العدد الرابع عشر مجلة العمارة والفنون
االزهار وكريستاالت األلماس وفى فروع االشجار والم ار الب ريش وال يوانات و وال للمجررات والمجموارات الشمسريش
تررى ذرات الاررواء يفتمررد تركيباررا الررى ترتيررب مفررين ويفتمررد الررو الاندسررش المقدسررش الررى فاررو هررذه المظرراهر الكونيررش
لرذا، والترتيبات الاندسيش المكونش لاا وتشمل نماذج هندسيش ونسب رياضريش م رددة تتسرتخدو لت رميو كرل شرئ فرى ال بيفرش
خلرق مجرال مرن ال ا رش الرو انيرش تررب استخدمتاا ال ضارات القد يمش جميفاا فى بناء الفمارة الدينيش بشكل خاص بارد
ومرن هنرا جراءت مشكللة البحكث والترى يمكرن ت ديردها مرن خرالل، االنسان بالكون من خالل تتبع نفس نسب النم البنرائى
التسررا ل التررالى ه مرراهى مظرراهر الاندسررش المقدسررش فررى فنررون الفمررارة والزخرفررش االسررالميش التررى اكسرربتاا جمالياتاررا الفنيررش
االبداايش ؟ وذلك من خالل دراسش مفاوو الاندسش المقدسش واالشكال والترتيبات الاندسيش والرياضيش االتى وضرفاا الفلمراء
ياسررا ا لررى النسررب الجماليررش فررى ال بيفررش لررو ت بيررق ذلررك الررى فنررون الفمررارة والزخرفررش االسررالميش ختبررار ت قررق النسررب
االسالميش ويهدف البحث لبات أن الفمارة والزخرار الاندسيش المقدسش فياا من خالل نماذج لفنون الفمارة والزخار
االسالميش لو تكن وليدة ال دفش بشكل افو او زخرفى ب ت وإنما امت الى أسس هندسيش ورياضيش تفتمد الى الاندسش
المقدسش التى نظمت البناء الكونى وت شر نتائج البحث إلى أن الفنون االسالميش من البنراء المفمرار والتشركيل الزخرفرى
لالس ح امرت جميفارا الرى أسرس رياضريش وهندسريش ذهبيرش النسرب وهرو مرا من ارا جمالياتارا الظراهرة مرن خرالل الرا رش
الب ريش لاا والبا نيش من خالل ارتبا اا هندسيا باندسش الكون المقدسش ما يجفل متوا ال ومتناغما مع الكون ول
: الللمات المفتاحية
الفرن االسرالمى- المللر الرذهبى- اللولب الذهبى- متتاليش فيبوناتشى- المست يل الذهبى- النسبش الذهبيش- الاندسش المقدسش
الزخرفش ا سالميش- الفمارة االسالميش-
Introduction:
The Islamic art is an expression of Islamic faith thoughts and is a reflection of it. In addition,
as beauty, the eyes by which the Muslim recognizes the around world, and as meditation, the
divine wisdom controlling Muslims, and as science is the Muslims' way to repopulate the
earth and realizing the divine intervention. And this had been reflected on forming Islamic
arts while mediating the universe around him and realizing that there is an accurate geometric
system that had its relations controlled by specific ratios which were the cause of creating this
great and accurate beauty and achieving balance in the universe. And as for art as it is the
tangible expression of the intangible internal ideas, different forms of Islamic art like
architecture and surfaces' decoration came as a direct reflection on these ideas revolving The
God and not the oneself ( so, the name of the artist or its sign are not mentioned in its
artwork). In addition, they were all submitted to the divine ratios that God have created in the
universe to achieve artistic beauty according to what these ratios achieved from nature's
beauty and to follow the approach of Allah, and this is the hypothesis that the research studies
to approve its validity.
Theoretical Framework:
The concept of Sacred Geometry:
Geometry is a science dealing with shapes, sizes, lines and the relations linking them. In
addition, in this science, numbers are interconnected with the shape; that we cannot realize the
geometric and mathematic characteristics of shapes without knowing the numeric values of
them. Moreover, as for the ratios, it is the measure of two object's size. In addition, humans
had realized the importance of the relations between shapes and sizes, which create the ratios,
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and also had realized the main connection of geometry, ratios and numbers with nature and
universe and even with the human body during latent regular patterns; creating the system that
controls the universal system and nature. Everything in the universe has its own specific
pattern which is its secret key, and these patterns have its role in organizing everything in the
physical world .
