what is before big bang

1. The Scientific Perspective on What Is Before the Big Bang

There is no complete theory that decisively explains what existed before the universe’s inception. However, there are some ideas and theories that offer assumptions regarding this question. It is known that “time,” as we understand it, began with the Big Bang. Therefore, the concept of “before” may lack meaning in a scientific context.

Nonetheless, let us clarify what science has achieved in this matter and the challenges scientists face in addressing it.

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1. Temporal and Physical Boundaries

• Our understanding of the universe is based on the laws of physics as we know them today. However, as we move back in time toward the moment of the universe’s inception, these physical laws become increasingly uncertain and begin to lose their precision, especially in the first fraction of a second of the universe’s life, where quantum gravitational effects dominate.
• The current theory, Einstein’s General Relativity, works well on large scales but fails at the singularity, which is believed to have existed at the moment of the Big Bang. Here, science requires a theory that combines General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics—known as Quantum Gravity—but this theory has not yet been fully developed.

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2. Absence of Direct Evidence

• We cannot directly observe what existed before the Big Bang. The cosmic microwave background radiation, the oldest light observable, represents remnants from about 380,000 years after the Big Bang, leaving a significant temporal gap that is difficult to access.
• Without direct evidence, it becomes challenging to formulate theories supported by observational data.

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3. Alternative Theories

Numerous theories address what might have existed before the Big Bang. Most remain theoretical and are still under research and development. Here are some of the most prominent theories proposed by scientists:

• Eternal Inflation Theory
  • This theory suggests that the universe underwent a period of rapid expansion (inflation) following the Big Bang and that this inflation continues in other regions beyond our “bubble” universe.
  • This implies that our universe might be one of an infinite number of universes forming continuously in an eternal inflation process.
• Cyclic Universe Theory
  • According to this theory, the universe undergoes recurring cycles of expansion and contraction. After each Big Bang, the universe expands, eventually contracts into a Big Crunch, and a new Big Bang occurs.
  • This theory suggests that the universe has no beginning or end but exists in perpetual cycles of creation and destruction.
• String Theory and Brane Cosmology
  • String Theory proposes that the universe is composed of tiny vibrating strings. A specific interpretation, Brane Cosmology, suggests that our universe is a “brane” interacting with other branes in higher-dimensional space.
  • Collisions between these branes may lead to repeated Big Bang events, creating multiple universes each time.
• Loop Quantum Gravity
  • This theory seeks to merge gravity and quantum mechanics, viewing space and time as composed of discrete units or “loops.”
  • It introduces the Big Bounce model, suggesting that the universe did not start from a singularity but from a previous contraction phase before rebounding into expansion.
• Multiverse Theory
  • There are multiple versions of this theory. One suggests that every choice or event results in a “branch” into a parallel universe. In this context, the Big Bang is not unique but one of many across different singularities.
• No-Boundary Proposal
  • Proposed by Stephen Hawking and James Hartle, this theory posits that the universe’s beginning was smooth and finite, resembling a four-dimensional “sphere.” According to this idea, asking “what is before the Big Bang” is meaningless because time itself began with the universe.
• Ekpyrotic Model
  • Based on brane theory, this model proposes that our universe formed from a collision between higher-dimensional branes. Unlike the traditional Big Bang model, this suggests that the universe was cold and stable before the collision, which sparked its creation.
• Steady State Theory
  • Once widely accepted, this theory proposed that the universe has always existed in a constant state with no beginning. Although it lost favor after evidence of cosmic expansion was discovered, some scientists revisit it in light of new theories about multiverses or cyclic time.

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4. Challenges in Unifying General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics

• Unifying these two foundational theories is essential to understanding the singularity. Theories such as string theory and loop quantum gravity attempt to achieve this unification but remain incomplete.

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5. Emerging Hypotheses

• Advances in observational technologies and theoretical physics may eventually provide insights into pre-Big Bang conditions.

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6. Summary of the Scientific Perspective

Science has traced the universe’s beginnings with logical evidence. However, what occurred before remains a profound mystery because the laws governing our universe began with the Big Bang. Addressing this question might require altering some of the fundamental physical principles we know, such as the law of conservation of energy, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed.

This leads to an infinite loop of questions: If the universe’s energy had a source, where did that source originate? These unresolved questions push us to explore other perspectives.

