islam time travel

• Discover Islam
• Quran Recitations

• Medical Issues, Media, Culture and Means of Entertainment
• Culture and Thought

The Islamic position on 'time travel'

What does the Islam say about time-travel?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger. If you mean by "time travel" moving between different points in time forward or backward, meaning physically visiting the past or the future, then this is impossible. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): • { And if I knew the unseen, I could have acquired much wealth, and no harm would have touched me. } [Quran 7:188] • { And no soul perceives what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul perceives in what land it will die. Indeed, Allaah is Knowing and Acquainted. } [Quran 31:34] Only Allaah, The Exalted, knows the Unseen; if it were possible to travel to the future and know what would happen, this (the fact that only Allaah knows the Unseen) would be falsified. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): { And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him. } [Quran 6:59] And He says (what means): { Say, "None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allaah. } [Quran 27:65] We would like to point out that "time" is nothing more than a mathematical function of two variables; it cannot be separated or abstracted so that it would be possible to travel through it. However, certain "periods of time" can be (relatively) longer or shorter compared to others. For instance, the time the Dajjaal will spend on earth was described by the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, as follows: " forty days: one like a year, one like a month, one like a week, and the rest of his days like yours. " [Muslim] Another example is in the Hadeeth about Yoosha‘ ibn Noon ( Joshua the son of Nun ) conquering Jerusalem: " He reached that town at the time of the ‘Asr prayer, so he said to the sun, 'O sun! You are bound by the command (of Allaah) and so am I! O Allaah, stop it (i.e. the sun) from setting for a while.' It was stopped until Allaah made him victorious. " [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] However, if you mean merely imagining that one is living in the past and envisioning people's lives then or imagining the future and envisioning the potential scientific and intellectual advancement, then there is nothing wrong with that. Many of the matters that were fantasies in the past have become realities. Allaah Knows best.

Related Fatwa

Wants to write the description of his ideal wife-to-be

Black color is not condition in clothes of muslim women, search fatwa.

You can search for fatwa through many choices

Fatwa Subject

• The Noble Quran
• Noble Hadeeth
• Islamic Creed
• Religions, Sects and Da'wah (Call to Islam)
• Seerah (Biography of the Prophet)
• Merits and Virtues
• Etiquettes, Morals, Thikr and Du'aa'
• Tahaarah (Ritual Purity)
• Salah (Prayer)
• Funeral: Prayer and Rulings
• Zakaah (Obligatory Charity)
• Siyaam (Fasting)
• Hajj and 'Umrah
• Fiqh of Transactions and Inheritance
• Women and Family
• Foods, Drinks, Clothes and Adornment
• Jinaayaat (Criminology) and Islamic Judicial System
• Islamic Politics and International Affairs
• Miscellaneous
• OTHER ISSUES

• Islamic Songs

Special Folders

• Hajj & Umrah
• Xmas & New Year's
• Sacred Months
• Inheritance
• Prayer Times
• Calendar Converter

Copyright © IslamWeb 2024. All rights reserved.

Generic selectors Exact matches only Search in title Search in content Post Type Selectors

Time In The Quran: Taking A Clue From Einstein’s Theory Of Relativity

How are we to understand the Qur’anic verses wherein a day is likened to thousands of years and the events such as those of the Day of Resurrection sound like time-travel? Our physicist author takes a clue from Einstein’s Theory of Relativity.

Science—And The Quran As Revelation

THE QURAN CONTAINS the words of Allah which he revealed to His Prophet, Muhammad ﷺ. The three holy books that were revealed to prophets before the  revelation of the Quran were the Tawrat (the Hebrew Bible, or, Old Testament), the Injîl (the  Gospel, or, New Testament) and the Zabûr (the Psalms of David) as originally revealed to prophets Moses, Jesus and David.

The Quran does not conflict with modern science at all. Interpretation of the Quran’s science-related verses is a function of the basic scientific knowledge of interpreters throughout Islamic history. The basics of scientific facts are there in the Quran, but they are beyond our layman’s imagination and knowledge. With the advancement of science and the propounding of scientific theories that have enlightened our minds and increased our knowledge, we have started to realize that much of this modern scientific understanding is mentioned in the Quran. Moreover, some theories actually interpret Qur’anic verses, or vice versa.

Come join the Al Jumuah family, and help spread the message of Islam to everyone.

"Every single penny that we raise will be fully invested in creating more content to spread the message of Islam."

And they ask you, (O Muhammad) about the soul. Say: The soul is of the affairs (i.e., concern) of my Lord. And you (i.e., mankind) have not been given of knowledge, except a little . Sûrat Al-Isrâ’, 17:85

Contemporary Interpretation Of Qur’anic ‘Signs’ Vis-à-Vis Science

We live on our relatively small planet, which is a very small entity within the vast universe. Allah has told us about the creation of this universe in the Tawrat, Injîl , as well as in the Quran—in which Almighty Allah specifically speaks about His development of the universe:

Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe? Sûrat Al-Anbiyâ’, 21:30

These verses that were revealed to the Prophet ﷺ more than 14 centuries ago are far ahead of the modern theories concerning the creation of the universe. The modern “Big Bang Theory” tells us that the whole universe was once one entity, a single point in space (1) (3), and that later it was separated (burst apart), or inflated. The above-mentioned Verse 30 of Sûrat Al-Anbiyâ’ tells us precisely the same thing; The Quran is telling us about the expansion of the universe:

And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are (its) expander . Sûrat Al-Dhâriyât, 51:47

Modern scientists (2), too, are talking about continuous expansion of the universe!

The Quran also talks about the end of the universe: a ‘death’ of the universe, and its ‘re-creation’ again:

The Day when we will fold up the heavens like the folding up of a (written) sheet for the records. As We began the first creation, so will We repeat it. (That is) a promise binding upon Us. Indeed, We will do it . Sûrat Al-Anbiyâ’, 21:104

The modern scientist says exactly the same thing about a ‘death’ of the universe, its collapse, or, as it is called, the ‘Big Crunch’ (3). Accordingly, the beginning of the universe, its death, and then, its re-formation again, are events mentioned in the Quran; modern theories have been set forth to explain what has happened in our physical universe, what is happening and what will happen, based on methodical and systematic physical observation.

The Quran contains words of Allah, as revealed to His Prophet ﷺ, and these do not contradict modern science. It is as if modern science had taken its basics from the Quran!

A Scientist’s Suggestion

Our interpretation of the Qur’anic verses, when related to our physical world, is partly dependent upon the current scientific understanding that we have. An example of that is the interpretation of the verse,

By the sky and the Târiq . And what can make you know what the Târiq is? It is the piercing star . Sûrat Al-Târiq, 86:1-3

All of the old interpretations say that the Târiq is a ‘piercing star.’ However, the best interpretation of the Târiq as mentioned in this verse—when based on current, scientific knowledge that we have today—is the ‘black hole.’ So, the Quran is saying in Arabic ( al-najmu al-thâqib ) what would mean, “the star that makes a hole.”

The Quran has asked the believer to think about the significance of the creation of the universe, as observed from our earth, as a means to understanding his own existence and responsibility in life:

Indeed in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of the night and the day, are signs for those of understanding, who remember Allah while standing or sitting or (lying) on their sides and [who] give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth (saying), “Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You (above such a thing); then protect us from the punishment of the Fire .”   ÂlʿImrân, 3:190-191

We as humans try to explain—with the ultimately limited science that we have—what has happened, and what is happening now in the universe. But all of our theories and explanation do not go beyond what the Quran tells us.  Concurrent with the Qur’anic “signs” in the heavens is the modern scientific understanding that the whole universe was previously one entity and that then the “big bang,” or the inflation, took place. Has any single one of mankind witnessed what happened? Of course not! So, how then could a scientist expect the end of the universe and its re-formation again, unless he had specifically ‘read’ in the physical world the same as what is mentioned in the revealed Qur’anic verse, quoted above, Sûrat Al-Anbiyâ’, 21:104!

