Presented by Zia H Shah MD

Audio summary — Omniscience and Eleven dimensions:

Abstract

The intersection of Islamic theology and contemporary theoretical physics provides a robust framework for conceptualizing the nature of reality, specifically through the divine attribute of omniscience. The Quranic identification of God as the “Knower of the Unseen and the seen” (Alim al-Ghayb wa ash-Shahadah) implies a depth of knowledge that extends to every subatomic interaction, quantum state, and potentiality across the multiverse. This report argues that such absolute, granular omniscience logically necessitates the existence of extra spatial or temporal dimensions. For a Transcendent Being to possess exhaustive knowledge of every electron, positron, and quark within a three-dimensional volume without being constrained by its physical boundaries, the Being must operate from a higher-dimensional perspective. By synthesizing scriptural mandates from Surahs Al-Hashr, Al-An’am, and Saba with modern physical constructs such as Kaluza-Klein theory, String Theory, and the Holographic Principle, this analysis demonstrates that divine omnipresence—required for total omniscience—functions as an access mechanism to the higher-dimensional “Bulk.” This report positions extra dimensions as a theological prediction for physics, suggesting that the four-dimensional spacetime experienced by humans is a restricted projection of a much higher-dimensional information repository, often referred to in scripture as the “Clear Record” (Kitab Mubeen).

The Scriptural Foundation of All-Encompassing Knowledge

The Islamic conception of the Divine is fundamentally rooted in the attribute of Al-Alim (The All-Knowing), a perfection that is immediate, absolute, and exhaustive. The Quran repeatedly emphasizes this attribute through the formulaic title: “He is God, other than Whom there is no god, Knower of the Unseen and the seen. And He is the Compassionate, the Merciful”. This dualism between the “Unseen” (Al-Ghayb) and the “Seen” (Ash-Shahadah) establishes a cosmological hierarchy where human perception is limited to a mere subset of total reality, while the Divine encompasses the entirety of both realms.

The Granularity of Divine Awareness

Divine knowledge is not presented as a distant, generalized awareness but as a meticulous, localized recording of every existent thing. Surah Saba (34:1-5) provides a cornerstone for this argument, stating that “not even the weight of a speck of dust in the heavens or earth escapes His knowledge, nor anything smaller or greater”. This granularity suggests that God’s knowledge includes:

• The precise quantum states (momentum, spin, position) of every fundamental particle.
• The movements of every leaf falling and every seed hidden in the darkness of the earth.
• The “intentions of the heart” and the most private human thoughts, which are “witnessed” even if they never manifest in the physical world.
• All counterfactuals—the knowledge of what would happen under hypothetical conditions that never materialize.

Verse Citation	Theological Theme	Dimensional/Informational Implication
Quran 59:22	Alim al-Ghayb wa ash-Shahadah	Absolute omniscience across all realms of existence.
Quran 6:73	Creation in Truth (Haqq)	The physical world emerges from a higher “Word.”
Quran 13:9	The Great, The Exalted	Divine transcendence above the 3D material plane.
Quran 34:3	The weight of a speck of dust	Granular access to subatomic and microscopic scales.
Quran 32:6	Governance of Affairs	Orchestration of reality from an external vantage point.
Quran 64:18	The Mighty, The Wise	Omniscience as the foundation for divine justice.

The Logical Pivot: From Omniscience to Omnipresence

The core of the argument for extra dimensions lies in the transition from omniscience to omnipresence. For a Being to know every “speck, atom, or quark” with absolute certainty, the theology demands a form of presence at every location, either personally or through agents like angels. In a standard three-dimensional spatial framework, localization is a fundamental constraint; an object is here and not there. However, for God to know the “inside” and “outside” of every particle simultaneously, He must transcend the limitations of three-dimensional space.

