"Read" is the first Divine word revealed. It is mandatory for all Muslims to seek knowledge.
The people of knowledge, the 'Ulema', are highly revered and respected in the Islamic world.
These points make apparent the importance of knowledge in the Islamic faith.
There is a saying according to which the sleep of a scholar is worth more than a night spent in prayer by one without knowledge!
Another important thing that other religions failed to do is that Muslims from diffirent cultureal backgrounds and countries could make their own version od Islamic calligraphy.
Nastaliq is a good example of this.
Geometry started to be seen in Islamic artwork, design, calligraphy in the 8th Century CE. Historians believe Muslims took inspiration from Persian and Roman architecture.
Geometry was used to instill in people, a sense of awe and make them contemplate the Glory of Allah S.W.T.. The complexity and intricacy of these geometric designs does in fact create a sense of awe and makes one remember the Creator. The Creator who created man who made the geometric designs and the inspiration behind the designs (nature, the heavens, the undecipherable system of the universe, etc).
Geometry was used due to the belief that it is prohibited to draw the human form.