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Speed of Angels Calculation

A theoretical description and calculation of possible speed of angels. According to the Quran

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habibmukhlis2006
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10 views3 pages

Speed of Angels Calculation

A theoretical description and calculation of possible speed of angels. According to the Quran

Uploaded by

habibmukhlis2006
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Surah As-Sajda (32:5) and the Speed of

Angels
The Verse:

"He manages the affairs from the heavens to the earth; then it will ascend to Him in a Day,
the measure of which is a thousand years of what you reckon." (Surah As-Sajda 32:5)

This verse conveys the immensity of Allah’s command and its execution across vast realms.
To appreciate this, we delve into possible calculations based on both literal and
metaphorical interpretations.

1. Literal Calculation of Angelic Speed


1.1. Distance Traveled in 1,000 Years
Light travels approximately 9.46 × 10^12 km/year. Over 1,000 years:
Distance = 1,000 × 9.46 × 10^12 = 9.46 × 10^15 km.

1.2. Time for Angels to Traverse the Distance


According to the verse, angels cover this distance in 1 day (24 hours = 86,400 seconds).

1.3. Speed of Angels


Using the formula:
Speed = Distance / Time
Speed = 9.46 × 10^15 km / 86,400 s
Speed = 1.095 × 10^11 km/s.
This speed is about 365,000 times the speed of light (3 × 10^5 km/s).

2. Exploring Time Dilation Using Relativity


2.1. The Relativistic Formula
Einstein’s time dilation formula is:
t' = t / √(1 - v^2 / c^2)
where:
- t' is the time experienced by angels.
- t is human-perceived time (1,000 years).
- v is the velocity of angels.
- c is the speed of light (3 × 10^5 km/s).

2.2. Rearranging to Solve for v


Let t = 1,000 × 365 × 24 × 60 × 60 s, which is the number of seconds in 1,000 years. Setting t'
= 1 day = 86,400 s, we solve for v:
√(1 - v^2 / c^2) = t' / t
1 - v^2 / c^2 = (t' / t)^2
v^2 / c^2 = 1 - (t' / t)^2
v = c √(1 - (t' / t)^2).
Substituting values gives:
v = c √(1 - (2.74 × 10^-6)^2) ≈ c.
This suggests angels travel at near-light speed relative to humans, and their time perception
drastically differs.

3. Expanding the Concept of Speed Beyond Light


3.1. Instantaneous Travel
In Islamic tradition, metaphysical beings like angels are described as operating outside
physical laws. For example, the Quran describes the throne of the Queen of Sheba being
transported instantly by a being with knowledge of the scripture (Surah An-Naml 27:40).
If angels’ speed transcends physical limitations, their travel may not involve crossing
distances conventionally but rather involve instantaneous transitions—a phenomenon
beyond human physics.

3.2. Hypothetical Higher Dimensions


Modern theories like string theory propose the existence of higher dimensions. Angels may
traverse such dimensions, reducing vast cosmic distances to negligible spans, akin to folding
paper to make two points touch.

4. Why Such Calculations Are Limited


While these mathematical exercises highlight the enormity of divine operations, they
remain constrained by human science. The Quran itself cautions against over-speculation:
"And you have not been given of knowledge except a little." (Surah Al-Isra 17:85)

4.1. Metaphysical Realities


Angels, being created from light, are part of a divine order that transcends spacetime. Their
speed or capabilities cannot be confined to human notions like kilometers per second.
4.2. Symbolism in the Verse
The '1,000 years' serves to illustrate the vastness of divine actions relative to human
experience. It emphasizes Allah’s power and the ineffable nature of His command, not a
precise measure of speed.

5. A Balanced Conclusion
Surah As-Sajda (32:5) inspires awe for Allah’s majesty, reminding us of the vast gulf
between divine and human perspectives. While scientific exploration offers insights, it is
ultimately insufficient to explain metaphysical phenomena.
The verse calls believers to reflect on Allah’s supreme authority and submit to His infinite
wisdom.

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