Sacred geometry is the studies of the science of the accurate organizing patterns underlying
inside all objects of the universe.
Plato began the theory of sacred geometry as he thought that God had created the universe
according to an accurate and secured geometric system. This system is the main planner of the
existance and the basis of all life forms of creation, so that the sacred geometry can be defined
as the divine geometric arrangements of all the creatures which achieves balance and
correspondence in the universe; including geometric samples and specific mathematic ratios
existing inside everything in nature so, it is called geometry, as it studies, exploring and
explaining the way in which the physical universal laws are arranged and explaining the
accurate way achieving nature's harmony and the patterns of energy which create and unite
everything, and it is called Sacred as, it studies and records these laws and the hidden systems
of the creation and it is realized as holy, as The One who created it, is the Creator Allah.
This universal law to which all things have submitted to, controls our view to these objects
and our realization of beauty. The ratio on which it depends on is specific specific normative;
that it expresses the universal expression of the satisfied proportionality which achieves
satisfaction among people and it is the golden ratio which scholars explored in the olden days
realizing its relation with beauty; that everything makes eyes feel comfort and gives a feeling
of a special beauty, and it must contain the golden ratio whether in its dimensions or its
arrangement and harmony and it can be applied on 5 patterns:
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specific tool which is called GOLDEN MEAN GAUGE (fig.2) through which the golden
ratio is accurately, easily and quickly explored and measured in many forms of nature; that as
long as its obtuse angle differs, it remains keeping the golden ratio and separating between its
heads.
Fibonacci series:
It is a series of following numbers that every number is the result of adding the two previous
numbers to it (Image), namely:
0.1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55. And so the series indefinitely developed. And the features of this
series are created by the Mathieu, Leonardo Fibonacci so it is called by his name and the
boundary distances of the numbers' location in Fibonacci's series are correspondent with the
golden ratio and also the division of two sequent numbers in the series; results a very closed
ratio to the golden one to reach 55/33 = 1.617 getting the nearest number equaling the golden
ratio.
Golden Rectangle:
Ancient Greek knows golden rectangle and Pythagoras
mentioned it during his works. It is a rectangle divided
from inside into squares, whereby the squares' sides
length are serial like the numbers' serial in Fibonacci's
series. Assuming that it begins with 1 unit side length
square and another square with also 1 unit side length is
established next to it and then, the largest square
is established on these squares that its side length equals the Figure3: golden rectangle
side length of the two previous squares ( 2 unit 1+1) and the same process is repeated and a
square is established on the previous ones, its side length equals the side length of the latest
two squares (3 unit 2+1) and then establishing a square that its side length equals the side
length of the latest two squares (5 unit 3+2) and indefinitely so on. Thus; we get the golden
rectangle (fig.3) and on the contrary, in case of deducting the square, we get a smaller
rectangle remaining to be correspondent to the main rectangle and indefinitely so on.
Golden Spiral:
We get this spiral by establishing quadrant at all
the angles of the squares from which the golden
rectangle is formed (fig.4) and it is not a real
mathematic and geometric one as, it is formed
from parts of different and together overlapped
circles but, it resembles the Spiral shape which
is the shape of all forms and development
processes of the shapes of nature as, it develops
and increases with the same golden ratio during
Figure 4: golden spiral
its bending in each square. After each bend, the bending
points on the spiral are 1.618 times the center and after completing a full round from the
center, the ending point dimension equals 1.618 x 8 = 6,854 times the distance between the
last bend and center .
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Golden Triangle:
There is another way to get the golden ratio within establishing a two equal sides square, so
that the head angle can equal 36° and its basis angles equal 72° (fig.5) and in this square, the
ratio between the largest side length to the smallest one (basis) equals the golden ratio. And
the square can be divided into small triangles but with the same ratios by halving one of the
basis angles and we can get the golden spiral by establishing parentheses beginning from one
of the two basis angles to the other angle and then, it directs into the head angle and so on4
Symbolism of Numbers:
Numbers play an important role in the sacred geometry. It forms the values of golden ratios,
the golden ratio is the numeric value, Fibonacci series is a development and increase of
numeric values and the golden triangle and the golden rectangle are together arranged and
divided within specific numeric values and thus; numbers have important role in creating the
golden ratio and in olden days, it was thought that every number has its own internal value
distinguishing it8 , and reflecting a specific symbolic meaning which increases the importance
of some numbers that may reach the limit of holiness and also it was expressing the origin
pattern of nature.
