For centuries, materialist philosophy asserted that time was an absolute, unchanging, and fixed constant of the universe. However, the theories of 20th-century physics—notably Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity—fundamentally proved that time is not absolute but is instead a flexible, interwoven dimension of space. This scientific conclusion directly affirms the profound perspective revealed in the Holy Qur'an: that time is ultimately a localized perception, created by God, who is Himself unfettered by its limitations.
I. Time as a Psychological Perception
In essence, time is not an external flow but an internal mechanism within the brain, used to compare one moment with another. When we recall a past event, that memory exists only in our mind in the present moment. The perception of "time elapsed" is merely the psychological process of comparing the memory (the past) with the conscious perception (the present). If our memory were erased, we would be incapable of perceiving the passing of time, living instead in a constant, single "moment."
The Qur’anic Example of Subjective Time
This relativity of perception is clearly illustrated in the story of the Companions of the Cave (Aṣḥāb al-Kahf). God kept this community of believers in a sleep-like state for centuries. When they finally awoke, their perception of the duration was dramatically different from the objective reality:
“So We sealed their ears with sleep in the cave for a number of years. Then We woke them up again so that we might see which of the two groups would better calculate the time they had stayed there.” (Surat al-Kahf, 18:11–12)
“That was the situation when We woke them up so they could question one another. One of them asked, ‘How long have you been here?’ They replied, ‘We have been here for a day or part of a day.’ They said, ‘Your Lord knows best how long you have been here…” (Surat al-Kahf, 18:19)
This example confirms that human experience of time is entirely subjective and based on a frame of reference that changes according to the perceiver. The fact that hours-long experiences in a dream can take place in a matter of seconds also demonstrates this psychological elasticity of time.
II. Scientific Proofs of Time’s Relativity
Albert Einstein demonstrated that time and space are woven into a single entity called spacetime, meaning that time is influenced by two physical factors: gravity and velocity.
A. The Effect of Gravity and Position
According to Einstein’s general theory of relativity, the presence of gravity slows the passage of time. The greater the gravitational pull, the slower time moves. The renowned physicist Stephen Hawking used the example of twins to illustrate this: If one twin lives atop a mountain (where gravity is slightly weaker) while the other stays at sea level, the mountain twin would age faster upon their reunion.
This theory has been confirmed with astonishing precision by atomic clock experiments:
- Elevation Difference: Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) measured this effect at an extremely small scale. By comparing two sensitive atomic clocks positioned with a vertical difference of merely 33 centimeters (about two steps on a staircase), they confirmed that the higher clock ran faster. The difference is minuscule—approximately 90 billionths of a second over an average human lifetime—but the fact that time is not uniform, even across two steps, scientifically refutes the notion of absolute time.
B. The Effect of Velocity
The theory of relativity also predicts that the passage of time changes based on the observer’s speed. The faster an object moves, the slower time affects it, a phenomenon known as time dilation.
- The Twin Paradox: If one twin takes a space voyage at a speed approaching the speed of light and then returns, the twin who stayed on Earth will be older. This effect is significant enough that the atomic clocks on Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites must be constantly corrected to account for both the effects of their velocity and their differing elevation from Earth.
- Spacetime Warping: NASA experiments, such as the Gravity Probe B mission, have confirmed that large rotating bodies like the Earth literally warp and drag spacetime around them, demonstrating that the fabric of the universe is dynamic and pliable, not a static stage for absolute time.
III. The Qur’anic Definition of Time Scales
The scientific finding that time is variable and relative confirms the theological position of the Qur'an: that God is not confined to human measures of time. The Qur'an describes heavenly "Days" (Yawm) that are vastly longer than terrestrial days, emphasizing that time is a creation tailored for human beings:
- “... A day with your Lord is equivalent to a thousand years in the way you count.” (Surat al-Hajj, 22:47)
- “He directs the whole affair from heaven to earth. Then it will again ascend to Him on a Day whose length is a thousand years by the way you measure.” (Surat as-Sajda, 32:5)
- “The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in a day whose length is fifty thousand years.” (Surat al-Ma’arij, 70:4)
These differing time scales prove that time is a mutable perception depending on the dimension and the nature of the observer or the event. Furthermore, the Qur'an reveals that on the Day of Judgment, the perception of life on Earth will shrink to an insignificant moment:
“On the Day He calls you, you will respond by praising Him and think that you have only tarried a very short time.” (Surat al-Isra’, 17:52)
Conclusion: Time, Destiny, and the Timeless Creator
Modern science has conclusively demonstrated that time is a created, variable form of perception, effectively refuting the materialist claim of "absolute time and an eternal universe."
God, who created time and space out of nothing, is logically unfettered by them. For God, the past, present, and future—which are distinct to human perception—are encompassed within His single, timeless knowledge. This is the essence of the fact of Destiny: everything that happens is known by God outside of our temporal bounds.
The fact that these scientific truths, only verified by 20th-century physics, were revealed in the Qur'an 1400 years ago, serves as undeniable evidence that the text originates from the All-Knowing Creator:
“...They said, ‘Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. You are the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.’” (Surat al-Baqara, 2:32)
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