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2. The Philosophical Perspective on What Is Before the Big Bang

Many philosophers across history have tackled the question of what existed before the universe and the beginning of time. Each offered a different perspective shaped by the era and culture they lived in. Here is a list of the most prominent philosophers and their key ideas on this topic:

• Parmenides (5th century BCE): One of the first philosophers to question the concept of “nothingness.” He argued that something cannot emerge from nothing, leading to the idea of an eternal universe and rejecting the notion of an absolute beginning.
• Plato (427–347 BCE): In his work Timaeus, Plato envisioned the universe as being crafted by a divine “Demiurge” from eternal, pre-existing matter. For Plato, the universe did not have an absolute beginning but continued according to divine design.
• Aristotle (384–322 BCE): Aristotle rejected the idea of an absolute beginning and proposed that the universe is eternal. He introduced the concept of the “unmoved mover” or “prime cause,” which initiates the motion of the universe without itself having a beginning or an end.
• St. Augustine (354–430 CE): A philosopher of the Middle Ages influenced by Christian thought, Augustine believed that time itself began with the creation of the universe. He viewed God as existing “outside of time,” and argued that asking “what was before creation” is meaningless because time did not exist before the universe.
• Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274 CE): Aquinas sought to reconcile Greek philosophy with Christian theology. He suggested that while the universe might be eternal, it was created by divine will. For him, God was the “first cause,” and time and beginnings came into existence with the universe.
• Immanuel Kant (1724–1804 CE): Kant argued that time and space are mental constructs humans use to understand the world. Therefore, questions about “before the universe” are beyond human comprehension because they exceed the limits of our reasoning.
• Gottfried Leibniz (1646–1716 CE): Leibniz discussed the “reason” for the universe’s existence and proposed the concept of a “final cause.” He believed the universe has a purpose, but this purpose transcends temporal and physical boundaries.
• Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831 CE): Hegel introduced a dialectical view of history and the universe, suggesting that the universe progresses through a series of transformations. While he did not directly address “before the universe,” he emphasized continuous processes rather than singular events.

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Summary of the Philosophical Perspective

Philosophy provides three main viewpoints on what is before the Big Bang:

1. There is a Creator or divine craftsman of the universe.
   • This perspective is considered the most logical by many.
2. The universe is eternal and has no beginning.
   • This view contradicts science and logic, as everything in our observable world seems to have a beginning.
3. This question exceeds the limits of human reasoning.
   • This answer is also plausible, as human cognition may not be equipped to understand concepts beyond the universe’s framework.

Ultimately, philosophy does not provide a definitive or unified answer to this question. Thus, we move to the next perspective—religion—to see if it offers more clarity.

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3. The Religious Perspective on What Is Before the Big Bang

Most religions converge on a singular answer to this question: the existence of a Creator who brought the universe into being. This perspective is increasingly logical to the human mind in the context of modern technology.

With tools like computers, humans can now create virtual worlds or games governed by programmed laws. For example:

• In these virtual worlds, you can create skies, lands, and creatures, set rules of motion, and even enable reproduction through unconventional mechanisms. A portion of a character in the game can split to become a new being.
• You can create a character with artificial intelligence capable of independent thought.

But can this character exceed the boundaries of the game? The answer is no.

Can it perceive you in your world? The answer is also no.

Will this character have knowledge of your world? The answer is no, unless you provide it.

The character’s understanding is confined to the world you created and the laws you imposed.

This analogy illustrates why chance cannot account for the creation of the universe. The precise tuning of physical laws, the fundamental forces, and even the composition of human beings could not arise from randomness. Any minor alteration in these constants would result in catastrophic consequences. This harmony necessitates a Creator. Just as it is unreasonable to expect a computer to spontaneously program a world with its own laws, it is unreasonable to believe that the universe created itself by chance.

Both scientific and philosophical inquiries ultimately lead us to the boundaries of our universe, but to understand what lies beyond, we must look to the Creator of this universe. This brings us to a critical question: Who is the Creator of this universe, and what is the correct religion that identifies Him?

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Who Is the Creator of This Universe, and What Is the Correct Religion?

After exploring this question, we found that there are three primary types of religions:

1. Monotheistic Religions:
   • These are interconnected religions that worship one God and share belief in the same prophets but differ in their laws and practices. This divergence arises because God sent different messengers to distinct communities across time. The final messenger, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, was sent as the Seal of the Prophets to complete the divine message with the universal religion of Islam.
2. Polytheistic Religions:
   • These religions believe in multiple gods, with each god representing an aspect of nature or human life. Polytheistic beliefs are among the oldest, with diverse depictions of gods varying across civilizations and cultures.
3. Non-Theistic Religions:
   • These religions do not involve a personal Creator. Instead, they focus on moral principles, spiritual enlightenment, and harmony with nature.

After research and comparison, we concluded that the answer to “Who created the universe?” is best provided by monotheistic religions. Among them, Islam stands out as the last and most preserved divine religion, offering a clear and logical explanation for the universe’s creation.

