Space and Time

In the following article we can see how ALI, the master of the universe, has hinted towards the concept of space-time as presented in general relativity.

"He(Allah) has fixed for everything a measure, for every measure a time limit, and for every time limit a document"(Nahjul Balagha, sermon 183)

He has fixed for everything a 'measure' - by measure we mean quantity, we depend on three fundamental dimensions for measuring physical quantities, those are Mass, Length and Time. The dimension of all other physical quantities can be expressed in terms of these fundamental dimensions. Mass is the fundamental property of Matter, Length is the fundamental property of space(since matter without space does not have any length, width or height; but it has mass) So, now by 'measure of every 'thing'' we mean 'measure of every matter', mass being property of matter leaves us with the conclusion that by 'measure' here we mean: spatial dimensions i.e. 3 dimensions of space'.

Therefore when Imam Ali says that 'He has fixed for everything a measure', it means that Allah has fixed for everything(i.e. mass-possessing matter) a measure(i.e. Length or dimensions of space).

Then he says that 'for every measure theres a time limit'; which applies that the length or dimensions of space are dependent on time and time is an integral part of these dimensions, hinting towards the concept of space-time and time being the fourth dimension of space.

He further says that for every time limit there is a document, here, by document is meant documentation/record of time/event as in its being fixed and predestined, which hints towards the idea of world-line for every event that occurs in the universe i.e. every event has its unique space-time coordinates.

Below, we have the other translation of the same arabic text, this one is by Askari Jafari and I prefer this one:

"He destined for everything in nature values, dimensions and properties and for each value, dimension and property He fixed a span of time and each of these span of time is predestined and fixed".

The change in translation can be seen due to vast variety of applicable meanings to the original arabic text. Since in arabic, the word used for 'measure' is 'qadr' which means value, quantity, measure, property and so on - so one really cant chose a single word in its place.

Concept of limits in space and time can be found in other sermons too, in sermon 91 Imam Ali says:

'He has destined certain limitations and circumscriptions and alloted a certain place and confines in time to everything which He has created'

In the first sermon we have, 'Allah, the Almighty destined things to be dissolved into time'

Also, 'He(Allah) surpasses the beginning of time and space. He is far beyond such numbers and figures and spaces and dimensions as the men of knowledge have discovered'(sermon 163)

'He is the Lord, Whom one thing cannot stop from another; in Whom time cannot do any change, Whom space cannot surround or encompass, and Whom no one can understand and praise'(sermon 178)

Praise be to Allah