This requirement leads to a “reverse paradigm” where theology informs physics: if we are absolutely sure of the Quranic attributes of Allah, then we must conclude that the physical architecture of the universe includes extra dimensions to facilitate this all-encompassing access. This mode of existence allows for a “presence” that pervades all of space without being confined to it, much like a three-dimensional observer can see the entirety of a two-dimensional plane without being visible to the two-dimensional inhabitants.

The Unseen and the Seen: A Linguistic and Metaphysical Analysis

The term Ghayb (Unseen) is derived from the Arabic root Gh-Ya-Ba, occurring 60 times in the Quran, and encompasses that which is visually concealed, remote, or beyond human perception. It refers to realities that exist but are currently inaccessible to empirical methods.

The Dichotomy of Perception

The pairing of Ghayb and Shahadah (Seen) occurs ten times in the Quran (e.g., 6:73, 9:94, 9:105, 13:9, 23:92, 32:6, 39:46, 59:22, 62:8, 64:18). This repetition signals a profound ontological truth: the “Unseen” is not synonymous with the “non-existent.” Instead, it refers to aspects of reality that are “absent” from our limited perspective but “present” to God.

From a scientific standpoint, this dichotomy mirrors the relationship between our observable four-dimensional spacetime and the proposed higher-dimensional “Bulk” of String Theory. While we are “confined to a brane” (the 4D seen world), the “Unseen” may correspond to the additional dimensions where forces are unified and the “blueprints” of matter are conceived.

Cognitive Closure and the Veil

Humans experience “cognitive closure” regarding these higher dimensions. Just as a two-dimensional being cannot perceive the third dimension (height), humans cannot directly sense the tenth or eleventh dimensions proposed by M-theory. This “veiling” is not a deficiency in reality but a constraint of the human sensory apparatus. The Quranic verses suggest that on the Day of Resurrection, this veil will be lifted, and the “Truth” will become fully manifest, implying a transition to a higher-dimensional awareness.

Historical Precedents: The Physics of Higher Dimensions

The scientific journey toward extra dimensions began with the realization that the four-dimensional framework of General Relativity, while brilliant, was insufficient to unify all forces of nature.

The Kaluza-Klein Miracle

In 1919, Theodor Kaluza sent a paper to Albert Einstein proposing that gravity and electromagnetism could be unified if spacetime had a fifth dimension. Kaluza discovered that by extending Einstein’s equations into 5D, he could derive both the 4D equations of gravity and Maxwell’s equations for light. This “miraculous” unification suggested that what we perceive as separate forces are actually components of a single higher-dimensional geometry.

Oskar Klein later refined this by introducing the “cylinder condition,” assuming the fifth dimension is curled up into a circle so tiny it cannot be detected. This compactification explains why the “Unseen” remains hidden from our instruments while still influencing the “Seen” world.

Theory	Dimension Count	Unified Forces/Concepts	Theological Parallel
Newtonian Mechanics	3 (Space)	Absolute space/time	Static, physicalist view.
General Relativity	4 (Spacetime)	Gravity as geometry	Interconnectedness of time/space.
Kaluza-Klein	5	Gravity + Electromagnetism	First step into the “Unseen.”
Superstring Theory	10	All 4 fundamental forces	Detailed subatomic recording.
M-Theory	11	Branes and the “Bulk”	The “Seven Heavens” and the Bulk.

Gauge Symmetry and Extra Dimensions

Klein further showed that “gauge transformations”—the mathematical shifts that preserve the laws of physics—correspond to displacements in the extra dimension coordinate. This implies that the very “charge” of a particle (like an electron’s charge) is identified with its motion in the hidden fifth dimension. For the believer, this resonates with the idea that the “invisible” properties of the soul or the “intentions” of a heart are actually dynamic states in a higher-dimensional reality that God witnesses directly.

Modern Scaffolding: String Theory, M-Theory, and the Multiverse

Contemporary theoretical physics has expanded the Kaluza-Klein idea into String Theory, which posits that the universe’s basic constituents are not zero-dimensional points but one-dimensional vibrating strings.