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A shape carrying
The principles of
Regular renovation and
quintet surviving prayer times
5 Pentad
Highest five Islamic principles
symbol of 5 The seeds of life in
life the fruit are arranged
in astral pattern
Pentagon) the sacred figure
in Islamic patterns)
- It works at the
condition, which
requires strength and
continuation- On of
the regular shapes by
which we can fill the
Contrast full surface area
6 Hexad and without any space-
balance The best use of
materials for the least
amount of weight as
for, in beehives 1.5
ounces of 4 wax carry
pounds of honey
Hexagon in Islamic
patterns
Integrality It is not formed of a
and Fig.13 circle - Nature does
hierarchy not produce-Days of
7 Heptad
for
distinguish
week are 7 -Energy
release 7 -
ing
- Eight is the number
passing within the
seven Heavens so;
Peace and some people consider
8 Octad
Stability it the number of the
paradise. Eight angles
are carrying the
throne of Al-Rahman
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nonagon in Islamic
patterns
Integrality,
completin
-Coordinates all the
g the
numbers below.
journey
10 Decad -Having infinite
and
generative power.
returning
to the
radix
decagon in Islamic
patterns
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Achieving
samples Of Description and analysis of the
Image
the golden ratio
ratio
Both eyes, fins And tail are
existed In the golden parts of its
body length, dorsal fins
dimensions are golden parts
Dolphin
(yellow and Green) the thickness
of The tail is corresponded with
the same golden part of the line
from the head to the tail.
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A. Fibonacci sequence:
Fibonacci sequence can be found in various shapes in nature, especially in the
composition of plants' leaves, seeds and petals. It exists in three shapes in nature:
1-Vertical: As in the growth of plants' leaves, they grow upwards climbing up the stem
vertically resembling Fibonacci sequence.
2-Horizontal: As in sunflowers' seeds, they grow horizontally.
3- Conical or circular: As in pines' fruits, they resemble Fibonacci sequence by forming a
spiral path.
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Proof of the
sequence in Analysis and description
Image
nature
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A. The Golden Rectangle and The Golden Spiral: The golden spiral can be found in every
shape and growth movements in seashells, fruits, seeds arrangements, human's ears, even the
galaxies, and the arrangements of human's DNA, as if this order has been created in creatures
genes to prove the Oneness of the Almighty.
Example of
the Golden
The analysis and description picture
spiral in
nature
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The pattern
The Sample In Description and analysis Image
measurement
The ab line represents the
height of the house, and
part a represents the
golden section of the
golden line of line (ab) for
House of the Golden the distance from the
17th century Ratio ground to the roof of the
(unknown) PHI Iwan “large sitting room”
and part b represents the
golden section of line ab
of the upper margin of the
wall containing the
Mashrabiya.
The facade of the mosque
(entrance) is subject to its
measurements of the
golden ratio, where the
part starting from the
ground and up to the neck
of the rotation of the
triangular arch is the
El Morsi Abu largest section of the
The
El Abbas golden rectangle, and the
Golden
Mosque part from neck of the arch
rectangle
(Alexandria) up to the the ending of the
wall represents the
smallest section of it .
Likewise the part starting
from the ground up to the
starting of the arch
represents the smallest
section of the second
golden rectangle .
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The pattern In
The Sample Description and analysis Image
measurement
One of the most important
decorations that
characterized the Islamic
art, which strongly reflect
the concept of sacred
architecture, is that
although it is based on
Stellar The rectangle
purely engineering and
Geometric and the gold
compulsory accounts, it is
motifs Spiral
a whale within which
symbolic meanings
reflected the Islamic
thought and vision of the
absolute God that has no
limits and no end, Hence,
the status of sanctity has
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Conclusion:
1- All forms of life are governed by fixed and specific laws which are regulated and this is
clearly shown by the most precise unit of human being which is DNA, even the galaxies in
the sky are all guided by a unified universe that indicates the unity of the Creator.
2- The Muslim artist was influenced by this sacred geometry and reflected in many works of
art (in addition to his use of other proportions), where he took care of engineering and
proportions in the design of parts which is placed in arrangements according to the
engineering planning accurate in most cases to the golden ratio in particular.
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Recommendations:
1 - Interest in teaching the golden ratio in the Islamic arts (many) in various fields for the
students of art as authentic artistic models to achieve the golden ratio, especially that we have
a huge savings of Islamic arts, which is subject to this ratio.
2 - Taking advantage of the golden ratio in contemporary designs to achieve comfortable
beauty ratios .
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