علم الزمن والوقت
When we translate a text about Az-Zaman (time) and Al-Waqt (time) from Arabic into other languages or vice versa, the first thing that will draw our attention is “the similarity of the two terms” and their unity in some languages (English and French for instance); because “Az-Zaman” in the dictionary is translated as “time/ temps” as well as “Al-Waqt”, which is translated as “time/temps”. Az-Zaman keeps the same form and is translated in the same form 1.
However, in our research, we do distinguish between the three concepts, as they share the same jargon, but vary when reviewing or making linguistic research.
Az-Zaman is one of the most abstract terms, which refers to all the meanings indicating this subject.
Whereas Al-Waqt is about anything that can be practical, tangible, countable, psychological, astronomical or mechanical …
Az-Zaman is the same as Zamen, but used only when the context is referring to space: time and space, however, when it is used in singular it indicates time only.
This distinction indicates that Az-Zaman and Al-Waqt take place between: scientific, philosophical, intellectual, cultural, abstract aspect, and practical, motional, civilizational and operating one. It is not a point in the middle of a circle or a mathematical division, yet through a complicated form based on monotheistic worldview, theory of existence and Islamic thought epistemology established upon major principals: Qur’an, Sunnah and Islamic thought throughout its interactive history.
Because the Holy Qur’an emphasizes on deed more than thought” as stated by Muhammad Iqbal in the first sentence of his book “Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam”; Az-Zaman as an abstract term was never mentioned in the Almighty Allah’s book, but “Al-Waqt” is indicated in all forms and structures 2, in addition to various intellectual and practical connotations of Az-Zaman in several verses, as well as terms and concepts “that were not subject to an adequate study” in our opinion; because they go beyond our simple understanding to a spiral complicated one, as for instance the connotation of the term “nation” on time, including “Al-Asr/ the Declining Day” and “Al-Qiyama/ The Resurrection” etc., therefore, shall we say “Time Science” or “Time Sciences”?
It is important to point out that knowledge is established upon terminology, introductions, postulates, approaches, means, goals, relations, contradictions and policies ….. unlike the field of “time” which has not known such kind of modeling, because it is still at the level of “subject”, “approach”, “mean”, “purpose”, “abstraction” and “concretization”. “time itself” is ambiguous when we think if it is a “standard” or “an object that has a standard”; is “time river” (according to the old linear view of time) is indicating water, movement or a pot?
What if we choose the spiral view, will time be “the spiral essence or casual” does it determine the destination mathematically and philosophically, or does it follow a predetermined destination?
What about “time project”?
Is it an attempt to explore knowledge in the sources, in heritage, in ancient and contemporary sciences in order to come up with an approach of time?
In every aspect of time, we need a number of researchers and scholars besides an allotted time and budget and we will definitely end up with a worth asking question: what have we learned in terms of practical and civilized objectives after this academic and cultural effort?
Hence, we stick to “the paradigm” and highlight the important role of thought and deed, because the purpose is always about attaining the pleasure of the Almighty Allah and the mission is about “guiding the community through a scientific method, based on Qur’anic principals”, however, the goal this time is based on the introduction of “time science” and/or “time sciences”.
The reason for this is that we are establishing this science, defending it, formulating its principals, determining its methods and procedures, the first step to carry out –based on this period- lies in making a radical change of the following:
- Monotheistic worldview, instead of materialistic and atheistic one.
- Implementing thought and action rather than sticking to theories, opinions or boasting about worthless terminology and concepts.
- Maintaining “community guidance” at different levels: schools, streets, mosques or universities unlike focusing on theories.
- It is different from the previous intellectual practices, in terms of subject “time” (museum, processing, training…), as well as in terms of educational representation; which helps with clarification and efficiency …
Through “time” I was able to free myself from lots of restrictions and avoid many backslidings, like: employment, earning a living, comfortable lifestyle, wealth, leisure, habituation, boredom.
The following table is an extrapolation of time sciences, through the biography of personalities and their intellectual achievements, throughout the Islamic history, which also includes a field that contains several topics and branches:
| Time and Place | Emptiness, relation | |
| Astrology | ………………………….. and astrology | |
| Zij | ||
| Planetary science | Fixed stars science, the rise and fall of stars | |
| The Sun and the Moon | ||
| Earth | Astronomical nutation | |
| Solar and lunar eclipses | According to astrology | |
| Surface and ball | Calculating the hours on a hemisphere by geometry, and measuring Azimuth on the ground | |
| Azimuth | Measuring Azimuth on the ground | |
| Determining Qibla direction | Determining meridian and determining Qibla direction | |
| Ups and downs | ||
| Zodiac | The ratio of zodiac to countries | |
| Seasonal Periods and Sky Signs | ||
| Measuring instruments | Astrolabe. | Making astrolabes |
| Motion | Motion of sun, moon, and earth and time dilation of the planets. | |
| Dimensions | Parallaxes for measuring distance between stars. | |
Visual perception | Measuring and sighting the crescent, mistakes of sighting the crescent and their correction. | |
| Ray | Ray | |
| Sleep | Definition of sleep | |
| Insomnia | ||
| Dreams | ||
| Calendar | Counting the years | |
| Seasons | Summer and winter solstice, Equinox of spring and fall |
[1] P9, reviewed by Muhammad Yusuf Adas; Alexandria Library edition, Egypt, 2011. It is important to note that the book written by Muhammad Iqbal “Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam” begins with an expression that emphasizes on the importance of action by referring to the verses of the Holy Qur’an; but I wish he wrote another book entitled “Reconstruction of Deeds in the Islamic Thought”; because his efforts remained at the level of theory and did not change the grim reality.
[1] Look – Babaami: Ususl al-Barmaja Az-Zamania; P35 and beyond. Al Awael publishing house, Syria; 2006.
المقال مترجم عن المقال الأصلي: الزمن علمًا، الوقت عملاً – علم الزمن والوقت (timescience.net)
