Comparison of the Views of Philosophers and the Holy Quran in the Discussion of Time, Aeon and Everlasting (Sempiternity)

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to express the issue of time, aeon and everlasting (sempiternity) in the view of philosophers and verses of the Holy Quran, which seeks to express a philosophical understanding of time-related verses in the Holy Quran through descriptive and comparative analysis. Time is a restlessness existing that has no beginning and no end. The nature (quiddity) of time seems obvious, but in expressing nature (quiddity) is one of the most difficult issues. Philosophers have made great efforts to discover the truth of time in the material world and beyond in eternity. Although time is the result of the movement from power to action, it is not dedicated to the natural world and is present in all things and manifestations of existence. The time (aeon) that surrounds the time existentially, is with being time and not with being time. everlasting (sempiternity), the circumference to aeon and its esoteric aspect, and these three containers are located along each other in the existential levels (ranks) of the system of existence. Time has been used with various words in the Holy Qur'an, including verses related to the expression of Divine attributes and actions and the description of the world. A philosophical understanding of these verses, which is obtained in comparison with the views of philosophers, shows that time in Qur'anic events in proportion to its level of existence, has a meaning beyond time in the material world and has taken on a aeon and everlasting (sempiternity) truth.

Keywords

• philosophical understanding of time
• eternal and sempiternal truth
• quranic time