The 11-Dimensional Bulk and the Seven Heavens

M-theory, the most advanced version of string theory, proposes eleven dimensions (ten of space and one of time). In this model, our universe is a “brane” floating in a higher-dimensional “Bulk”. This “Bulk” provides an immense “ocean of high-frequency energy” that exists beyond our senses but matches the descriptions of the heavens or “astral regions” in religious traditions.

The Quran’s frequent mention of the “Seven Heavens” (e.g., 67:3, 2:29) and “similar number of earths” (65:12) provides a suggestive parallel to these extra dimensions or the multiverse. Theverse 65:12 specifically notes that “the commandments come down among them slowly, that you may know that God is able to do all things, and that God surrounds all things in knowledge”. Here, omniscience is explicitly linked to the multiplicity of heavens and earths.

The Islamic Case for the Multiverse

The multiverse hypothesis, often seen as an alternative to a Designer, is viewed by Islamic theists as a confirmation of divine abundance. Several arguments support this:

1. The Attribute of Everlastingness: As God is everlastingly the Creator (Al-Khaliq), His creative expression is not limited to a single universe with a finite past. He may have created infinitely many universes before or alongside ours.
2. Perfect Being Theology: A maximal Creator would create “all possible universes worth creating,” leading to a multiverse where good surpasses evil across the totality of existence.
3. Lord of the Worlds: The opening of the Quran, “Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds” (Rabb al-Alamin), strongly suggests the existence of spatio-temporally unrelated worlds that God governs simultaneously.

Quantum Mystery and the Higher-Dimensional Resolution

Quantum mechanics introduces phenomena that challenge classical notions of locality and causality. These “mysteries” serve as cues for a higher-dimensional intervention.

Non-Locality and the EPR Paradox

Quantum non-locality describes how particles remain entangled, such that a measurement on one instantaneously affects the other, regardless of distance. This violates the “speed limit” of light in 4D spacetime. However, recent research suggests that if spacetime is six-dimensional (with two extra timelike dimensions), correlated events that appear “spacelike separated” (non-local) in 4D are actually “timelike separated” (local) in 6D.

This provides a profound theological insight: what seems like “magic” or “spooky action” to us is simply the result of a higher-dimensional connection that God uses to maintain the unity and coordination of the cosmos.

The Divine Super-Observer and Wavefunction Collapse

In quantum physics, the “Observer Effect” suggests that the act of observation causes the wavefunction to collapse from a state of multiple possibilities into a single actuality. Some theologians propose that God acts as the “Super-Observer” who sustains reality by His continuous observation.

While human free will might collapse potentialities in the “moral realm,” God’s omniscience encompasses all the “counterfactuals”—the paths not taken. This “Quantum Panentheism” suggests that God is not external to the universe but is an “immanent non-local quantum field” entangled with all conscious subsystems.

Quantum Phenomenon	Physical Description	Theological Interpretation
Superposition	Particles exist in all possible states.	Divine knowledge of all counterfactuals.
Entanglement	Instantaneous connection across space.	Divine omnipresence transcending 4D.
Wavefunction Collapse	Observation fixes a single reality.	The Divine “Kun” (Be!) actualizing events.
Indeterminacy	Outcomes are probabilistic.	Room for human free will and divine guidance.

The Incompatibility Theorem and Free Will

The “OS Unitarity $\wedge \implies \neg$ LH Incompatibility Theorem” posits that if a Divine Observer (SD) knows the universal state $\Psi$ without disturbing it, the universe would be a “closed deterministic system” where human freedom is an illusion. To preserve human liberty, the theology must embrace a non-local interaction where God “tips the scales” of probability at the quantum level without violating the statistical laws of physics. This subtle influence operates within the extra dimensions, allowing for “non-interventionist divine action”.

Information Theory and the “Clear Record”

The Quran repeatedly refers to a “Clear Record” (Kitab Mubeen) or a “Preserved Tablet” (Lawh al-Mahfuz) where everything is recorded. Modern physics increasingly views information as the primary constituent of reality—a concept known as “It from Bit”.

