Allah Declares That Time Itself Is Divinely Structured, Not Manmade: A Quranic Perspective
Author: G. Mustafa Shahzad
Quranic Arabic Research Scholar | Discoverer of ADNS (Al-Asr Dynamic
Number System)
Abstract
This paper presents a Quranic examination of the divine structure of time, affirming that time is not a human invention but a sacred, pre-ordained phenomenon created by Allah. Drawing upon key verses from the Qur’an, we explore the concept that days, months, years, and significant sacred durations are not determined by human calendars but are rooted in the natural design of the universe. Real-world examples from astronomy, lunar cycles, and human experience validate these divine timeframes and show their consistency in both spiritual and scientific domains.
1. Introduction: Time as a Sacred Creation
Modern societies use mechanical clocks and human-devised calendars, yet the Qur’an establishes that time—its division and its sanctity—is created and maintained by Allah. Time is not a construct of human perception, but an element woven into the creation of the cosmos.
2. Core Quranic Verse: Time Divinely Set
Surah At-Tawbah (9:36):
"إِنَّ
عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِندَ اللَّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ
يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ..."
"Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [months] in
the register of Allah from the day He created the heavens and the earth..."
(Qur’an 9:36)
🔹 Implication:
The concept of a 12-month calendar is not a Roman or Babylonian innovation, but a universal truth recorded in Allah’s decree. It existed since the moment of cosmic creation.
3. Surah Al-Asr – Time as a Witness
Surah Al-Asr (103:1-3):
"وَالْعَصْرِ،
إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ..."
"By time (Al-Asr), indeed, mankind is in loss..."
(Qur’an 103:1-3)
🔹 Implication:
Allah swears by time, emphasizing its power, measurement, and spiritual consequence. Time (Al-Asr) is not just a dimension—it is a witness, a medium of accountability, and a system of divine justice.
4. Time Units in Quranic Vocabulary
The Qur’an mentions various time units in Arabic, confirming that these are not arbitrary:
· Yawmun (يوم) – Day
· Shahr (شهر) – Month
· Sana (سنة) – Year
· Saʿah (الساعة) – The Hour (used for both precise time and the final Hour)
5. Examples of Divine Timeframes in the Qur’an
🔹 Creation Period:
"خَلَقَ
السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ"
“He created the heavens and the earth in six days.”
(Qur’an 57:4, 10:3)
· Time existed before the Earth was formed.
· "Six days" is a divinely chosen structure—not literal 24-hour Earth days—but measured divine stages of creation.
🔹 Day of Judgment Duration:
"فِي
يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ"
"On a Day the measure of which is fifty thousand years."
(Qur’an 70:4)
· Time here reflects relative duration—from Allah’s perspective, a day may stretch across 50,000 years by our measure, showing time's divine relativity.
🔹 Angels’ Time Travel:
"تَعْرُجُ
الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ فِي يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ خَمْسِينَ
أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ"
“The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in a day the measure of which is
fifty thousand years.”
(Qur’an 70:4)
This emphasizes that celestial travel and spiritual timing operate on divine dimensions of time, not human clocks.
6. Real-World Examples
✅ A. Lunar Month – Qur’an Confirms Moon as Timekeeper
"وَالْقَمَرَ
قَدَّرْنَاهُ مَنَازِلَ..."
"And the moon – We have determined for it phases, until it returns
like the old date stalk."
(Qur’an 36:39)
· The moon is a natural clock.
· Each lunar cycle is about 29.5 days, forming the Hijri calendar, used for Ramadan, Hajj, etc.
✅ B. Solar Rotation – Daily Cycle
· Earth rotates in 24 hours, causing day and night.
"وَجَعَلْنَا
اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ آيَتَيْنِ..."
"And We made the night and day two signs..."
(Qur’an 17:12)
· Time is not abstract—it's defined by celestial cycles Allah created.
✅ C. 86400 Seconds in One Day
· Allah created the day and night not just spiritually but with precise measurable intervals.
· 24 hours × 60 minutes × 60 seconds = 86400 seconds
· Humans did not invent this—we discovered it through Allah’s design.
7. Human Limitation vs Divine Time
Human-devised calendars (e.g., Gregorian, Mayan) attempt to map time, but they are imperfect, needing leap years, atomic clocks, and corrections.
Allah’s time system, based on celestial balance, needs no correction:
"لَا
الشَّمْسُ يَنبَغِي لَهَا أَن تُدْرِكَ الْقَمَرَ..."
"It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor does the night
outstrip the day."
(Qur’an 36:40)
8. Time as a Test
"وَهُوَ
الَّذِي جَعَلَكُمْ خَلَائِفَ الْأَرْضِ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَكُمْ..."
"...that He may test you in what He has given you."
(Qur’an 6:165)
Time is not just a structure—it is a field of testing. Every second is an opportunity for righteousness or loss (as stated in Surah Al-Asr).
Conclusion
Allah has declared in the Qur’an that time is a sacred structure, created and measured by Him since the beginning of creation. Every second, every month, every sacred hour carries divine meaning. Recognizing this structure aligns human behavior with the natural, moral, and spiritual order of the universe.
References
1. Qur’an 9:36 – Twelve months in the Book of Allah
2. Qur’an 103:1-3 – By Time, man is in loss
3. Qur’an 70:4 – Divine relativity of time
4. Qur’an 36:39 – Moon phases
5. Qur’an 17:12 – Day and night as signs
6. Qur’an 6:165 – Life as a test
7. Qur’an 36:40 – Celestial balance of time
8. Qur’an 57:4 – Creation in six days
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