Muqarnas are among the many marvels of Islamic architecture. These three-dimensional embellishments feature interlocking geometric patterns that are often decorated with floral motifs and take form in niches, domes, or vaults.
Historian Yasser Tabbaa regards muqarnas as one of “the most original inventions of Islamic architecture.”
The finest muqarnas fuse abstract and naturalistic forms in ways that are seamless and breathtaking. They are art within math, representing the golden era of Islamic civilization — a period when rulers promoted both the fine arts and the sciences.
But muqarnas are more than just aesthetic features. They also offer profound philosophical and spiritual meaning.
The Origin of Muqarnas: Baghdad’s Gift to the World
The origins of muqarnas are subject to scholarly debate, but they took form in 11th-century Iran and Iraq. A distinct muqarnas dome style is likely to have emerged in Baghdad — then a major global center of culture and knowledge — according to architectural historian Tabbaa.
Baghdad at the time was also home to intense philosophical debates about the origins of the universe, free will, and nature. Tabbaa argues that muqarnas are probably a physical legacy of this discourse. In his view, they represent a universe in constant flux, controlled and upheld by God, an Active Creator.
“[The muqarnas dome is] a proof of the existence of a God Who can keep this seemingly unsupported, perishable, and ever-changing dome from collapsing, just as He can keep the universe from destruction.”
Yasser Tabbaa, historian
Later on, muqarnas came to symbolize the magnificence of the Heavens and eventually devolved into a mere decorative choice. But ultimately muqarnas are one of the many gifts given to the world by Baghdad when it was home to the world’s greatest philosophers and artists.
Muqarnas quickly became a feature of Islamic architecture across the Muslim world from Andalucia to Kashgar. They are also present in some Mudejar buildings, with Christian rulers using Islamic aesthetic designs even after the Reconquista of medieval Spain.
The origin of the word “muqarna” is unclear. Many believe it is derived from the Arabic word “qarn,” which means horn, reflecting the intricate, horn-like forms that are characteristic of muqarnas.
Functionally, muqarnas involve an exquisite blend of geometry, symmetry, and spatial mathematics. Simple shapes like hexagons, squares, and triangles are repeated and tessellated to form intricate patterns. They require the sophisticated use of fractal and transformation geometry as well as spatial mathematics.
Five Magnificent Muqarnas
Muqarnas are widespread throughout the Islamic world. Here are a few notable examples of muqarna masterpieces:
Abdul Samad Isfahani Shrine — Natanz, Iran
The Alhambra — Granada, Spain
Jameh Mosque — Isfahan, Iran
Fatima Masumeh Shrine — Qom, Iran
Kasbah Museum and Palace — Tangier, Morocco
