Md. Shawkat Alam Faisal

Time travel has always captivated the human imagination, with stories of travels into the past and future. This concept, which is firmly rooted in science fiction, poses an intriguing issue when evaluated through the lens of religious belief, particularly within Islam. In Islam, the concept of time is a profound and complex issue that is inextricably linked to understanding God's creation, His intent, and humanity's ultimate fate. Although the Qur'an and Hadith do not expressly describe time travel as it is often understood today, the Islamic tradition provides a rich tapestry of ideas about the nature of time, its fluidity, and how various beings experience it.

In Islam, time, like the universe, is considered Allah's creation. It is a measure that governs the universe, guiding the lives of all creatures from the moment they are born until the final reckoning. The Qur'an discusses the linear development of time, from the beginning of creation until the Day of Judgment. This principle is encapsulated in the following verse: "He created the heavens and the earth in truth. He wraps the night around the day and the day around the night, and he has subjected the sun and moon to a set period of time. Unquestionably, He is the Exalted in Might and the Perpetual Forgiver" (Qur'an 39:5). This passage demonstrates the regularity and orderliness of time as part of the divine plan.

However, within this ordered framework, the Qur'an presents narratives that reveal a more nuanced connection with time, in which time appears pliable under divine intervention. One of the most powerful stories in this regard is that of the People of the Cave, as told in Surah Al-Kahf. This story follows a group of young guys who sought refuge in a cave to avoid religious persecution. Allah put them into a profound sleep, and they remained unaffected by the passing of time outside. When they awoke after what seemed like a brief rest, they learned that 309 years had gone. The verse narrating this states, "And they remained in their cave for three hundred years and exceeded by nine" (Qur'an 18:25). Scholars have frequently interpreted this account as an example of time dilation, in which the flow of time inside the cave differed significantly from that outside it.

This idea of diverse perceptions of time is not unique to the People of Cave narrative. Prophet Muhammad's miraculous Night Journey, also known as Isra and Mi'raj, is another example of time defying the norm. Prophet was carried from Makkah to Jerusalem in a single night and then ascended through the skies, where he met numerous prophets and witnessed indications of afterlife. Despite the enormity of the encounter, it all happened in the course of one night.

The Qur'an briefly mentions this voyage in the verse: "Glory be to Him Who carried His servant by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haram to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, which surroundings We have sanctified, to show him Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing and the Seeing." (Qur'an 17:1). This astonishing incident, in which the Prophet traveled tremendous distances and realms beyond human reach in such a short period of time, has led some scholars to interpret it as an example of divine manipulation of time and space.

The Hadith, too, provides insights on the nature of time, however they tend to emphasize spiritual and metaphysical aspects rather than physical time travel. Abu Huraira narrates a hadith about the soul's journey after death, stating that "When the soul of a believer is taken up to the heavens, it is as if time stands still for those who remain on earth" (Sahih Bukhari). This shows that the soul has a distinct sense of time than the living, meaning that time may not be consistent across different levels of life.

Islamic philosophy and mysticism delves deeper into the essence of time, examining its relationship to the divine and the cosmos. Imam Al-Ghazali, a towering figure in Islamic thinking, contended in "The Incoherence of the Philosophers" that time is not eternal but rather a created phenomenon that depends on the existence of the cosmos. His perspective highlights the idea that time, like all creation, is subject to Allah's will. This position suggests that time can be controlled or experienced differently, albeit Al-Ghazali did not directly address the topic of time travel.

The Sufi mystic Ibn Arabi provided a deeper mystical understanding of time, viewing it as a manifestation of the divine will. He introduced the concept of "time out of time" (Dahr), which is a situation beyond human comprehension. According to Ibn Arabi, true knowledge of time comes through spiritual illumination, implying that time is more fluid and multifaceted than our physical experience of it suggests. His concepts, while more linked with spiritual experiences than physical realities, suggest that time might be experienced in ways that defy common human perceptions.

In recent years, Islamic scholars have reassessed these traditional notions in light of modern scientific advances. Theories like relativity and quantum mechanics, which challenge traditional understandings of time, have motivated some to investigate if Islamic teachings can accept such ideas. Dr. Abdulaziz Sachedina, a modern Islamic scholar, has claimed that, while the Qur'an does not directly support the scientific concept of time travel, it does not rule out the possibility that time can be perceived differently under specific conditions. He uses the legends of the People of the Cave, Isra, and Mi'raj to demonstrate this flexibility in Islamic understanding of time.

Scholars have debated the theological implications of time travel, if it is possible. Some say that it could call into doubt the Islamic doctrine of predestination (Qadar) and human free choice, posing intricate problems regarding the nature of divine decree and agency. However, most scholars agree that such arguments are mostly theoretical and lack direct support from core Islamic sources.

To summarize, while the Qur'an and Hadith do not directly mention time travel as it is understood in modern science fiction, they do provide a deep and complicated understanding of time. The legends of the People of the Cave and the Prophet Muhammad's Night Journey (PBUH) imply that time is not a fixed, unchanging entity, but rather something that can be altered by divine whim. Islamic philosophy and mysticism go deeper into the essence of time, claiming that it is Allah's creation, under His supervision and beyond our knowledge. While time travel as a physical phenomenon is not directly addressed, the Islamic tradition allows for the possibility that time can be experienced or manipulated in ways that humans do not fully understand, always within the context of Allah's omnipotence and the limitations of human knowledge.

The writer is an Apprentice Lawyer at the Bangladesh Bar Council.