As part of the IIIT Lecture Series for CIS Countries, a webinar titled “The Principle of Beauty in Islam and the Exact Sciences” was held on July 30, 2025, presented by Mariya Golovacheva.
Mariya Golovacheva holds a Master’s degree in Islamic Studies from Hamad Bin Khalifa University (Qatar) and is currently a doctoral candidate at Ibn Haldun University (Turkey), specializing in Islamic philosophy, science, and art.
The webinar explored the concept of beauty in both the classical Islamic tradition and modern science. The speaker emphasized that in Islam, beauty is understood not merely as visible harmony but as a reflection of divine unity and perfection. Scientific discoveries are always linked to a particular worldview, and aesthetics serves as a criterion of scientific truth and a source of inspiration.
The visual expression of beauty in science—such as the structure of the DNA double helix or Maxwell’s equations—and in Islamic art—geometry, arabesques, and calligraphy—highlights the importance of abstract and symbolic forms in conveying profound meanings. Symmetry in the Qur’an is manifested in the structure of surahs and their linguistic patterns, reflecting the harmony of the universe and pointing to the Essence of the Creator.
Beauty and truth are intimately connected at the highest level, as both are considered among the divine names of Allah: al-Jamīl (The Beautiful) and al-Ḥaqq (The Truth).
The webinar demonstrated that the Islamic tradition and the modern sciences share a similar understanding of beauty—as a phenomenon that conveys meaning and reflects a fundamental design. The discussion of unity and symmetry helped uncover deep philosophical links between religious worldview and scientific inquiry.
Additionally, the webinar highlighted the unique role of aesthetics as a bridge between the visible and the invisible, the material and the spiritual. It may be of interest to researchers exploring Islamic philosophy, aesthetics, science, and the mutual influences between them.