Divine Manifestation in Number and Geometry: The Mirror Allegory as Told by.. .

Although primarily based on the Quran and Sunna, the Islamic interpretation of numbers and mathematics is also inspired by the pre-Islamic Persian culture and the Greek philosophy. Therefore, numbers and geometry not only serve the purpose of building sacred monuments, but they also become instruments for spiritual symbolism demonstrating the divine manifestation in creation of the material realm. This symbolism is used by the distinguished theosophist philosopher of his time, Seyyed Heydar Amoli (c. 1322~1382 AD). In his famous book—Jame’-ol-Athrar wa Manba’-ol-Anwar (A Compendium of Ciphers and a Source of Enlightenment)—he employs a fine allegorical language with particular reference to reflection of light in an ornamental mirror finishing. The close association of such mystical interpretations and architectural form lends itself to a hypothetical causality between Islamic philosophy and modes of Persian architectural expression.