As a scientist believing in revealed scripture, then, couldn’t I mention the Quran as a reference in my scientific research paper or theory—as pointing the way for my pioneering exploration?! This does not mean of course, that I am denying the objective efforts of scientists in advancing the sciences. The advancement of science brings us all closer and closer to real-world facts as these are mentioned in Quran.

Qur’anic Interpretation Vis-à-Vis Earthly “Time”

In fact, we do well to look in detail to modern scientific understanding for relevance in interpretation of those Qur’anic verses regarding the physical world. Now what about the period when the human body stays buried in the ground, after its earthly death, until Allah brings its soul back again to life on Resurrection Day? This period is called in the Arabic Language barzakh, and its English equivalent is “barrier.” Allah is saying that, in the eyes of a human being, the barzakh is a very short period of time from his earthly death until he is brought to life again.

In order that we might understand a component of what happens during the barzakh , let us take a clue from Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity . According to the “time dilation” concept of Professor Einstein, when an object moves through space at a speed approaching that of light, its onlooker’s perception of time ebbs slower and slower. When the speed of light is reached, the onlooker’s time perception approaches zero and slows down ‘infinitely.’ At this speed, mass increases ‘infinitely’ as well. To explain the time dilation concept of his theory, Einstein offered the following example:

If a 20-year-old man is put in a rocket and propelled into outer space at the speed of light, then the time and mass of that person varies as mentioned above. Assume that he continues traveling at the speed of light for a period of what appears to him—based upon his previous experience on earth—to be 50 years, that is, until his age totals 70 earthly years, all the while he is in that rocket and traveling in space. When this person comes back to earth, he finds that the time elapsed on earth is not 50 years, but many millions of years, as Einstein has figured it mathematically. What would seem to the human space traveler in space as a mere 50 years—due to “time dilation” in space—is now re-calibrated to millions of earth years once he is back on planet earth time.

Key to comprehending this is that Einstein relates all motions to the speed of light. In this vein, note that Almighty Allah, Creator of the universe, describes himself as ‘Light’ ( nûr ) in the following verse:

Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth . Sûrat Al-Nûr, 24:35

This Qur’anic verse can be read, in our modern scientific context, to include the sense that all universal affairs are managed by Allah at the speed of light. Time on our planet is a relative thing, and is different from the time calculated by Almighty Allah, as shown in this verse:

Verily, a day—in the sight of thy Lord—is like a thousand years of your  reckoning . Sûrat Al-Ḥajj, 22:47

Also, we read in Sûrat Al–Sajdah, 32:5:

He  manages and regulates (all) affairs from the heavens to the earth; then it (all) ascends unto Him, on a Day, the measure of which is a thousand years of your reckoning.

When you calculate the outer space journey of 50 years as undertaken by the above-mentioned rocket at the speed of light—on the basis of one day in the sight of Allah as being one thousand years of our planet’s time—then these 50 years in space would be equal to 50 x 1000 x 365 = 18,250,000 years on our planet. So the time that would have elapsed on earth upon the return of the person who traveled in space for 50 years at a speed-of-light time dilation would be more than eighteen million years!

Time In Our Barzakh And Resurrection

Now, when a human dies and is buried, he goes through a ‘barrier’ and enters on the other side into what is called in the Arabic language barzakh . How long is the period we spend in the barzakh ? Only Allah knows how long it will be, but after the barzakh , as we are told, Allah will raise up all dead people from their graves on Resurrection Day, apparently in a ‘split second’:

The Trumpet shall be sounded, when behold! From the sepulchers (people) will rush forth to their Lord! … It is a single Sai ḥ ah , when behold! they will all be brought up before Us!  Sûrat Yâ Sîn, 36: 51 and 53

On the day of Resurrection, Almighty Allah re-creates all dead and buried people:

And he (man) puts forth for Us a parable, and forgets his own creation. He says: “Who will give life to these bones after they are rotten and have become dust?” Say: (to him, O Muhammad): “He will give life to them, (He) Who created them for the first time! And He is the All-Knower of every creation! ” Sûrat Yâ Sîn, 36:78-79

On the Day of Resurrection, Almighty Allah brings back all people alive; He brings back the ru ḥ (spirit), instantly, for every re-created person:

The Trumpet will just have been sounded, when all that is in the heavens and on earth will swoon, except him whom Allah wills. Then will a second one be sounded, when, behold, they will be standing and looking on . Sûrat Al-Zumar, 39:68

Regarding the time when Allah raises up people from their graves, the Almighty informs us in the Quran as to what people will say about the length of time they have spent in their graves:

The day when the Trumpet will be sounded: that Day, we shall gather the criminals, blear-eyed (with terror). In whispers will they consult each other: “You stayed no longer than ten (days).” We know best what they will say, when the best of them in judgment will say: “You stayed no longer than a day!” Sûrat Tâ-Hâ, 20:102-104

Also, in Sûrat Al-Isrâ’, 17:52 we read:

It will be on the Day when He will call you, and you will answer (His call) with (words of) His praise, and you will think that you had stayed but a little while

ʿUzair’s “Time-Travel”

All of us know the story of The Jewish Prophet ʿUzair (Ezra) in the Sacred Quran. ʿUzair passed by the city of Jerusalem after it was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. He looked and said, “How shall Allah bring this to life after its death?”  Allah wanted to show him that it is easy for Him to bring this city to life:

Allah caused his death for a hundred years, and then brought him up again to life. When Allah asked Prophet ʿUzair after he had raised him up alive again, “How long did you remain dead?” He said, “A day or part of a day.” Allah said: “Nay, you have remained dead for a hundred years.” Sûrat Al-Baqarah, 2:259

Our “Time-Travel”

Allah tells us that on the Day when He will raise up people, they will think that they have stayed in their graves for only one hour:

And on the Day when He will gather them together: (It will be) as if they had stayed but an hour of a day . Sûrat Yûnus, 10:45

And be in no haste about the (Unbelievers). On the Day that they see the (Punishment) promised them, (it will be) as if they had not stayed more than an hour in a single day . Sûrat Al-Aḥqâf, 46:35

When the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ asked him about Resurrection Day and the time spent in their graves, Allah revealed His answer:

The Day they see it, (It will be) as if they had stayed but a single evening, or (at most) till the following morn . Sûrat Al-Nâziʿât, 79:46

Time—And Speed— Of The Spirit

Why will people feel on Resurrection Day that they have stayed in their graves a very short time? The explanation of that—and Allah knows best—is that when a person dies, his body will stay in the grave on one time plane, or ‘horizon,’ namely, that of earth time, but that his spirit ( ru ḥ ) goes out to another plane, or ‘horizon,’ of time. Only Allah knows ‘where’ the ru ḥ goes to, but wherever that is, Allah gives us the answer as to the speed of the ru ḥ when it makes its final ascent to Allah on that Day:

A questioner asked about a Chastisement to befall the unbelievers—a Penalty which none can avert—from Allah, Lord of the Ways of Ascent. The angels and the spirit ( rû ḥ ) ascend unto Him in a Day, the measure whereof is as fifty thousand years . Sûrat Al-Maʿârij, 70:1-4

In this verse we see that the speed of the spirit, when it returns to Allah, is as if 50 times more than the speed of light—according to how it was above tentatively ‘calculated,’ on the basis of wordings in Sûrat Al-Nûr, 24:35, and Sûrat Al-Sajdah, 32:5.

