What are some characteristics of Islamic art?

Once a
uniquely form of Islamic art emerged, one of its most defining
characteristics was surfaces that were
completely covered in decoration. There are four different
types of decorations found in Islamic art: "calligraphy,
vegetal patterns, geometric patterns, and figural representation" (The Metropolitan Museum
of Art, Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, href="https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/orna/hd_orna.htm">"The Nature of
Islamic Art").

Calligraphy is
essentially a form of beautiful, embellished writing. Writing became essential to the Islamic
culture because the Prophet Muhammed's revelations eventually needed to be recorded in what
became called the Koran. Plus, most Muslims could not read; therefore, decorative writing became
essential in making the words of the prophet meaningful to all (Heilbrunn Timeline of
Art History, href="https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/cali/hd_cali.htm"> "Caligraphy
in...

href="http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/c/calligraphy-in-islamic-art/">

href="http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/c/calligraphy-in-islamic-art/">http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/c/calligraphy-in-is...
href="https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/orna/hd_orna.htm">https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/orna/hd_orna.htm