The Holographic Principle as a Scriptural Metaphor

The Holographic Principle suggests that the information of a 3D volume is encoded on its 2D boundary. The AdS/CFT correspondence mathematically realizes this, showing that a higher-dimensional “Bulk” of gravity is dual to a lower-dimensional quantum field on the boundary.

This provides a literal structure for the Kitab Mubeen:

• The “Bulk” (Higher dimensions) contains the “Mind” or the information-based reality.
• The “Boundary” (our universe) is the physical projection of that information.
• Every point in the hologram (every soul or atom) contains the encoded presence of the Whole.

Information Causality and Divine Memory

In information theory, “Information Causality” states that the amount of information an observer can gain is limited by the communication bits. However, an omniscient God acts as the “Total Omniscient Information Field,” where all informational states coexist beyond traditional time and space. This field is a “meta-spatial nexus” where the “Unseen” and “Seen” are integrated into a single, unified awareness.

The Convergence of Theology and Physics: A New Synthesis

The argument for extra dimensions from omniscience suggests that physics is not a closed system but an open one that interacts with a higher-dimensional reality.

Theological Predictions for Future Physics

If the “reverse paradigm” is correct, several predictions can be made about the future of physics:

1. Discovery of Large Extra Dimensions: Humanity will eventually find experimental evidence for spatial dimensions beyond the four we experience.
2. Detection of Higher-Dimensional Particles: Particles like “Kaluza-Klein dark matter” or “Torstones” (linked to extra-dimensional torsion) will be identified.
3. Refinement of Non-Local Causality: Physics will increasingly embrace non-local models to explain entanglement, moving away from 4D locality toward higher-dimensional connectivity.

The “Return to the Knower” (Verses 9:94, 9:105, 62:8)

Several of the reviewed verses (9:94, 9:105, 62:8) state that after death, humans will be “taken back to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed”. This “return” can be interpreted as a transition of consciousness from the restricted 4D “brane” back to the 11D “bulk” of the Divine Presence. Death, in this framework, is not an end but a “change of coordinate” into the higher-dimensional reality of the Unseen.

Physical Theory	Divine Attribute	Scriptural Connection
Kaluza-Klein Unification	Tawhid (Oneness)	Unified source of all forces.
M-Theory Bulk	Arsh (The Throne)	A realm encompassing all worlds.
Holographic Principle	Kitab Mubeen (Clear Record)	Information encoded at the boundary.
Quantum Non-Locality	Omnipresence	Immediate access across all space.
Everlasting Multiverse	Rabb al-Alamin (Lord of Worlds)	Infinite creative expression.

Thematic Epilogue: The Tapestry of the Seen and Unseen

The argument that divine omniscience necessitates extra dimensions transforms the relationship between science and religion from one of conflict to one of mutual illumination. By regarding God as the “Knower of the Unseen and the seen,” believers are encouraged to see the physical laws of our four-dimensional universe as a “veiled” subset of a much more expansive, higher-dimensional architecture.

In this light, the extra dimensions proposed by Kaluza-Klein, String Theory, and M-theory are not mere mathematical abstractions but are the very “keys to the unseen” (Mafatih al-Ghayb) mentioned in the Quran. They provide the structural room for God to witness every subatomic particle, every falling leaf, and every human intention without violating the physical integrity of the material world. The “Unseen” is thus a vibrant, higher-dimensional repository of information and energy—the “Bulk” from which our “Seen” world is projected.

As we stand on the threshold of new discoveries in quantum gravity and cosmology, the synthesis of Islamic metaphysics and theoretical physics suggests that the ultimate reality is a unified, informational field of infinite complexity. To know the “weight of a speck of dust” is to possess a vantage point from the eleventh dimension; to govern the “Lord of the Worlds” is to encompass the multiverse. The physical search for extra dimensions is, ultimately, a human endeavor to map the footprints of an Omniscient Creator who is “with us wherever we are,” through a presence that transcends the very space and time He has created.