Spirit Time-Travel

When the spirit travels at an exceedingly high speed outside the body of a sleeping or dead person, and then again with his re-created body travels back to Allah on the Day of Resurrection, the time element would approach zero—when understood according to Einstein’s theory as mentioned herein; accordingly, the re-created person will feel as if he has stayed in his grave a length of time approaching zero: ‘one hour,’ ‘two hours,’ or ‘part of a day.’

The Quran And Science

This article is meant to show the conformity of scientific findings to the Qur’anic language about our natural world, and especially to propose an understanding of time reckoning as presented in the Qur’anic verses bearing on coming events in the barzakh and on Resurrection Day. We suggest that Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, in particular the concept of ‘time dilation’—which comes into play for speed-of-light motion—plausibly explains what might otherwise be objected to as a mismatch of earth-experienced time versus time assessments related to the grave and to Last Day events, as meticulously worded in the Quran for us to ponder.

And, Almighty Allah knows best.

References:

(1)NASA Science: Astrophysics

http://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/focus-areas/what-powered-the-big-bang/

(2) The Hubble Expansion : The Hubble Expansion—UC Berkeley Astronomy Department astro.berkeley.edu/ ṭmwhite/darkmatter/hubble.html‎

(3)The Physics of the Universe: http://www.physicsoftheuniverse.com/topics_bigbang_accelerating.html

Originally posted 2015-04-22 08:24:00.

Dr Ghazi Al Nakshabandi

Related posts.

The Verses Of Intercession: The Great Virtues Of SURAH AL-MULK

The Challenge of the Arabic Quran for English Readers | (Part 1 of 2)

Golden Muslimas

The Liberal Roots of Islamophobia

Zukhraful Qawlal Ghuroor – When Sins Are Beautifully Presented, Deception is Easy

I can’t even believe how good this article is!

Hi and thanks for all the hard work great article It would be better if you had put the Einstein’s quote about Quran

This is a great article. The best part, it is in how humble is the author. We are not here to prove the veracity of the words by any means possible, but reason through them. Good luck

Quran Majeed

Quran Karim contains the knowledge of everything it is a complete code of life and we can only succeed in the hereafter if we act upon this glorious book. In this Holy Quran, Almighty Allah has commanded us the rules and methods to lead a happy and peaceful life so if we only act according to these rules our life would be much easier.

May Allah reward the author and increase us all in knowledge! Ameen

Bassel Hindi

Interesting article indeed..! One point I want to make though regarding the verse 70:4 – we know that Angels are creatures of Light (and the “Spirit” most probably refers to “Angel Jibreel”); doesn’t it make more sense that Angels including Jibreel should also be moving at the speed of light (and not at a speed 50x that of Light)?

Masha Allah. This is so interesting and I learnt a lot Allahuma barik.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

IslamQA: Quantum theory and time travel in Islam

• Posted In IslamQA
• Tagged Islam and Predestination (Qadar) | Islam and time travel

What do you think about quantum theory? Do you think humans can time-travel?

I have read a number of books on quantum theory but I do not know enough about it to express a general opinion. As for time-travel, forward time-travel seems to be possible and unproblematic (if you are on a spaceship that flies near the speed of light, time would travel much slower inside the ship relative to the outside).

But as for backward time-travel, I believe most scientists consider it impossible. From the religious perspective it is problematic because by going back in time everyone else’s free-willed decisions up to that time would be canceled out, since they would have to make them all over again. I believe in a real-time universe as I discuss in this essay , which means that backward time-travel is nonsensical since it would require bypassing God.

Time is merely the fact that some of God’s actions happen after some of His other actions. Traveling backward would literally mean controlling God and making Him undo His own actions, which is naturally absurd.

About Islam

• # Quran 382 Articles
• # Spirituality 382 Articles
• # Discovering Islam 382 Articles
• # Shariah 382 Articles
• # Videos 382 Articles
• # Family & Life 382 Articles
• # Fatwa & Counseling 382 Articles
• # Muslim News 382 Articles
• # Youth Q & A 382 Articles
• # Donate 382 Articles
• Muslim News

Time Travel: Gate to Mysteries of Unknown

In one of Lost TV show’s episodes named “Whatever Happened, Happened”, the audiences were exposed to one of the most puzzling concepts adopted by Albert Einstein’s Special Relativity Theory.

“MILES: What the hell are you doing, Tubby?

HURLEY: Checking to see if I’m disappearing.

MILES: What?

MILES: You’re an idiot. [Takes a seat at the table]

" title="Advertise and Market to Muslims" target="_blank">Ads by Muslim Ad Network

HURLEY: “Back to the Future”, man. We came back in time to the island and changed stuff. So if little Ben dies, he’ll never grow up to be big Ben, who’s the one who made us come back here in the first place. Which means we can’t be here. And therefore, dude? We don’t exist.

HURLEY: Am I?

MILES: Yeah. It doesn’t work like that. You can’t change anything. Your maniac Iraqi buddy shot Linus. That is what always happened. It’s just…we never experienced how it all turns out. [Hurley looks at Jack, confused.]

HURLEY: This is really confusing.

MILES: Yeah, well, get used to it. But the good news is that Linus didn’t die, so that means the kid can’t either. He’ll be fine.”

What Miles was explaining to Hurley was just exactly what is called a Time Travel Paradox.

Time Relativity

According to Einstein the great 20 th century physicist, physical time travel is a scientific phenomenon that can factually happen, yet there are few constraints. Einstein proposed the concept of time delay when he observed that light speed is the fastest universal speed that can’t be exceeded by anything in the cosmos.

He postulated time to be “expanding” when a beam of light is projected from a moving vehicle to preserve the speed of light as constant. Einstein found this really puzzling till he derived his famous special relativity equation from Lorenz equations.

The more the speed the more delay in relative time. This was the indirectly proportional relation that was finally bound by a single equation proposed by Einstein revealing a hidden mystery about time being a dimension, our 4 th dimension.

Speed of Light

Special relativity shows time to be relative, thus a moving vehicle approaching the speed of light shifts in a time delay that can’t be experienced by the vehicle’s driver, but by an external observer. This is what is known as the Twin Paradox.

When a twin brother decides to have a long spaceship journey and the other twin brother stays on Earth, the later will be an aged observer, while the traveling one will stay young due to his time travel in future.

Such a phenomenon is explained as a time delay that is not experienced by the time traveler, yet observed and felt by the reference point observer.

Time delay was experimentally proved in 1971 by Joseph C. Hafele and Richard E. Keating who flew Caesium atomic clocks showing that a-nanosecond time delay took place.

Time Travel Obstacle

In order to travel through time, some constraints need to be understood. Einstein’s theory of special relativity is based on variables and a constant. The variables are time, velocity, distance, and mass, while the only constant is the speed of light.

Traveling to the future is much easier than traveling to the past, since relative high velocities for long time journeys can trigger a future time travel. This is very similar to how the 2D projection of a line rotated into the third-dimension appears to get shorter.

Length isn’t conserved simply because we are ignoring one of the dimensions. Yet, traveling to the past needs a traveler to exceed the speed of light which is impossible according to Einstein’s special relativity.

When getting close to the speed of light a traveler’s mass relatively increases vigorously causing the traveler’s body to stop moving due to Inertia.

When reaching the speed of light, the traveler’s mass also becomes totally unpredictable. Even though, these obstacles are just part of the fact that the speed of light is 299,792,458 m/s and no such speed can be achieved by current technologies.

Time Travel Paradox

Differences between time periods needed for travelling via different speeds. Note: Omega Centauri.

