Khatam, Barzakh, and the Hereafter

This study explores the geometric and symbolic dimensions of the eight-fold zillīǧ patterns in Marīnid madrasas, particularly al-ʿAṭṭārīn and Bū ʿInānīya, and their connection to eschatological themes. Grounded in a multidisciplinary approach, the analysis reveals how these ornamental designs serve as visual manifestations of intellectual, spiritual, and cosmological ideas within the Marīnid elite. By integrating geometric principles with Qurʾānic inscriptions and Sufi notions of ẓāhir and bāṭin, the patterns are interpreted as pedagogical tools for contemplation and spiritual ascent, exclusive to the madrasa’s scholarly community. Furthermore, the study contextualizes these patterns within broader Marīnid strategies of power legitimization, linking them to key sites such as the Dome of the Rock and Shālla. The findings contribute to understanding the interplay between art, symbolism, and intellectual culture in pre-modern Islamic societies, demonstrating how geometry transcends ornamentation to embody profound metaphysical and eschatological significance.