A Comparative Study into “Gere Geometric Designs” in Islamic Architecture and Principle of “Perceptual Creation” in the Mystical Thoughts of Ibn Arabi

This article is an analytic and comparative study into abstract patterns of geometric designs, as one of the most significant spaces in the Islamic architecture, and the principle of perceptual creation. It has a comparative approach to investigate equivalence, effigy, and analogies between the micro and macro systems (in the hierarchical system of the universe). In the mystical cosmology of Ibn Arabi, this is based on the unity of existence in the form of self-disclosures and reflections of God to be eternal and endless. Therefore, in this view, beings are always undergoing changes and transformations and the justice is revealed at any given instant in unlimited forms. Accordingly, abstract forms of Gere geometric patterns in the Islamic architecture and art and the unlimitedly expandable patterns are the result of the rules that are the symbol of the internal aspect of Islam and the mystic concepts of "unity in diversity" and "diversity in unity». It is a descriptive, analytic, and comparative study and used both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The results indicate that the features used in the Gere geometric designs include "possibility of repetition in case of perfection", "possibility of variety and transformation via secondary shapes" and "possibility of maintaining unity and matter while having a variety of shapes". This is the effigy of the principle of perceptual creation in the viewpoint of Ibn Arabi and his followers. The goal of the mystic artist in creating unlimited designs that include a variety of different Gere geometric shapes is to show the constant creation of all beings while aiming for perfection in all divine self-disclosures and this is recreated and achieved through repeatable and various patterns of geometric shapes in the Islamic architecture.