It’s now clear that traveling to the future is possible, while past time travel is not achieved yet.

Though, let’s understand the concept Miles was explaining to Hurley. If a time traveler jumped to the period when his father didn’t get married and decides to kill him, will the time traveler be able to kill his father?

If the father was killed this means the traveler won’t be there anymore and he wouldn’t even die but vanish.

This is a paradox when the father has to stay alive till he gets married and the traveler gets born otherwise he won’t exist.

That’s why whenever the traveler tries to kill his father with a gun the gun doesn’t fire, or police officers arrive to stop him.

This is a philosophical concept that points at destiny. You can’t change your fate but can change how fate occurs. This is like having your arm broken as your fate, you can’t stop you arm from being broken but can choose the way it will be broken.

Ancient Chinese philosophers interpreted the book of changes the “I Ching” as the cycle of changing situations known as “hexagrams”.

According to Confusius and Lao Tzu you can’t stop changes, but you can have the best outcome of changes to pass to the next one.

To pass to the next change a wise man needs to find his inner traits and learn the art of yielding as explained in an earlier article.

This would always happen when a wise man acts through his superior self, acting through morals and noble values. That’s why a person should always accept destiny and find his way to inner peace.

Same concepts were adopted by the Ancient Mayan cosmology as an understanding of time as a series of changing events taking place due to ruling cycles of deities. This concept was explained in details in a previous article about the Mayan Long-Count Calendar.

In Islam, destiny is very clear when it comes to the story of Prophet Moses. The Holy Quran shows that Prophet Moses was destined to be who he is through different harsh situations in his life.

Prophet Moses’ fate was to be a man for a great mission and that’s why he had to get prepared for the unknown. At the point when he was ready, God revealed to him the mission of Exodus.

The Holy Quran says: “(20:37) We have shown favor to you for the second time. (20:38) Recall the time when We inspired your mother with this idea by means of a Revelation: (20:39) `Place this child in a box and put the box in the river; the river will cast it on to the bank and My enemy and his enemy will pick it up.

I Myself made you an object of love and so arranged things that you should be brought up under My supervision. (20:40) Recall the time when your sister was walking along; then she said: `May I inform you of one, who will bring up this child in the best manner?’

Thus We returned you to your mother so that her eye might be cooled and she might not be grieved. And (also remember that) you killed a certain person and We freed you from its evil (consequences) and put you through various trials and you stayed with the people of Madian for several years.

Now you have come back at the right time: (20:41) O Moses, I have molded you for My Mission. (20:42) You and your brother should go (on the Mission) with My Signs. And see that you do not show any negligence in remembering Me.” (Surat Taha).

Past Time Travel… Still Possible

Scientists never lost interest in achieving the impossible, that’s why Ronald Mallett from the University of Connecticut always wanted to achieve past time travel.

His time travel interest evolved when his father died of a heart attack when he was 10. Mallett believed in helping his father out of his heart attack.

Mallett built a time travel device based on circulating laser rings. He argues that at sufficient energies, the circulating rings can create frame-dragging affecting gravitational fields based on Einstein’s general relativity. According to his calculations such frame-dragging can cause past time travels.

Time travel is a very important field of research to fix frequencies due to time delays in satellite signals such as GPS, and other applications.

However, this is not all about time travels, understanding space-time properties reveal secrets of teleportation, higher dimensions, and more.

References:

• “Whatever Happened Is Happened Script” Lost Season5 Episode 11.
• Einstein Online.
• Albert Einstein, Relativity: The Special and General Theory.
• J. C. Hafele, Richard E. Keating, Around the World Atomic Clocks: Observed Relativistic Time Gains, Science Magazine, 14 July 1972, Vol. 177  no. 4044  pp. 168-170.
• I Ching Methonds And Meanings.
• Holy Quran With Translations.
• Ronald L. Mallett.

Privacy Overview

LEARN ABOUT ISLAM

• Browse, Discover, & Explore Islam

What is the Relationship Between Islam and Science?

How does islam address the issue of suffering & evil, what is the islamic perspective on freedom of expression, what is the concept of fitrah in islam, what is the role of music in the quran, how does the quran address the issue of violence, the quranic concept of time: understanding time in islam, types of hadiths: sahih, hasan, and da’if narrations, the compilation of hadiths in islam: in-depth, what are hadiths in islam and why are they important, how do hadiths influence islamic law and jurisprudence, islamic civilization contributions: the golden age, the significance of early muslim empires, the global expansion of islam: faith & enlightenment, significant events & milestones in islamic history, islam on racism and equality: societal challenges, islam and justice: islam’s view on justice and fairness, what are the core ethical principles in islam, islamic ethics: islamic perspective on honesty & integrity, how islamic family law addresses marriage & divorce, what is shariah law and how is it derived, what are the primary sources of islamic law, what are the stages of spiritual journey in islam, dreams in islam: how does islam view dreams, exploring islamic spiritual practices, what is the goal of spiritual development in islam, the historical relationship between islam and christianity, what are the guidelines for interfaith marriage in islam, how does islam view the concept of religious pluralism, religious diversity in islam: islamic embrace, what are islam’s teachings on terrorism and extremism, what is islam’s stance on human rights & social justice, how does islam approach the issue of lgbtq+ rights, islam and democracy: how does islam view democracy, are muslims required to hate or kill non-muslims, do muslims worship the moon or a black stone, do muslims believe in the concept of “honor killings”, are muslim women oppressed and forced to wear hijab.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at is a global Islamic movement known for its commitment to peace, justice, and the betterment of humanity. Time is an essential aspect of Islamic teachings and understanding the Quranic concept of time is crucial for comprehending the faith. This article explores the Quranic teachings on time and how the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at’s perspective on time aligns with Quranic principles.

Quranic Teachings on Time

The Arabic word “zaman” in the Quran refers to time, which is regarded as a finite resource and a means of measurement. The Quranic descriptions of time are vivid and offer a framework for understanding its significance. The Night of Power or “laylat al-qadr” is a sacred night that falls during the last ten nights of Ramadan, where the Quran was revealed. Muslims believe that this night is worth more than a thousand months and that worshiping on this night has immense spiritual significance.

Time and the Purpose of Life

The Quranic view of time is that it is a test and a means of attaining God’s pleasure. The Quran emphasizes that time is a precious commodity, and making the most of it is essential to fulfilling one’s purpose in life. The role of prayer and mindfulness in managing time effectively is crucial. Muslims are encouraged to spend their time wisely, engaging in productive activities and fulfilling their obligations towards family, community, and society.

Time and the Prophets of God

The Quran depicts time as cyclical and the repetition of events in history. The prophetic mission is an essential aspect of marking important periods in time. The story of Prophet Musa (Moses) is an example of recognizing the value of time. In the Quran, the story of Prophet Musa highlights the importance of recognizing the value of time and making the most of every moment.

Time and the Hereafter

The Quranic view of time is that it leads to the afterlife and the Day of Judgment. Time in the afterlife is eternal, and preparing for it is essential. The Quranic descriptions of the rewards and punishments in the hereafter are in relation to time. Muslims are encouraged to be mindful of their actions and to use their time wisely to attain God’s pleasure.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at’s Perspective on Time

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at emphasizes the importance of time management and mindfulness. The Jama’at encourages its members to engage in productive activities and fulfill their obligations towards family, community, and society. The Jama’at’s efforts to use time for the betterment of society are a manifestation of the Quranic teachings on the value of time.

