The Concept Of Time In The Qur'an

[Sohail Shuja]

THE RELATIVITY OF TIME IN THE QUR'AN

The Man whom Allah Caused to Die a Hundred Years and then Brought Back to Life

Or the one who passed by a town which had fallen into ruin? He asked, 'How can Allah restore this to life when it has died?' Allah caused him to die a hundred years then brought him back to life. Then He asked, 'How long have you been here?' He replied, 'I have been here a day or part of a day.' He said, 'Not so! You have been here a hundred years. Look at your food and drink - it has not gone bad - and look at your donkey so We can make you a Sign for all mankind. Look at the bones - how We raise them up and clothe them in flesh.' When it had become clear to him, he said, 'Now I know that Allah has power over all things.' (Surat al-Baqara, 259)

Companions of the Cave

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, 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. Send one of your number into the city with this silver you have, so he can see which food is purest and bring you some of it to eat. But he should go about with caution so that no one is aware of you. (Surat al-Kahf, 19)

They stayed in their Cave for three hundred years and added nine. Say: 'Allah knows best how long they stayed. The Unseen of the heavens and the earth belongs to Him. How perfectly He sees, how well He hears! They have no protector apart from Him. Nor does He share His rule with anyone.' (Surat al-Kahf, 25-26)

Comparison of Time in the Hereafter with that in the World

On the Day the Trumpet is blown - and We will gather the evildoers sightless on that Day -they will whisper secretly to one other, 'You only stayed for ten.' We know best what they will say when the most correct of them will say, 'You only stayed a day.' (Surah Ta Ha, 102-104)

He will say, 'How many years did you tarry on the earth?' They will say, 'We tarried there for a day or part of a day. Ask those able to count!' He will say, 'You only tarried there for a little while if you did but know! (Surat al-Mu'minun, 112-114)

So be steadfast as the Messengers with firm resolve were also steadfast. And do not seek to hasten it for them. On the Day they see what they were promised, it will be as if they had only tarried for just one hour of a single day. It has been transmitted! Will any be destroyed except for deviant people? (Surat al-Ahqaf, 35)

On the Day the Last Hour arrives, the evildoers will swear they have not even tarried for a hour. That is the extent to which they are deceived. (Surat ar-Rum, 55)

A Day in the Sight of Allah is as a Thousand Years

They ask you to hasten the punishment. Allah will not break His promise. A day with your Lord is equivalent to a thousand years in the way you count. (Surat al-Hajj, 47)

The Lenght of Time in which Angels Ascend to the Presence of Allah

... from Allah - the Lord of the Ascending Steps. The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in a day whose length is fifty thousand years. (Surat al-Ma'arij, 3-4)