Dear Respected Brother, Mr. Engineer Khajavi,

Greetings and respect,

First and foremost, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you and especially to our Iraqi engineer brothers—on the occasion of International Engineers Day. Allow me to share a few words on the importance of geometry and engineering from a philosophical perspective.

To begin with, the word "Hendeseh" (geometry) is the Arabized form of a Persian term meaning "measure." That is, everything in this universe possesses a specific measure. Another important point is that every human being, regardless of their profession or occupation, is in fact a manifestation of one of the Divine Names or Acts. As the Qur'an says:

"And He taught Adam the names—all of them."

Thus, both Adam and the cosmos reflect all Divine Names and Attributes. In every act we perform, knowingly or unknowingly, those Names and Attributes appear within us.

For example, a teacher is a manifestation of God's knowledge, a sage reflects Divine wisdom, and a craftsman manifests the Name "Al-Saneʿ" (the Maker). So, what, then, is the position of geometry within the fabric of existence?

The answer is this: everything in the "created world" is governed by the knowledge of geometry and mathematics. This means that nothing appears in the world unless it is first determined by mathematical proportion. Consider an engineer who wants to build a house, a market, or a mosque. The first step requires a scientific conceptualization of the structure—a general idea. But to actualize this idea, specific mathematical dimensions must be defined. Thus, the engineer, following the laws of geometry, draws a precise blueprint, and the architect, using the necessary materials, constructs it in the external world.

This example reveals a universal principle: nothing in this world comes into being without mathematical knowledge or geometry. (This is why today; all natural laws are explained using mathematics.)

Philosophers of old viewed mathematics as a "tool of action" for God, just as a carpenter uses a saw or axe. The Creator, the Cause of Existence, shapes the world using mathematics. In the Qur’an, this mathematical aspect is referred to as "qadar" (measure) and "taqdeer" (determination), as in these verses:

"He created everything and determined it with precise measurement,"

"And to Allah belongs the determination of the night and day,"

"There is nothing except that its treasuries are with Us, and We do not send it down except according to a known measure,"

"Indeed, we created everything with measure."

In these verses, the word "shay’" (thing) is derived from the root shā’a yasha’u shay’an or from the verbal noun mashīʾah (divine will). This suggests that "being a thing" is contingent upon Divine Will. The reality of everything exists in God’s knowledge, which is referred to as "qadāʾ" (Divine decree). Qadāʾ and qadar are often mentioned together, meaning: whatever descends from the realm of Divine Will into the realm of creation must first be assigned a mathematical determination.

We must not conflate human mathematics with Divine mathematics. God is the Ultimate Engineer of all creation—He is the Absolute and Infinite Engineer. Human geometry is merely a reflection of the Divine Geometry.

Imagine a mathematician reading from a book or teaching in a classroom. The book represents the "written existence" of mathematics. The lecture conveys its "verbal existence". Its presence in the mind indicates "mental existence". But the true existence of mathematics lies in the "external world"—it is not confined to the mind of the mathematician.

Furthermore, humans tend to impose mathematics on objects externally, whereas in nature, mathematics is inherently and inwardly connected to the essence of things. Consider the structure of colorful flowers, animal bodies, human forms, the moon, the sun, and the stars. Their mathematics is interwoven with their soul and inner being.

Take music as an example. The ancient philosophers considered music a branch of mathematics, because musical notes follow mathematical laws. So, both the act of playing music and listening to it are subject to mathematics. Likewise, the motion of the celestial spheres, according to ancient thought, obeys the "cosmic soul." The universe, from the perspective of theosophical philosophers, possesses a universal soul and is therefore governed by mathematics.

Yet it is crucial to remember: Divine knowledge is higher than mathematics. But when it descends into this world, it is rendered and expressed mathematically.

Thus, if the sciences of geometry and mathematics—and their applications in engineering—are approached through the lens of philosophy, they can become among the most profound ways to know God and arrive at Divine Unity (tawḥīd).

Most wondrous of all is the existence of the engineer himself, to whom God has granted the power and capacity to uncover these laws and apply them on earth, as His vicegerent. In a sense, the engineer continues the work of God upon the earth.

Regrettably, in modern science, mathematics is often treated as a purely material discipline. Consequently, the world is interpreted through a purely material lens, rather than a metaphysical or Divine one. This is in contrast to the classical philosophers and the Noble Qur’an, which regard geometry, mathematics, and engineering—like all other crafts—as worthy of theological contemplation.

Plato, in his famous dialogue Timaeus, illustrates how the Demiurge (Timiourgos)—the Divine Craftsman—creates the world through eternal knowledge and mathematics. This same view is clearly seen in the works of Islamic philosophers such as Suhrawardi and Mulla Sadra in the School of Transcendent Theosophy (Hikmat al-Muta‘āliyah).

Let us conclude this discussion with verses from the Masnavi of Rumi, from the sacred text of Mathnawi Ma‘nawi:

Creation is like water, pure and clear,
In it shines the attributes of the Glorious One.

….
Their knowledge, their justice, and their grace
Like the stars of heaven upon flowing water.
...
Many times has the water in this stream changed,
But the reflection of the moon and stars remains.
...
The beautiful are mirrors of His beauty,
Their love a reflection of His Beloved.

These verses express Rumi's mystical perspective on the manifestation of Divine attributes in human beings and worldly phenomena. He likens humans to clear water, in which God’s attributes are reflected. And though generations and times may change, those Divine attributes remain constant and enduring.

Philosophy, in essence, is for a person to awaken from the slumber of heedlessness, and once awake, to observe the attributes and signs of God in all aspects of creation. In other words, any science—including the disciplines of engineering—if contemplated through the lens of wisdom, becomes a profound path to the recognition of God and the realization of Divine Unity, as the Noble Qur’an continually affirms.

All praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds.
Sunday evening, Esfand 5, 1403 (February 24, 2025)
Gholamreza Aavani