The Quranic concept of time offers a framework for understanding its significance in Islam. The Quranic view of time is that it is a finite resource, a test, and a means of attaining God’s pleasure. Understanding the Quranic concept of time is crucial for fulfilling one’s purpose in life and preparing for the hereafter. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at’s teachings on time align with Quranic principles and emphasize the importance of time management and mindfulness in engaging in productive activities and fulfilling obligations towards family, community, and society.

• Created: May 8, 2023

Leave a comment

Didn’t find what you were looking for, popular categories.

• Foundational Islamic Beliefs
• Islamic History & Culture
• Islamic Ethics & Values
• Contemporary Issues

Popular Books

• Christ in Kashmir
• The Message of Islam
• Understanding Islam
• The Split in the Ahmadiyya Movement

AMJ Websites

• Review of Religions

MemberShip Portal

ASKISLAM - You Ask. We Answer. All Rights Reserved.

Ask a question.

• Evidence Islam is Truth
• The Benefits of Islam
• Beliefs of Islam
• How to Convert to Islam
• Worship and Practice
• The Hereafter
• Stories of New Muslims
• Comparative Religion
• The Holy Quran
• The Prophet Muhammad
• Current Issues
• Islamic History
• Systems in Islam

Evidence Islam is Truth 159 articles

• The Scientific Miracles of the Holy Quran 15 articles
• The Scientific Miracles of the Prophet Muhammad Sayings 2 articles
• Muhammad in the Bible and Other Scriptures 4 articles
• The Authenticity and Preservation of the Holy Quran 21 articles
• Evidence of Muhammad’s Prophethood 29 articles
• Logical Proofs 45 articles
• The Existence of God 62 articles

The Benefits of Islam 62 articles

• The Door to Eternal Paradise 3 articles
• Salvation from Hellfire 1 articles
• True Happiness and Inner Peace 28 articles
• Forgiveness for All Previous Sins 1 articles
• Benefits to Society 15 articles
• Benefits to Science and Civilization 7 articles
• What Others Say about Islam, Muhammad, and the Quran 7 articles

Beliefs of Islam 211 articles

• What is Islam 21 articles
• The Six Pillars of Faith and Other Islamic Beliefs 49 articles
• About God 63 articles
• The Purpose of Life 22 articles
• Stories of the Prophets 64 articles

How to Convert to Islam 13 articles

• How to Convert to Islam and Become a Muslim 13 articles

Worship and Practice 115 articles

• The Five Pillars of Islam and Other Acts of Worship 49 articles
• Islamic Morals and Practices 66 articles

The Hereafter 35 articles

• Paradise 8 articles
• Hellfire 9 articles
• The Journey after Death 12 articles
• The Day of Judgement and Its Signs 9 articles

Stories of New Muslims 277 articles

• Men 98 articles
• Women 132 articles
• Priests and Religious Figures 20 articles
• Personalities 32 articles

Comparative Religion 160 articles

• Jesus 59 articles
• The Bible 21 articles
• Christianity 26 articles
• Mary 10 articles
• Judaism 20 articles
• Hinduism 5 articles
• Buddhism 2 articles
• Sikhism 2 articles
• Scientology 2 articles
• Tolerance in Islam 6 articles
• Uncommon Faiths 17 articles

The Holy Quran 234 articles

• The Authenticity and Preservation of the Holy Quran 26 articles
• Structure and Attributes of the Quran 17 articles
• Selected Topics from the Quran 25 articles
• A Summary of the Quranic Chapters 123 articles
• Essential Verses in the Quran 28 articles

The Prophet Muhammad 124 articles

• Pearls from His Sayings 19 articles
• His Characteristics 22 articles
• His Biography 19 articles
• Evidence of His Prophethood 29 articles
• About His Sayings 15 articles
• Stories of His Companions 22 articles

Current Issues 92 articles

• Human Rights 14 articles
• Jihad and Terrorism 2 articles
• Women 39 articles
• Islam and Non-Muslims 23 articles
• Sects Attributed to Islam 14 articles

Islamic History 25 articles

• In Brief 15 articles
• In Detail 10 articles

Systems in Islam 77 articles

• Family 18 articles
• Politics 3 articles
• Economy 11 articles
• Justice 6 articles
• Crime and Punishment 7 articles
• Health and Nutrition 19 articles
• The Environment 13 articles
• Islamic Songs (Nasheed)
• New Muslims
• Short Videos About Islam

Evidence Islam is Truth 122 videos

• The Scientific Miracles of the Holy Quran 17 videos
• The Scientific Miracles of the Prophet Muhammad Sayings 2 videos
• Muhammad in the Bible and Other Scriptures 2 videos
• The Authenticity and Preservation of the Holy Quran 25 videos
• Evidence of Muhammad’s Prophethood 6 videos
• Logical Proofs 33 videos
• The Existence of God 38 videos

The Benefits of Islam 102 videos

• The Door to Eternal Paradise 3 videos
• Salvation from Hellfire 6 videos
• True Happiness and Inner Peace 36 videos
• Benefits to Society 39 videos
• Benefits to Science and Civilization 13 videos
• What Others Say about Islam, Muhammad, and the Quran 6 videos

Beliefs of Islam 176 videos

• What is Islam 43 videos
• The Six Pillars of Faith and Other Islamic Beliefs 37 videos
• About God 53 videos
• The Purpose of Life 24 videos
• Stories of the Prophets 15 videos

How to Convert to Islam 8 videos

• How to Convert to Islam and Become a Muslim 8 videos

Worship and Practice 16 videos

• The Five Pillars of Islam and Other Acts of Worship 7 videos
• Islamic Morals and Practices 8 videos

The Hereafter 17 videos

• Paradise 3 videos
• Hellfire 2 videos
• The Journey after Death 5 videos
• The Day of Judgement and Its Signs 8 videos

Stories of New Muslims 235 videos

• Men 180 videos
• Women 34 videos
• Priests and Religious Figures 5 videos
• Personalities 18 videos

Comparative Religion 123 videos

• Jesus 65 videos
• The Bible 20 videos
• Christianity 27 videos
• Mary 2 videos
• Judaism 6 videos
• Tolerance in Islam 9 videos

The Holy Quran 51 videos

• The Scientific Miracles of the Holy Quran 9 videos
• The Authenticity and Preservation of the Holy Quran 31 videos
• Jewels from the Quran 7 videos
• A Summary of the Meanings of Its Verses 1 videos

The Prophet Muhammad 71 videos

• Pearls from His Sayings 2 videos
• His Characteristics 32 videos
• His Biography 21 videos
• Evidence of His Prophethood 9 videos
• About His Sayings 1 videos
• Stories of His Companions 5 videos

Current Issues 64 videos

• Human Rights 14 videos
• Jihad and Terrorism 30 videos
• Women 20 videos
• Islam and Non-Muslims 10 videos

Islamic History 21 videos

• In Brief 3 videos
• In Detail 18 videos

Systems in Islam 25 videos

• Family 4 videos
• Politics 1 videos
• Economy 2 videos
• Justice 13 videos
• Crime and Punishment 2 videos
• Health and Nutrition 3 videos

Islamic Songs (Nasheed) 14 videos

• NBN Band 1 videos
• Zain Bhikha 1 videos
• Ahmad Bukhatir 2 videos
• Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) 2 videos
• Kamal Uddin 2 videos
• Labbayk 1 videos
• TalkIslam 2 videos

New Muslims 148 videos

• Merits of Islam 8 videos
• Islamic Beliefs 11 videos
• Acts of Worship 27 videos
• Islamic Lifestyle, Morals and Practices 23 videos
• The Holy Quran 11 videos
• Prophet Muhammad 32 videos
• Social Interaction 22 videos
• Increasing faith 23 videos

Short Videos About Islam 26 videos

• Islam in 3 Minutes 18 videos
• Understanding Islam By Yusuf Estes 8 videos

Islam at a Glance

• Intro E-books
• Benefits to Society

The Value of Time

Description: the importance of time in islam..

