Universe

The universe (Latin: universus) is all of space and time and their contents, including planets, stars, galaxies, and all other forms of matter and energy. While the spatial size of the entire universe is unknown, it is possible to measure the size of the observable universe, which is currently estimated to be 93 billion light-years in diameter. In various multiverse hypotheses, a universe is one of many causally disconnected constituent parts of a larger multiverse, which itself comprises all of space and time and its contents; as a consequence, ‘the universe’ and ‘the multiverse’ are synonymous in such theories.

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Life . Universe

Are there any credible sources that mention intelligent extraterrestrial life and the existence of anything prior to our universe through tangible evidence?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answered 2 years ago

It depends what you mean by 'credible sources'.

From a scientific perspective, this is a scientific question, and can be approached through scientific sources. (What one considers 'credible' about extraterrestrial life may vary from person to person.)

From the perspective of the study of the Qur'an and hadith, some ayat of the Qur'an have been interpreted (past and present) to suggest that there is extraterrestrial life. Some hadith also speak of life on other "earths". In particular, there are a number of Shi'i hadith on this theme, which one can find in sources like Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 55. One can also interpret the Qur'an and hadith to speak of life before/after this universe.

The following works in English may be useful:

* Islamic Theology and Extraterrestrial Life (book)
*Shīʿī Imāmī Thought on Existence, Life, and Extraterrestrials (article)
* A Broader Perspective on “Humans”: Analysis of Insān in Twelver Shīʿī Philosophy and Implications for Astrotheology (article)

This is a talk by myself in which I go through some of these ayat and hadith: https://www.youtube.com/live/nIcwpfkSbGw?si=Xp5S9o2lZ5j7cPBo

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Earth . Universe . Qur'an . Science and Islam

How do Islamic interpretations reconcile Quran 10:3's mention of Allah creating the heavens and the earth in six days with the scientific understanding of the universe's development over billions of years?

Rebecca Masterton, Dr Rebecca Masterton graduated with a BA in Japanese Language and Literature; an MA in Comparative East Asian and African Literature and a PhD in Islamic literature of West Africa. She has been... Answered 2 years ago

In both Hebrew and Arabic, the word 'yawm' means 'a period of time', not only 'a day' consisting of twenty-four hours.

In Semitic languages, numbers are also symbolic. E.g. 'Seventy' means 'many'.

'Six days' therefore really means 'a number of periods of time', or 'a number of stages'.

There is also a verse in the Qur'an that says that 'one day for your Lord is as 1000 years in the time that you count.' (22:47)

https://www.islamweb.net/en/article/134278/relativity-in-the-quran

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Universe . God (Allah)

When discussing the creation of the universe with non-Muslims, they often ask who created Allah (SWT). How should I answer them?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 2 years ago

The question of : Who created God is based on a misunderstanding which mixes between the creatures and The Creator. Every creature needs a creator. If you want to claim a creator who created The Creator, you will face the same question of: Who created that creator? Then who creator him and will continue to no end. You have no way but to submit to the fact that there must be A Creator Who was never been Created but He Created every creature.

'The reason leads that there must be a creator who was never been created.

Wassalam.

Universe . God (Allah)

When discussing the creation of the universe with non-Muslims, they often ask who created Allah (SWT). How should I answer them?

The nature of Allah, or God, is such that Allah always existed and did not have a creator. However, all (other) things are created and non-eternal. This is why God is sometimes referred to as the "First Cause".

Jews and Christians share this belief.

As for other prominent religions today, I am not sure of their views about the nature of ultimate divinity, but it would be an interesting conversation topic.

Infinity can be difficult for the mind to grasp. However, the idea that God existed eternally is not more difficult to grasp than the idea that the universe existed eternally without a creator, which is held by some atheists.

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Universe . Nature . Mathematics

Is mathematics the necessary cause for the universe? Can physical laws or mathematical laws in themselves be the cause of emergence of the universe given that they are always true and absolute in nature?

No, they still require a cause or designer (a "programmer", if you will); otherwise, something is still eternally pre-existing for no reason.

We also can't be certain that, if there were a different universe, all of these things would be the same, even if it seems obvious to us here. (Whether or not they would necessarily be the same is, necessarily, speculative.)

However, it is a good question!

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Islam . Earth . Universe . Qur'an . Qur'anic Verse

Is this true that according to Quran and Islam the Earth is older than the universe? Are there verses in the Quran that suggest that the Earth was created before the rest of the physical universe?

The earth is part of the universe.

Wassalam.

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Universe . Qur'an

The Quran does not seem to talk about the origin of our universe explicitly, so should I accept the big bang theory as true? Did our Imams (a) give any information about this topic?

Hassanain Govani, Hassanain Govani is based in Sweden and has an MA in History of Religion from Uppsala University and an MA in Islamic Studies from the Islamic College of London, and has also studied Arabic in... Answer updated 3 years ago

Salaamun Alaykum

As you have quite correctly pointed out, the primary emphasize of the Qur'anic cosmology is to identify the creative agent behind it, not the particulars of creation itself. As such, very few specifics are mentioned about the process itself. (Although a few details have been mentioned, these are not sufficient to provide an exhaustive creation story.)

The big bang theory is a scientific hypothesis that was originally theorized by a Catholic priest who also was a scientist. Before this theory, many scientist subscribed to the view that the universe was eternal. I point this out to demonstrate that science is constantly evolving.

The big bang theory is indeed supported by many observations. If you find that the evidence/observations support the hypothesis, then you do not need permission from someone else to accept it as an explanation for how our universe came about. In the same manner, if someone is not convinced by the evidence, then no matter what any authority says, they will not accept it.

From the Quranic perspective, what is important is that you recognize God as the creator of everything.

I would, however, suggest phrasing this differently. If the evidence convinces you, I would suggest saying that "I accept the big bang theory as the most convincing explanation of the evidence".

And God knows best

In need of your prayers

Hassanain

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Islam . Theory . Universe

Does Islam support the theory of the existence of parallel and infinite universes?

The existence of multiverses is possible as we have in Quran and authentic Hadeeth seven heavens and seven earths.

Wassalam.

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Muslims . Earth . Universe . God (Allah)

How do we respond to non-Muslims who ask us how could Allah say that He has made this earth and universe in 6 days when the concept of days is linked to the earth itself?

Our concept of day and night with us human beings, is not necessarily the same concept of day with Allah who Created every thing including the time before creating the earth and sky. Time was created before earth and sky and that time had got its day which is different from our day.

'Wassalam.

123219

Universe

Does time exist independently of the universe in the sense that it was created alongside universe?

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 3 years ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Time is a factor of the material world and of that which is connected to matter. It is a measure of the relationship between two objects. Like how long it takes for the earth to orbit the sun. So there is no meaning to time beyond the barzakh and the corporeal realm as there are no objects related to matter.

May you always be successful

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Universe . Eternity

Do Islamic texts mention the end of the universe? If not, do they alternatively mention that the universe is eternal?

No doubt this world will end. This is clearly mentioned in Quran (in many verses) and Hadeeth. No one can claim that this world is eternal.

Wassalam.

116745

Universe . Asexuality

We believe that the universe is not self caused. But how do we then explain the asexual reproduction of a bacteria that makes more copies of itself?

Interesting question!

A further answer from a different perspective:

The universe is a closed system and therefore caused by something outside itself (it is not something from nothing).

However, a bacterium is not a closed system - it takes in energy and material from the outside, and uses this to reproduce. So therefore it a different situation.

If it could originate itself or reproduce infinitely without feeding or requiring any materials or energy, this would be an example of self-causing its existence. (Thanfully this does not happen, or it we would be overwhelmed!)