Numbers are primordial, existing as part of creation even before perception, embodying an underlying design of the earth and cosmos. They guide our gaze upward toward the heavens, across the earth’s expanse, and down into its hidden depths. Our knowledge of numbers is both intangible–transmitted down through generations–and tangible, manifesting in natural and manmade forms.

Our journey begins with an astrolabe—the oldest known, likely made in Baghdad—a tangible model using measurement to describe the intangible: the universe as it was imagined at the time. The exploration of Astronomy & Sciences highlights scientific achievements from Islamic lands, from charting the stars and planets to advancements in algebra and geometry. In Faith & Practice, pious endowments and Qur’ans crafted with parchment, paper, ink and gold, illustrate how numbers are intricately woven into daily rituals. By Land & Sea shifts focus to the worldly realm of trade and markets, celebrating the unparalleled innovations of Muslim geographers whose stories of travels to distant lands, told through texts and paintings, continue to captivate and inspire us today.