Speed of Angels and Quantum Physics

In the Name of Allah---the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

The concept of angels in Islamic theology, particularly their composition of light (Noor) and their extraordinary speed, presents a profound interface between spiritual knowledge and modern physics. By integrating Qur’anic verses, Hadith literature, and classical tafsir such as Imam Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, one can explore the speed of angels in both theological and semi-quantitative terms.

1. Angels as Beings of Light

1.1 Hadith Descriptions

Angels are described in Hadiths as:

“The angels were created from light.” (Sahih Muslim)

This indicates that angels are non-material, energy-based entities, distinct from ordinary matter. Their light-based composition explains their invisibility to humans, as they do not interact with visible light in conventional ways.

1.2 Modern Physics Analogy

• In modern physics, light exists across a broad electromagnetic spectrum, most of which is invisible to human eyes: radio, infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays.
• Invisibility can be understood as propagation in modes or wavelengths undetectable by human senses.
• Angels could be considered energy-based excitations, analogous to non-interacting electromagnetic or higher-dimensional fields.

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2. Qur’anic Reference to Speed

2.1 Surah al-Ma’arij (70:4)

تَعْرُجُ الْمَلٰٓىٕكَةُ وَ الرُّوْحُ اِلَیْهِ فِیْ یَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهٗ خَمْسِیْنَ اَلْفَ سَنَةٍ

“The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in a day the measure of which is fifty thousand years.”

• This indicates extraordinary speed relative to human perception.
• The “day” is a human-frame measure, while angelic proper time may be instantaneous.

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3. Classical Commentary: Tabari

Imam Ibn Jarir al-Tabari elaborates:

“كان مقدار صعودهم ذلك في يوم لغيرهم من الخلق خمسين ألف سنة، وذلك أنها تصعد من منتهى أمره من أسفل الأرض السابعة إلى منتهى أمره، من فوق السموات السبع”
Translation: “The measure of their ascent, in the day of ordinary creatures, is fifty thousand years. This is because they ascend from the lowest end of the seventh earth to the highest end above the seven heavens.” (Tafsir al-Tabri)

Key Insights from Tabari

1. Distance scale: From the bottom of the seventh earth to the top beyond the seven heavens.
2. Time scale: Human perception equates this journey to 50,000 years.
3. Implication: Angels traverse immense cosmic or metaphysical distances in what is effectively a single day for them.

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4. Semi-Quantitative Analysis

4.1 Distance Consideration

• Earlier estimates used the observable universe radius (~4.4 × 10²⁶ m) as a proxy.
• Incorporating seven-earth and seven-heaven layers suggests the actual distance is larger, making previous speed calculations a minimum threshold.
• Conservatively, doubling the distance to account for layered cosmology:
  [
  d_{\text{angels}} \approx 8.8 \times 10^{26} , \text{m}
  ]

4.2 Human-Time Conversion

[
t = 50,000 \text{ years} \approx 1.578 \times 10^{12} \text{ s}
]

4.3 Effective Speed

[
v = \frac{d}{t} = \frac{8.8 \times 10^{26}}{1.578 \times 10^{12}} \approx 5.57 \times 10^{14} , \text{m/s}
]

• Comparison with speed of light ((c \approx 3 \times 10^8) m/s):
  [
  \frac{v}{c} \approx 1.86 \times 10^6
  ]

This indicates an effective speed nearly two million times faster than light, making it a minimum threshold, as actual distances between heavens and earths may be greater and the observable universe is only a subset of creation.

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5. Modern Physics Analogies

Angelic Property	Analogy in Modern Physics
Made of light (Noor)	Energy-based, non-material field or excitation
Invisible	Non-interacting with visible electromagnetic waves
Travel faster than light	Tachyon-like, higher-dimensional, or non-local quantum propagation
Human-frame 50,000-year day	Relative time; proper time for angels may be instantaneous
Seven earths & seven heavens	Layered or higher-dimensional spacetime structure

5.1 Tachyons and Superluminal Travel

• Hypothetical particles moving faster than light.
• Angels could conceptually resemble energy-based tachyons, unconstrained by ordinary spacetime limits.

5.2 Higher-Dimensional Shortcuts

• The seven-layered cosmology could correspond to higher-dimensional pathways, allowing superluminal travel without violating relativistic physics in 3D space.

5.3 Quantum Non-Locality

• Non-local propagation in quantum fields offers an analogy for instantaneous travel across distances, consistent with angelic descriptions.

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6. Minimum Threshold Concept

1. Distance Uncertainty: True distance between seven heavens and seven earths is unknown; using observable universe distance gives a lower bound.
2. Time Reference: 50,000 human years only provides a frame-dependent measure; angels’ proper time may be instantaneous.
3. Effective Speed: Any numeric calculation based on these proxies represents a minimum speed, possibly far exceeding the estimated two million times the speed of light.

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7. Conceptual Summary

Feature	Qur’anic/Tabari Description	Physics Analogy
Composition	Made of light	Energy-based, non-material field
Visibility	Invisible	Non-interacting with normal EM waves
Distance	From lowest seventh earth to top of seventh heaven	Layered/higher-dimensional spacetime
Human-frame time	50,000 years	Relative proper time; instantaneous for angels
Effective speed	≥ 2 million c	Tachyonic or non-local propagation; minimum threshold

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8. Philosophical and Scientific Implications

1. Compatibility with Physics: Angels, as energy-based and non-material, can traverse immense distances without violating physical laws.
2. Time Relativity: Human-perceived time does not constrain angelic motion; proper time may be instantaneous.
3. Invisible Yet Influential: Similar to dark matter, angels influence the cosmos without interacting with visible light, emphasizing a hidden, subtle layer of reality.
4. Minimum Threshold Perspective: Any calculated speed is conservative, aligning with the Qur’an’s emphasis on incomprehensible angelic capabilities.

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10. Conclusion

Classical Islamic sources, including Tabari, describe angels as beings of light ascending across cosmic layers at speeds far beyond human comprehension. Semi-quantitative analysis indicates an effective speed exceeding two million times the speed of light, which represents a minimum threshold due to unknown cosmic distances and layered heavens. Modern physics analogies—tachyons, higher-dimensional pathways, and quantum non-locality—offer conceptual frameworks to understand these descriptions without violating natural laws.

Angels, therefore, occupy a realm beyond ordinary matter, time, and light, reflecting both Qur’anic wisdom and a striking compatibility with modern physical analogies.