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Why We Chose Islam to Answer This Question

We chose Islam for several reasons, including:

1. Islam is the oldest preserved religion in its original language:
   • The Quran remains unchanged in Arabic since its revelation over 1,400 years ago. Efforts throughout history have ensured its preservation without alteration.
2. Scientific References in the Quran:
   • The Quran contains numerous references to cosmic phenomena, human creation, and natural balance that align with modern scientific discoveries. For example:
   • Example 1:Allah’s Statement: “Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?” (Surah Al-Anbiya: 30)
   • In this verse, revealed over 1400 years ago, there are two scientific indications. The first is that the heavens and the earth were initially joined together before Allah separated them. This parallels the Big Bang theory, which is currently the dominant scientific explanation for the origin of the universe. The second indication is the phrase “We made from water every living thing,” which is a scientific fact emphasizing that water is essential for all known forms of life. No living organism can survive without water.

Example 2:

• Allah’s Statement: “And We certainly created man from an extract of clay. Then We placed him as a sperm-drop in a firm lodging. Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump [of flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah, the best of creators.” (Surah Al-Mu’minun: 12-14)
• These verses describe the stages of human creation with remarkable precision, detailing the development of the fetus in the mother’s womb. They serve as a challenge to humanity by providing detailed explanations of embryonic stages unknown during the 7th century CE. Let us examine these stages:
1. “Created man from an extract of clay”: This refers to the origin of man from clay, which some scholars interpret as a reference to the natural elements found in the earth. Scientifically, the human body consists of elements like carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen, which are also present in the soil. This statement poetically alludes to the human connection to the earth.
2. “Then We placed him as a sperm-drop in a firm lodging”: The term sperm-drop refers to a fertilized egg or sperm cell. The firm lodging refers to the uterus, which provides a stable and nurturing environment for the embryo’s growth. Scientifically, the uterus is recognized as the ideal environment for fetal development.
3. “Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot”: The term clinging clot describes a stage where the fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterine wall. At this stage, the embryo resembles a clot of blood in both shape and structure.
4. “Then We made the clot into a lump [of flesh]”: The lump of flesh refers to a stage where the embryo begins to take on the appearance of a small piece of chewed flesh, with grooves resembling teeth marks, matching the description of embryonic development.
5. “Then We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh”: This highlights the formation of bones followed by the development of muscle tissue around them. Scientifically, bone and muscle cells develop almost simultaneously, but the verse may emphasize the gradual visibility of bones before muscle tissue envelops them.
6. “Then We developed him into another creation”: This indicates the advanced stage where the fetus takes on a fully human form, preparing for birth.

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What Existed Before the Universe?

Allah’s Statement:

“And it is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and His Throne was upon the water, that He might test you as to which of you is best in deed. But if you say, ‘You will surely be resurrected after death,’ those who disbelieve will surely say, ‘This is not but obvious magic.’” (Surah Hud: 7)

Prophet Muhammad’s Hadith:

“Allah existed, and there was nothing before Him. His Throne was upon water, and He wrote in the Book all things that will occur. Then He created the heavens and the earth.” (Reported by Bukhari)

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Interpretation of the Verse and Hadith:

From this verse and hadith, Muslims understand that Allah’s existence is eternal and not bound by the attributes of creation, such as a beginning or an end. Before the universe existed, Allah’s Throne was established upon water. He then created the Pen and commanded it to record all that would happen until the Day of Judgment in the Preserved Tablet. Following this, Allah began the creation of the heavens and the earth—the universe as we know it.

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The Magnitude of the Throne:

Numerous hadiths emphasize the grandeur of Allah’s Throne. For instance, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“The seven heavens compared to the Footstool are like a ring thrown into a desert, and the Throne is even greater than the Footstool.” (Reported by Ibn Abi Shaybah)

Allah’s Throne is the most magnificent creation, carried by mighty angels. Human intellect cannot fully grasp its reality, as it remains part of the unseen.

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4. Conclusion

Science has been unable to provide a definitive explanation for what existed before the origin of the universe. Philosophy has proposed logical theories suggesting that the universe must have had a beginning and that every cause has a preceding cause. Islam offers a clear answer: Allah is the Prime Mover, the eternal Creator without a beginning, who brought causes and the universe into existence from nothingness. Thus, humans cannot comprehend what existed before the beginning of the universe except through divine revelation.

Allah Almighty first created the Throne, then He created the Pen and commanded it to write everything in the Preserved Tablet until the end of this world. Afterward, He began the creation of the universe.