A Geometry of Early Islam – ABJAD, Circles and a Door

“3D Thinking” Pages 175 to 177 Islamic Geometry: This Seljuk period door dates from 13th-century Anatolia and stands as a possible example of a use of numeric values to communicate a message. The door’s design is based the Islamic “close-packing circle” method of design – in this case an arrangement of close-packing circles within a pentagon. The two primary numbers featured are “5” and 10″ – a number combination that occurs frequently in Islam but in this case the door was to a dancing hall for the whirling dervishes.

ABJAD System

Through the ABJAD system the numbers seem to describe the dance: (i) 10-5 Astronomy, cry for calling camels for water. To prepare, to arrange, thing agreed upon. (ii) 50-5-10 To loose the mind. Receive a blessing, on the right side, the right hand. (iii) 100-5 Cry to excite horses, they thronged at the water. Three stars in Orion, fifth mansion of the moon. (iv) 5-100 Top of the head. Summit of the body. Translation: Edward Lane’s 1876 root dictionary. The dervishes rotate like the stars in the night sky. Their right hand faces upwards and their left faces down. They wear tall hats enhancing the summit of their bodies… Arabian Designs – The “Ray” Method  Supplement Arabian Designs – Close-Packing Circle Method Arabian Designs – Close-Packing Circle Dynamics