• By Aisha Stacey (© 2011 IslamReligion.com)
• Published on 17 Jan 2011
• Last modified on 15 Jul 2018
• Printed: 928
• Viewed: 90,036 (daily average: 19)
• Rating: 2.6 out of 5
• Rated by: 86
• Commented on: 3

There are theories and concepts of time and it is studied in religion, philosophy and science.  Time even has economic value.  Time is money .  Time has social and personal importance; we use our concept of time to place events appointments and milestones in sequence.  We order our lives around time, in Islam lives are structured around the daily prayers.  In the 11 th century, Avicenna doubted the existence of physical time, arguing that time exists only in the mind due to memory and expectation.  Islamic and Christian theologians adopted the idea that time is linear.  Verses from the Bible tell us there is a time for everything.  “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) [1]

Time has an intrinsic value that is recognised even in motivational rhymes for adults and nursery rhymes for children.  To realise the value of one year, ask a student who has failed that year.  To realise the value of one month, ask the mother of a premature baby, and to realise the value of one second ask the survivor of an accident. [2]  

Both the Quran and the traditions of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, make it clear that Islam considers time to a very valuable resource.  Believers are encouraged to be conscious of time, to recognise its importance and to organise it wisely.  If human beings do not waste or abuse time, but rather think of it as a blessing from God then they have every reason to hope for success both in this life and in the hereafter.

“By Al-’Asr (the time).  Verily, man is in loss.  Except those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth and recommend one another to patience.” (Quran 103)

Prophet Muhammad instructed his followers and thus the believers to know and value the importance of time in the following traditions.

Humankind  will remain standing on the Day of Resurrection until he is asked about four things: his life and how he spent it, his youth and how he used it up, his property and how he acquired and managed it and his knowledge and how he utilized it.

There are two of God’s favours that are forgotten by many people; health and free time. [3]

Islam teaches us that time passes quickly and can never return, it is irretrievable.  It is also the most precious gift that humankind possesses and can be taken from us at any given moment.  God is the Giver but He is also the Withholder.  Time passes swiftly and God reminds us in the Quran that the months and years pass but when we are standing before Him on the Day of Judgement our time on earth will seem as though we had lived, dreamed and worshipped for less than a day.

A speaker from among them said, “How long have you stayed (here)?” They said, “We have stayed (perhaps) a day or part of a day.” They said, “Your Lord (alone) knows best how long you have stayed (here).  (Quran 18:19)

They will say: “We stayed a day or part of a day.  Ask of those who keep account.” (Quran 23:113)

A believer should not waste precious time on things that will not bring him closer to his Creator.  Actions that do not contain a benefit for himself, his society or humankind in general are usually wasted actions, wasted time.  Islam categorised things according to their level of importance.  The first Muslims used to capture and use every single second of their time. Create

Thabit Al-Bunany said, “When my father was on his deathbed, I went to assist him in pronouncing the testimony that there is no god worthy of worship but Allah, but he said, ‘Son! Leave me alone, for I have recited all my supplications five times and I’m on my sixth cycle now.”

Prophet Muhammad  also told his followers, “Do not curse time (al-dahr), for God is the one who crafted time. ” [4]   Imam An Nawawi commented on this  by saying, The meaning of the phrase “for God  is the one who crafted time” means that He is the One Who causes those events and accidents to happen, and He is the Creator of all that happens.

Those who understand the value of time should make an effort to organise their time and make realistic plans.  The entire life of a believer can be considered worship when that person is conscious of doing only what is pleasing to God.  Religious obligations must be a first priority, however God is generous and time that seems so fleeting when we are flittering it becomes filled with blessing when we are using it to please our Creator.

The words of God in the Quran and the message of Prophet Muhammad to the believers are clear, we, humankind are told to be conscious of time.  God reminds us that life in this world is but temporary and we do not know our appointed time of death.  As believers we must never waste or abuse time, rather we must value it as a blessing from God.  We must all understand that wasting even a single moment is an opportunity gone, never to return.  When our time in this world is up, there is no going back and we will be held accountable for all that we do. Time is indeed precious! 

[1] Bible -  American King James version

[2] A motivational rhyme, Author - anonymous

[3] Saheeh Al-Bukhari

[4] Saheeh Muslim

Add a comment

• Country: Select Country Afghanistan Albania Antarctica Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Azerbaijan Argentina Australia Austria Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Armenia Barbados Belgium Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia, Plurinational State of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil Belize British Indian Ocean Territory Solomon Islands Virgin Islands, British Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Myanmar Burundi Belarus Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Sri Lanka Chad Chile China Taiwan, Province of China Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Mayotte Congo Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia Benin Denmark Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Ethiopia Eritrea Estonia Faroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Fiji Finland Åland Islands France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Djibouti Gabon Georgia Gambia Palestine Germany Ghana Gibraltar Kiribati Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guinea Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Côte d'Ivoire Jamaica Japan Kazakhstan Jordan Kenya Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Lebanon Lesotho Latvia Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Monaco Mongolia Moldova, Republic of Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Oman Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Curaçao Aruba Sint Maarten (Dutch part) Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba New Caledonia Vanuatu New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island Norway Northern Mariana Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Micronesia, Federated States of Marshall Islands Palau Pakistan Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Guinea-Bissau Timor-Leste Puerto Rico Qatar Réunion Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Anguilla Saint Lucia Saint Martin (French part) Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Viet Nam Slovenia Somalia South Africa Zimbabwe Spain South Sudan Sudan Western Sahara Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Eswatini Sweden Switzerland Syrian Arab Republic Tajikistan Thailand Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago United Arab Emirates Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine North Macedonia Egypt United Kingdom Guernsey Jersey Isle of Man Tanzania, United Republic of United States Virgin Islands, U.S. Burkina Faso Uruguay Uzbekistan Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Wallis and Futuna Samoa Yemen Zambia

(Not shown to the public)

Your comment will be reviewed and should be published within 24 hours.

Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.

Other Articles in the Same Category

Other Videos in the Same Category

Article Categories

Video categories, most viewed, editor’s pick, list contents, most popular, your favorites.

Your favorites list is empty. You may add articles to this list using the article tools.

Your History

Your history list is empty.

Retrieve Your Password

Forgot your password? No problem. Just let us know your email address and we will email you a password reset link that will allow you to choose a new one.

Registration

Why register? This web site has several customizations made specifically for you, such as: your favorites, your history, marking articles you have previously viewed, listing articles published since your last visit, changing font size, and more. These features are based on cookies and will work correctly only when you use the same computer. To enable these features from any computer, you should login while browsing this site.

The field(s) below are optional

IS Time Travel Possible?

