Epigraph

“Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die during their sleep; then He withholds those on whom He has passed the decree of death and sends the others back till an appointed term. Indeed, in that are signs for a people who reflect.” ​ (Al Quran 39:42)

Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD, Chief Editor of the Muslim Times

God has made some two trillion galaxies in our universe, according to the recent estimates, and made our universe congenial for life by adding a multiverse that is postulated to have ten raised to the power 500 universes according to the M theory.

M-theory, an extension of string theory, posits the existence of a vast number of possible universes, each corresponding to different solutions or “vacua” within the theory’s framework. This multitude of potential universes is often referred to as the “string theory landscape.” Estimates suggest that the number of these possible vacua could be as large as 10^500, indicating an extraordinarily vast multiverse.

These theoretical frameworks suggest that M-theory allows for an immense number of possible universes, each arising from different configurations of compactified dimensions and physical parameters. However, it’s important to note that these concepts remain speculative, as current technology does not permit direct observation or empirical verification of these other universes.​ Nevertheless, the last book of Stephen Hawking, the Grand Design is about the M theory.

So, we should not feel shy about imagining that God’s creativity is stranger than science fiction. J.B.S. Haldane famously said, “The universe is not only stranger than we imagine, but stranger than we can imagine.”

Quantum entanglement has thickened the plot at the minutest quantum level. This is a fundamental phenomenon in quantum mechanics where two or more particles become interconnected such that the state of one particle instantaneously influences the state of the other, regardless of the distance separating them. This means that measuring a specific property (like spin or polarization) of one entangled particle immediately determines the corresponding property of its partner, even if they are light-years apart. Albert Einstein famously called this “spooky action at a distance.” ​

Regarding the operational distance of quantum entanglement, there is no known theoretical limit to how far entangled particles can remain connected. Entanglement persists regardless of the separation distance; however, practical challenges arise in maintaining and measuring entanglement over vast distances due to environmental interactions that can disrupt the quantum state—a process known as decoherence.​

Experimentally, significant progress has been made in demonstrating entanglement over long distances. In 2017, a groundbreaking experiment utilized the Chinese satellite Micius to distribute entangled photon pairs over a distance of 1,203 kilometers (approximately 748 miles) between ground stations in China. This experiment not only demonstrated the survival of entanglement over such a vast distance but also violated Bell’s inequality under strict Einstein locality conditions, reinforcing the non-local nature of quantum mechanics.

These advancements highlight the robustness of quantum entanglement and its potential applications in developing secure communication networks and advancing quantum computing technologies.​ Additionally, it may have role in our very consciousness as well.

The quantum mind or quantum consciousness hypothesis proposes that classical mechanics alone cannot fully explain consciousness, suggesting instead that quantum-mechanical phenomena, such as entanglement and superposition, may play a crucial role in brain function and the emergence of conscious experience.

Several models have been proposed to explore the relationship between quantum mechanics and consciousness:

1. Orchestrated Objective Reduction (Orch-OR) Theory: Developed by physicist Sir Roger Penrose and anesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff, this theory suggests that consciousness arises from quantum computations within neuronal microtubules. These microtubules, structural components of the cytoskeleton, are proposed to support quantum processes that contribute to conscious awareness. ​
2. Holonomic Brain Theory: Proposed by neuroscientist Karl Pribram, this model posits that cognitive functions are processed through holographic-like principles in the brain, involving quantum field dynamics. It suggests that memory and perception arise from wave interference patterns, akin to holography. ​
3. Quantum Brain Dynamics (QBD): This approach explores how quantum field theory can describe brain activities, proposing that coherent quantum states within neural systems contribute to cognitive functions and consciousness. ​

Recent Research and Experimental Approaches

Advancements in neuroscience and quantum physics have led to experimental investigations into the potential quantum nature of consciousness:​

• Neural Synchronization and Entanglement: Some studies explore how quantum entanglement might influence neural synchronization, potentially affecting cognitive processes. For instance, research has examined the possibility that quantum entanglement occurs naturally within the brain’s architecture, impacting neural synchronization and cognition.
• End-of-Life Brain Activity: Observations of gamma synchrony—a type of brain wave pattern linked to conscious thought—in patients after clinical death have led to hypotheses that quantum processes could be involved in consciousness and its persistence beyond clinical indicators of life.

Criticisms and Challenges

The quantum consciousness hypothesis faces several criticisms:​

• Decoherence: The brain’s warm, wet, and noisy environment is typically considered unsuitable for sustaining quantum coherence, as interactions with the environment can rapidly disrupt quantum states.​
• Lack of Empirical Evidence: As of now, there is no direct experimental evidence supporting the involvement of quantum processes in consciousness. Many proposed models remain speculative and lack testable predictions.​
• Complexity of Neural Processes: Critics argue that classical neuroscience, through complex networks and interactions, can sufficiently explain consciousness without invoking quantum mechanics.​

My Leap of Faith

Impressed by the profundity of the book of nature, a creation of God, I return to the literal word of God, the revealed book, the holy Quran, and learn about His Omniscience of our innermost thoughts and begin to reflect on our consciousness. I find an extraordinary verse in Surah Zumar. I have taken the liberty to label it as the sleep verse in the holy Quran:

“Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die during their sleep; then He withholds those on whom He has passed the decree of death and sends the others back till an appointed term. Indeed, in that are signs for a people who reflect.” ​ (Al Quran 39:42)

This verse highlights the Islamic concept that during sleep, souls or consciousness temporarily depart from the body, and upon waking, they are returned until their destined time of death. It suggests a distinction between the physical body and the soul, implying that consciousness exists in a different state or dimension during sleep and will continue to exist there even after death of our physical bodies and then be given a new body of unknown nature at an unknown time.

In the realm of modern physics, quantum entanglement refers to a phenomenon where particles become interconnected such that the state of one instantaneously influences the state of another, regardless of distance. Some physicists have proposed that this entanglement might be explained by interactions occurring in higher-dimensional spaces beyond our familiar three dimensions. ​

Drawing a speculative connection between the Quranic concept of the soul’s journey during sleep and the idea of quantum entanglement in extra dimensions, one might ponder whether consciousness or the soul’s temporary departure and return could be analogous to a form of quantum information transfer. In this analogy, the soul could be viewed as existing in a higher-dimensional state during sleep, with its “entanglement” to the physical body being temporarily relaxed. Upon waking, this entanglement is re-established, allowing consciousness to resume.

Conclusion

Countless verses in the Quran talk about our accountability and our afterlife. So, the Majestic Creator has provided mechanisms to keep backup records of our intentions, innermost thoughts, and actions. Our consciousness not only exists in our brain but also in extra dimensions, from where it is restored during our daily awakening. It will be used effectively, one last time, in the afterlife and instantiated in a new body, the details of which are unknown to us.

There are more than 200 actively pursued theories of consciousness in academic circles. I have known how the Quranic verses about mathematics and orbital motions jump-started astronomy and the development of mathematics in the golden age of Islam. Recently, we have seen dozens of examples of the Quran vindicated through new discoveries in biology, geology, physics, and cosmology.

Is it not possible, even probable or inevitable, that the newly developing science of consciousness will have to yield to the literal word of the All-Knowing God sooner rather than later?