Fatwa ID: 06974
Answered by: Alimah Jannatun Nessa
Question:
Is it halal to learn about, use and apply the concept of infinity in maths (especially calculus) and physics (especially Newtonian gravitation)? This is used almost everywhere in engineering, astrophysics and calculus in IT as well. In newtonian gravitation, would a concept which say that gravity has an infinite range permissible to learn? Would it correct to study the following: they then use this to work out potential energy within a gravitational field which, according to them is energy require to move an object from infinity to that point within a gravitational field? This concepts I think are used in aerospace engineering, is it permissible to learn? Would it permitted to apply or believe in any of them since no one actually believes that universe on infinite?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
حَدَّثَنَا الْحَكَمُ بْنُ نَافِعٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، أَخْبَرَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ، أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ “ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ الرَّحْمَةَ مِائَةَ جُزْءٍ، فَأَمْسَكَ عِنْدَهُ تِسْعَةً وَتِسْعِينَ جُزْءًا، وَأَنْزَلَ فِي الأَرْضِ جُزْءًا وَاحِدًا، فَمِنْ ذَلِكَ الْجُزْءِ يَتَرَاحَمُ الْخَلْقُ، حَتَّى تَرْفَعَ الْفَرَسُ حَافِرَهَا عَنْ وَلَدِهَا خَشْيَةَ أَنْ تُصِيبَهُ ”.
Abu Huraira RA narrated: I heard Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) saying, Allah divided Mercy into one hundred parts. He kept ninety nine parts with Him and sent down one part to the earth, and because of that one single part, His Creations are merciful to each other, so that even the mare lifts up its hoofs away from its baby animal, lest it should trample on it.” [Sahih al-Bukhari, 6000]
The hadith teaches us that Allah, the Most Merciful, is the source of all love, compassion, and mercy shown by the creation to one another, and in a similar vein, the source of all knowledge in this world is Allah, who is the Most Knowledgable and whose knowledge encompasses all things.
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى جَاعِلٌۭ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةًۭ ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ٣٠
˹Remember˺ when your Lord said to the angels, “I am going to place a successive ˹human˺ authority on earth.” They asked ˹Allah˺, “Will You place in it someone who will spread corruption there and shed blood while we glorify Your praises and proclaim Your holiness?” Allah responded, “I know what you do not know.” [Surah 2, verse 30]
وَعَلَّمَ ءَادَمَ ٱلْأَسْمَآءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنۢبِـُٔونِى بِأَسْمَآءِ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ ٣١
He taught Adam the names of all things, then He presented them to the angels and said, “Tell Me the names of these things, if what you say is true (that Allah will never make anyone more knowledgable than you (the angels)).” [Surah 2, verse 31]
قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَآ إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٣٢
They replied, “Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. You are truly All-Knowing, All-Wise.” [Surah 2, verse 32]
From the above verses, we can learn that everything we know about the mechanisms of life and the principles of all things is from Allah. The capacity to understand these things and apply them to one’s own advantage was bestowed upon humanity by Allah.
Therefore, it is permissible to learn, use, and apply the concept of infinity in math and physics, as all of it is within the realm of knowledge that Allah has given us. But we must also keep in mind that our understanding of these concepts is limited and imperfect, and that our knowledge cannot even compare to Allah’s boundless wisdom. On top of that, we should use any knowledge bestowed upon us responsibly, ensuring that it is used for the betterment of humanity.
Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.
Written by Alimah Jannatun Nessa
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