Quran does allow travelling into the future

But not the past. a lot of people fantasise about what regrettable errors they would change in the past with a time machine. there is a major problem with this idea. if you do travel into the past and change your mistake there is no way in the future you would ever remember the mistake because it never was a mistake to begin with. to give an example imagine a car trip where turning left leads you to a traumatising future with problems and turning right was a safe passage., if you do travel to the past and give yourself the idea to go right instead of left (as you did before), instantly the future you would forget the mistake of the past and at the future time machine the future you would be contemplating another mistake of the past to change, instead of this left/right decision. that error would never have existed so it wouldn't be a choice at the machine. let's say the time machine couldn't make you change drastic decisions but only allowed you to make a minute change in the past, something as little as not having a certain thought or even moving a hand. this would cause the entire future to change entirely. you could not exist as you now because everything in our past shapes us. something even as simple as changing one thought in the past would change everything.  allah has established a governing law and that is time moves forward., travelling into the past is impossible. "be and it is" means everything has been set before the creation was even created. it could never be "be and it was" however, the quran clearly mentions travelling into the future is possible. albert einstein, in his theory of special relativity, determined that the laws of physics are the same for all non-accelerating observers, and he showed that the speed of light within a vacuum is the same no matter the speed at which an observer travels here is einsteins special relativity in the quran (all movement is relative to other objects.) 1# 2:259 or like the one who passed by a township, and it (had) overturned on its roofs. he said, "how (will) bring to life this (town) allah after its death"  then he was made to die (by) allah (for) a hundred year(s), then he raised him. he said, "how long (have) you remained" he said,  "i remained (for) a day or a part (of) a day."  he said, "nay, you (have) remained one hundred year(s). then look at your food and your drink, (they did) not change with time, and look at your donkey, and we will make you a sign for the people. and look at the bones how we raise them, then we cover them (with) flesh."  then when became clear to him, he said, "i know that allah (is) on every thing all-powerful." allah is the truth, math is the numerically visualised language of the truth and science is the physical entity study of the truth. allah will never go against the truth in order to prove his all powerful. if time travel into the past was possible, allah would have granted the request from the man into going back and seeing the township coming back from the dead, but instead, allah makes him travel hundred years into the future and visually see his donkey being put back together.  2# 27:38-42 he said, "o chiefs which of you will bring me her throne before that they come to me (in) submission" said a strong one of the jinn, "i will bring it to you before [that] you rise from your place. and indeed, i am for it surely, strong, trustworthy." said one who, with him (was) knowledge of the scripture, "i will bring it to you before [that] returns to you your glance." then when he saw it placed before him, he said, "this (is) from (the) favor (of) my lord, to test me whether i am or i am ungrateful. and whoever (is) grateful then only he is grateful for his own soul. and whoever (is) ungrateful, then indeed, my lord (is) self-sufficient, noble." he said, "disguise for her her throne; we will see whether she will be guided or will be of those who are not guided." so when she came, it was said, "is like this your throne" she said, "it is like it." "and we were given the knowledge before her and we have been muslims." in the suliaman narration, we find with the proper knowledge an item can be made to travel distances at the speed of light. 3# 3:49 and (make him) a messenger to (the) children (of) israel, "indeed, i [surely] [i] (have) come (to) you with a sign from your lord that  i design for you from [the] clay like the form (of) the bird, then i breath into it and it becomes a bird by (the) permission (of) allah.  and i cure the blind, and the leper, and i give life (to) the dead by (the) permission (of) allah. and i inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses. indeed, in that (is) surely a sign for you, if you are believers. here isa has the power to make a bird from the shape of clay with his breathe (with the holy spirit). this could potentially mean the clay in isa's hands didn't just become a bird but it could easily be "evolved" into a bird within his hands. the clay could be like the man and the donkey in 2:259 merely speeding up time.  4# 3:59 indeed, (the) likeness (of) isa near allah (is) like (the) likeness (of) adam. he created him from dust then he said to him, "be," and he was. a common misconception is adam and isa were created from nothing. this ayat emphasises that they were not created from nothing but from dust (or a combination of worldly produces materials/compounds).  this could mean as allah can (and does) speed up time, he could have easily evolved adam and isa without the normal requirements of reproduction.  so to summarise there is no going back, we can only move forward. stop living in the past and make sure you take right steps so you don't have to dwell on it in the future.

6 hadiths on the importance of time and timekeeping

You can make time your friend or your enemy, and this is how.

Advertise on TMV

We all think we have all the time in the world until we don’t seem to have any at all. In the Holy Quran, Allah (swt) swears by time, and reminds us that “surely man is in loss.” Time is surely a blessing unto us all and so, how do we treat time, and how do hadiths instruct us to behave in relation to it?

1 . No surprises

2 . five key matters, 3 . never trust time, 4 . on the day of judgement, 5 . contending with time, 6 . if time could speak….

Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha reportedly recited these lines of poetry composed by his grandfather Abdul Muttalib:

All of the people place the blame on time When the trouble with time is only ourselves; We reprove time while the fault lies within us If time could speak, it would surely mock us. The wolf shuns the meat of a fellow wolf Whereas we devour each other in broad daylight. Attired to deceive with our beautiful clothes, Yet woe betides the stranger when he approaches us.

Also check out…

Self analysis and gratitude – do you take time to think and thank? Advertise on TMV

What Does Hadith Literature Say About Jesus?

The Significance of Hadith in Islam: A Guiding Light for Humanity

Reconciling the Prophetic Hadith Citing Women as Inferior to Men

Do Our Personalities Influence How Religious We Are?

When I Learned To Trust God More Than My Parents

6 Quranic Verses and Hadith on Cleanliness

Ohio State nav bar

Ohio state navigation bar.

• BuckeyeLink
• Search Ohio State

The Concept of Time in the Koran

Principal Investigator: Georges Tamer, Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures

Georges Tamer has spent his career studying philosophy and Arabic and Islamic literature and culture.  Recently, he made an important discovery: Many of the images used to describe time in the Koran were also used not just in pre-Islamic Arab society, but also in ancient Greece and late antiquity.

Tamer’s finding is evidence that Islam has its roots in Hellenism, which is also at the root of Judaism and Christianity.  As he puts it, the Islamic and Judeo-Christian traditions are different branches of the same tree.  This idea allows scholars to think of Islam not as a break from Hellenism, but as a continuation of it. 

In the Koran, one way time is described is as God actively intervening to turn night into day and day into night.  This means time is completely subjected to God’s will.  This idea is a contribution to the development of the doctrine of predestination in Islam, Tamer argues.  Muslims also point to the idea of God "turning" time in the Koran as a revelation of the Earth’s rotation to Muhammad centuries before the natural sciences became aware of this fact. 

Tamer traces five verbs used in the Koran to describe God's active rotation of night and day: to intrude, to cover, to skin, to turn, and to wrap the turban. These verbs represent concrete actions common in pre-Islamic Arab society, showing not just God’s actions in relation to time, but also the historical context in which the Koran was written.

The Arabic concept of dahr , or endless time, also corresponds to the Greek concept of aion , which was personified and given power over human life.  Both represent a cyclical concept of time which proceeds continuously, irreversibly affecting human fates.

In this book project, Tamer plans to explore the perception of past, present and future in the Koran, and to study how worldly time is related to the Hereafter.  He will also ask whether the Koranic concept of time corresponds to the idea of Islam as "submission" or "subordination," and how far it allows for freedom of will.  Finally, Tamer will discuss how the concept of time influences the political behavior of Muslims.

Tamer’s research is important for another reason: it subjects the Koran to hermeneutical analysis, based on historical-critical studies.  Because Muslim scholars see the Koran as a divine revelation, they traditionally do not analyze it in this way.  Tamer makes no comment as to the divine nature of the Koran – he sees that as a matter of faith, not scholarship – but does want to understand its text and context.

By understanding the historical context of the Koran, Tamer argues, we can better understand not only Islam, but how it relates to Judeo-Christianity.  This can help us in structuring lines of communication between different cultures as well as religious and ethnic groups.

Investigators

Filters: 2008-2009, NELC

National Geographic content straight to your inbox—sign up for our popular newsletters here

What you need to know when travelling during Ramadan

Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, but how do you navigate travelling during this time and should you be travelling at all? 

Ramadan is the month in which Muslims believe God first spoke to the Prophet Muhammad; when the community won its very first battle and when Muhammad returned triumphant to Mecca in 630 CE.

