Albert Einstein is renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to physics, particularly theories that deeply influenced our understanding of the universe. Notably, his ideas about relativity and time have aligned in unexpected ways with longstanding philosophical and theological concepts. For example, his theory of gravitational waves, which was initially disputed, has since been confirmed by recent evidence.
Einstein’s theory of relativity, presented in 1915, became one of science’s most controversial and transformative ideas. It revealed that time is relative and can pass differently depending on speed and gravity. Through the famous twin paradox—where a space-traveling twin ages more slowly than an Earth-bound twin—Einstein highlighted the profound connections between speed, gravity, and the experience of time. Notably, his mathematical predictions even anticipated black holes before direct astronomical evidence emerged, illustrating the far-reaching consequences of relativity.
Calculations and observations by scientists have shown that in regions such as around black holes or neutron stars, where intense gravity curves space and time, time passes more slowly. The slowing of time with increased speed, as described in relativity, could be key to future space travels given the vast distances involved.
In verse 4 of Surah Al-Ma’arij, it is written:
Shifting focus from scientific theory to religious text, consider the following verse: The angels and the Spirit [i.e., Gabriel] will ascend to Him during a Day the extent of which is fifty thousand years. (4)
Now, let us refer to the subsequent verses of the blessed Surah Al-Ma’arij:
So be patient with gracious patience. (5) Indeed, they see it [as] distant, (6) But We see it [as] near. (7)
A key insight in these verses is their reference to days of vastly different lengths—such as a day measuring fifty thousand years—and the differing perceptions of time by angels and God. While angels are bound to time and see an event as distant, God, who transcends time and space, perceives all moments as near. This vivid contrast mirrors core ideas from the theory of relativity, where time’s passage depends on one’s position and context.
Looking at another example, in verse 47 of Surah Al-Hajj, the issue of the relativity of time is also referenced:
And they urge you to hasten the punishment. But Allāh will never fail in His promise. And indeed, a day with your Lord is like a thousand years of those which you count. (47)
This verse not only alludes to the relativity of time but also introduces the idea of a day equivalent to a thousand years. Such statements echo the concept that time is relative—a central premise in Einstein’s theories—which can inform and perhaps resolve interpretive questions regarding creation narratives.
In Surah As-Sajdah, verses 4 and 5, it is written:
It is Allāh who created the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them in six days; then He established Himself above the Throne. [1171] You have not besides Him any protector or any intercessor; so will you not be reminded? (4) He arranges [each] matter from the heaven to the earth; then it will ascend to Him in a Day, the extent of which is a thousand years of those which you count. (5)
The relativity of time is further illustrated by the differing orbital periods of planets, which determine the length of their years—for instance, Mercury’s year is 88 days, while Mars’s is 687 days. Popular culture, as in the film Interstellar, has also engaged this concept, depicting a planet where time passes more slowly than on Earth due to its environment. These various examples highlight how time’s passage is context-dependent, mirroring both scientific and scriptural descriptions discussed above.
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