Quantum Teleportation and Bilqis’ Throne: Qur’anic Science

 Quantum Teleportation and Bilqis’ Throne: Qur’anic Science

Introduction

Some stories transcend the line between faith and science. They echo not just as ancient tales, but as timeless mysteries that hint at knowledge humanity has yet to fully uncover. Among these is the Qur’anic narrative of Prophet Solomon (Sulaiman, peace be upon him) and the Queen of Sheba (Bilqis). This story, found in Surah An-Naml, describes an astonishing moment when the throne of Bilqis was brought to Solomon in less than the blink of an eye.

At first glance, it seems purely miraculous. Yet, in the light of modern physics—particularly quantum mechanics—this narrative takes on a fascinating new dimension. Could what the Qur’an describes be related to principles we are just beginning to understand today, such as quantum entanglement, teleportation, and the bending of space-time?

This article explores that possibility, weaving together the Qur’anic account, centuries of Islamic thought, and cutting-edge discoveries in physics. It is not about proving miracles through science, but about appreciating the harmony between revelation and the unfolding discoveries of the human intellect.

The Qur’anic Account of Bilqis’ Throne

The Qur’an narrates in Surah An-Naml (27:38–40) that Solomon asked his assembly:

“Which of you will bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?”

A powerful jinn replied, claiming he could bring it before Solomon stood from his seat. Yet another figure, described as “the one who had knowledge of the Book,” declared:

“I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you.”

And in that instant, the throne appeared. Solomon’s response was not arrogance, but humility:

“This is by the grace of my Lord, to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful.”

Tradition identifies the man with knowledge as Asif ibn Barkhiya, a human close to Solomon. Not a jinn, not an angel, but a man armed with a certain knowledge from the Book. But what knowledge could collapse distance so dramatically?

Enter Quantum Physics: The EPR Paradox

In 1935, Albert Einstein, Boris Podolsky, and Nathan Rosen published what is now known as the EPR paradox. It described a baffling phenomenon: when two particles are entangled, changing one instantly affects the other, no matter the distance between them. Einstein dismissed this as “spooky action at a distance,” believing it defied relativity and the speed of light limit.

For decades, the paradox remained unresolved. But in 1973, physicist John Bell proved that such entanglement was indeed real, and that information could seemingly transfer faster than light. Experiments over the next 40 years confirmed it again and again.

By 2015, researchers at Delft University in the Netherlands achieved what was once thought impossible: entangled particles transmitted states instantaneously, closing all loopholes. The impossible had become reality.

From Theory to Practice: Quantum Teleportation

Teleportation, in quantum science, is not about physically moving objects but transferring the state of a particle from one place to another. In 2017, Chinese scientists successfully teleported the quantum state of a photon across 1,200 kilometers using the satellite Micius. This was a landmark: the first-ever quantum teleportation over such a vast distance.

Later, experiments moved beyond photons. In Germany, physicists teleported rubidium atoms across short distances. Although far from moving a chair or a throne, these developments show the trajectory of science: what once was myth is becoming scientific fact.

The Qur’anic account describes a throne being transferred almost instantly across hundreds of miles. While current science cannot achieve this, the concept of information—and perhaps matter—moving faster than light is no longer fantasy.

Collapsing Space and Time

One of the most striking parallels comes from the concept of space contraction. In Islamic tradition, scholars like Allama Hasan Askari noted that the throne may have arrived through the contraction of distance between its origin and destination. In other words, the space itself shrank.

Modern astrophysics provides echoes of this idea. In 2011, astronomers observed light bending around galaxies, forming what are called Einstein rings—perfect circles of light. This occurs because immense gravitational forces bend not just light, but space itself. If space can bend, distances can collapse. If distances collapse, instantaneous transfer is conceivable.

This is not teleportation as Hollywood imagines it, but a deep physical reality: the structure of the universe itself allows for shortcuts through space-time. Wormholes, warp drives, and quantum entanglement are different scientific languages for describing a phenomenon that faith traditions hinted at long ago.

The Knowledge of the Book

The Qur’an is deliberate in its description: the one who moved the throne was someone who had knowledge of the Book. This points to the profound connection between knowledge, power, and divine permission. The event was not mere magic, but a sign (ayah) of what is possible when human beings are aligned with deeper truths of the universe.

The man was not a prophet, nor a jinn, but a human granted access to laws hidden from ordinary perception. In today’s terms, we might compare it to a scientist who discovers a principle that allows humanity to unlock new powers of nature. Yet, the Qur’anic lesson is clear: such power is not a mark of superiority, but a test of gratitude and humility.

Faith and Science: Converging Pathways

Skeptics often frame religion and science as opposites. Yet here, the two narratives seem to converge. The Qur’an does not explain how the throne was moved, but it affirms that it was. Science, meanwhile, works tirelessly to uncover mechanisms by which matter, energy, and information can defy traditional limits.

Teleportation today is confined to photons and atoms. But consider how far humanity has come in a century: from the first airplane to space travel, from room-sized computers to smartphones. Who is to say what the next centuries may hold? What was once miracle may one day be mundane.

Yet the spiritual message remains unchanged: miracles point not to human mastery, but to divine wisdom. Knowledge without humility becomes arrogance; knowledge with humility becomes worship.

Beyond the Seen: The Philosophical Dimension

The Qur’anic account of Bilqis’ throne is more than a scientific curiosity. It is also a profound meditation on perception. When Solomon asked for the throne, he challenged his court’s understanding of possibility. The jinn offered power within time; the man with knowledge offered power beyond time.

In philosophical terms, this invites us to ask: what is time? What is distance? Are they absolute, or are they constructs that can be transcended? Quantum physics itself suggests that time and space are not fixed backdrops, but malleable dimensions.

Thus, the story is both an affirmation of faith and an invitation to wonder. It challenges believers and scientists alike to expand their imagination of what reality truly is.

Conclusion: Signs in the Cosmos

The Qur’an describes itself as a book of signs. The throne of Bilqis is one such sign: a glimpse into realities far beyond human reach. Modern science, with all its precision, now whispers of phenomena that resonate with that ancient sign. Entangled particles, teleportation experiments, bent light, and contracted space—all point toward a universe richer and stranger than we ever imagined.

The lesson of the story, however, is not in the mechanics but in the meaning. When the throne appeared, Solomon did not boast. He bowed in gratitude. For him, the collapse of space was not a scientific breakthrough but a spiritual reminder.

Perhaps that is the bridge between science and scripture: both reveal the vastness of creation, but only gratitude reveals our place within it.