In the month of Ramadan, Muslims enter a period of pious abstinence during the day, fasting from sunrise until sunset, and engage in fervent worship through the night. As a result, many Muslim-majority countries adjust their societal norms accordingly. So, what is it like to travel to these places in Ramadan, and should we travel to them during this month? Here are the answers to key questions on travellers’ minds.

How do I know when Ramadan starts?

Every year Ramadan falls on a different date in the Gregorian calendar. This is because the Islamic calendar follows the actual cycle of the moon and so the start date is only confirmed the night before when the new moon has been sighted. Even then, regional differences mean Muslims often start and end Ramadan on slightly different days. For example, while many Sunni Muslim countries will follow the announcement by Saudi Arabia, some will go with their own domestic sighting, so it’s important to check locally if you’re trying to avoid the month or are seeking it out.

Can I eat in public during daylight hours?

This all depends on what kind of Muslim area you’re travelling to. If it’s a place in a Muslim country with a religiously mixed community, like Sarajevo in Bosnia or a place used to hosting non-Muslim tourists throughout the year, like Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, then yes, this is fine. However, when travelling through Muslim-majority communities that are not mixed or unfamiliar with tourism, it’s best to eat and drink behind closed doors during the day.

Can I consume alcohol (and what about soft drinks)?

Where the community is mixed or used to serving non-Muslim tourist traffic, the bars will most likely be open and function as normal. In areas where the community is largely Muslim or unfamiliar with tourists, such as the Muslim-majority state of Pattani in southern Thailand, it’s unlikely you’ll even be able to source alcohol there and, if you do, as with eating in public, it’s advisable to drink it behind closed doors.  

Will every Muslim be fasting?

While fasting is an obligation for every able adult Muslim, those that are ill, pregnant, breastfeeding, menstruating or travelling don’t have to fast. However, even these Muslims will be respectful in areas where everyone appears to be fasting by not eating or drinking outside during daylight hours.

What should I be wearing and is it any different to any other time of the year?

No, you should wear whatever you would expect to be wearing in your destination based on your research, as there are no specific changes to the way Muslims dress during Ramadan. However, some may choose to dress more conservatively because of the pious mindsight they’ll be adopting during the month.

Are tourist attractions, shops and restaurants open?

Muslim-majority towns and cities will make a noticeable shift in the working hours of most businesses during Ramadan. However, to which degree will again largely depend on the kind of Muslim area you’re travelling to. For example, in Muslim-majority Tunisia somewhere like Kairouan, a very holy city not on the popular tourist trail, will appear sleepier and slower during the day with most local businesses opening and closing much later than usual (if at all). Meanwhile, almost nothing may change for travellers visiting the Tunisian tourist hotspot of Sidi Bou Said, during Ramadan.

Will I be allowed to visit mosques, shrines or Sufi lodges (sacred religious spaces separate from the mosque) during Ramadan?

Once the sun sets, places of worship will be heaving with people during Ramadan and this will continue right through to the early hours of the morning. In the multi-religious and tourist savvy places, it may be possible to join an iftar — the meal to break the fast — for free at a large mosque, but otherwise the ideal time to visit places of worship will be between dhuhr (midday) and asr (mid-afternoon) prayers. This is because the caretakers of these spaces will be resting in the early part of the day following lengthy prayers late into the previous night. That said, many larger mosques and spaces of worship in tourist cities, such as Istanbul, may open as normal during the early part of the day.

What regional differences can I expect during Ramadan?

Each region will have its own distinct Ramadan foods, be they sickly sweet jalebis across the subcontinent, delicious mercimek çorbası   (lentil   soup) in Anatolia or filling koshari in Egypt. In Bosnia, many large mosques host live Qur’anic recitations where locals gather to listen during the day, while in Malaysia the mouthwatering iftar buffets at hotels are legendary. Meanwhile, the nights across the Gulf are filled with shrieking crowds watching nocturnal neighbourhood football tournaments and in Algeria it’s the sound of traditional chaabi and ma’luf music you’ll hear drifting out of local theatres playing host to special late night Ramadan concerts.

How might I experience Ramadan best as a tourist?

With night effectively turning to day, if you do intend to travel to a Muslim-majority place during Ramadan, do what the locals do. Sleep in the early part of the day and stay up late into the night, revelling in the festive atmosphere of town centres and around large mosques, before eating the delicious and unique Ramadan foods and heading out to either watch a raucous local cup final in a Jeddah neighbourhood, or join a concert in Constantine.

Related Topics

• RELIGIOUS TRAVEL
• CULTURAL TOURISM
• ISLAMIC WORLD

You May Also Like

How do we know when Ramadan starts and ends? It’s up to the moon.

Why Ramadan is the most sacred month in Islamic culture

Free bonus issue.

This unique Camargue pilgrimage is a fitting tribute to France's most singular region

Open a portal to the underworld at these Buddhist ‘hell parks’

Experience: The Festival of the Giant Omelette

Top 10 pilgrimage routes around the world

What can we learn from Istanbul’s 3,000 mosques?

• Perpetual Planet
• Environment
• History & Culture
• Paid Content

How to Pray When Travelling

Publication : 28-01-2006

Views : 274043

I am going abroad for one month. Let me know the easiest way of doing the prayers during this period.

Summary of answer

Contents Related

When to shorten prayer while traveling

• Can you join prayers while travelling? 

Praise be to Allah.

If you have resolved to stay in the place to which you are travelling for more than four days, then you come under the same ruling as a resident from the moment you arrive there, so you have to do what the residents do, i.e., offer the prayers in full, and it is not permissible for you to shorten them . 

You may shorten the prayers during the journey , but when you reach the place you should offer the prayers in full, because you come under the same ruling as a resident. 

It says in Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Daimah (8/99): 

“The kind of travel for which the concession of travel is prescribed is that which is regarded as travel according to custom, and the distance is approximately eighty kilometers. Whoever travels this distance or more may avail himself of the concessions for travellers, such as wiping over his socks for three days and two nights, joining and shortening prayers, and not fasting during Ramadan. If this traveller intends to stay in a place for more than four days, then he should not avail himself of the concessions for travellers. If he intends to stay there for four days or less, then he may avail himself of the concessions for travellers. If a traveller stays in a place but does not know when he will finish his business and cannot state a certain length of time for his stay, then he may avail himself of the concessions for travelling even if he stays for a long time. It makes no difference whether he travels by land or by sea.” 

Can you join prayers while travelling? 

With regard to joining prayers , it is permissible for a traveller to join Zhuhr and ‘Asr, and Maghrib and ‘Isha, at the time of the earlier or later prayer, depending on what is easiest for him. But it is better for him not to do that unless it is difficult for him to offer every prayer on time. 

Based on that, you can join two prayers together during the journey, but when you reach the place where you intend to stay for a month, then you should offer every prayer on time. 

You should remember that prayer in congregation is obligatory for travellers as well as others. So try to pray in congregation in the mosque . 

And Allah knows best.

Was this answer helpful? No Yes

Source: Islam Q&A

Similar Topics

Prayer in congregation is obligatory for both travellers and non-travellers

Should a traveller offer the prayers in shortened form in his house or pray in congregation in the mosque?

Is Combining Prayers when Travelling Permissible?

Ruling on Shortening Prayers when Travelling

Is Shortening Prayers while Travelling Sunnah?

share Question

You can ask your question on the website via this link: https://islamqa.info/en/ask

Log in Create an account

Password should contain small, capital letter and at least 8 characters long

Can't log in to your account?

If you do not have an account, you can click the button below to create one

If you have an account, log in

Create new account Log in

Reset Username or Password

Send feedback.