The Relativity of the Rate of the Passage of Time Across Realms of Existence: A Qur’anic Inquiry

The Relativity of the Rate of the Passage of Time Across Realms of Existence: A Qur’anic Inquiry

Document Type : Original Article

Abstract

The relativity of the passage of time, in its general sense, refers to the idea that the temporal interval between two events may differ from two distinct perspectives in an objective and ontological—not merely psychological— manner. The aim of this article is to address the question of whether the Qur’anic verses indicate such a relativity of time. To this end, three groups of Qur’anic verses are examined: the first includes verses that refer to prolonged sleep or death and subsequent return to life (the story of the Companions of the Cave and the story of the Prophet Ezra); the second group refers to the perception of the intermediate realm (Barzakh) as being extremely short by those resurrected on the Day of Judgment; and the third group mentions a “day” equal to (fifty) thousand years. The findings of this study suggest that although these verses do not explicitly state the relativity of time, taken together they provide cumulative evidence in favor of the idea that the rhythm of temporal passage in higher realms differs from that of the natural world. This view also harmonizes with certain insights derived from Islamic philosophy and wisdom. Furthermore, if one moves beyond the technical and mathematical details, Einstein’s theory of relativity similarly points to the relativity of time. This convergence is not a matter of mathematical correspondence but rather a philosophical and ontological resonance, since both perspectives lead to a metaphysical picture of time in which it is neither uniform, rigid, nor absolute.

Keywords

Relativity of time

The Holy Qur&rsquo

Barzakh

Companions of the Cave

Prophet Ezra

Subjects