Creation through Computation
Islam and Simulation Theory
The idea that Allah is the creator of the universe is a fundamental belief shared by all Muslims. However, the idea that Allah created the universe through computation might be surprising to many. Despite this, there are several verses in the Qur’an that point to this fact. For example, the Qur’an states:
“Every thing is fully computed by Us in a manifest book of record” Qur’an 36:12
In this article, we will explore the relationship between computation and the creation of the universe, and how this concept is reflected in the Qur’an. We will also discuss the implications of this understanding for our perception of reality.
“The first thing God created was the pen. He told it to write and when it asked Him what it should write He told it to write what was decreed, so it wrote what had taken place and what would take place to all eternity.”
https://sunnah.com/mishkat:94
“Not even a leaf falls without His knowledge, nor a grain in the darkness of the earth or anything — green or dry — but is ˹written˺ in a perfect Record.” Quran 6:59
Many scientists have suggested that our reality is likely computed, despite the absence of a revelation from the Creator. Modern science typically adopts a materialist reductionist approach to reality, which posits that only observable phenomena exist, while rejecting the existence of the supernatural.
With the advancement of technology, it has become evident that we can create highly realistic computer simulations. This raises the question of how far this technology can go. Materialists argue that there are no known laws preventing us from creating a simulation that is a perfect, 1-to-1 copy of our own reality, including consciousness. This realization leads to a startling conclusion: if we can create indistinguishable simulated realities, advanced civilizations preceding us must have done so as well. This means that there may be billions or trillions of simulated realities in existence, vastly outnumbering the original base reality. Statistically speaking, the probability of us living in a true reality is close to zero, suggesting that we exist in a computer-generated reality. This idea is known as the Simulation Hypothesis.
The Simulation Hypothesis proposes a model of reality that is in line with religious beliefs. In this theory, the Simulator would be equivalent to the God of the simulation. The Simulator could alter the programming to perform miracles and could communicate with the inhabitants of the simulation, much like the revelation and holy books in religious teachings. The Simulator would have complete mastery over creation and could even resurrect characters within the simulation. The Simulator would be able to reward or punish characters based on their actions in the simulation, and would not be bound by the laws that we observe in our simulated reality.
What sets Simulation Theory apart from traditional religions, including Islam, is that it is an informed speculation based on our observations of the natural world. However, Islam pre-dates Simulation Theory by over 1400 years. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) presented a computational model of reality long before humans had a mature understanding of computation. As we gradually progress towards a greater understanding of our reality, it appears that computer technology is revealing the true mechanism of creation for all to see.
“The Day that some of the signs of your Lord will come no soul will benefit from its faith as long as it had not believed before or had earned through its faith some good.” Qur’an 6:158
