Qamar Bashir
When we look at the night sky, we are often overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the universe. Trillions of stars, countless galaxies, infinite stretches of space and dark matter—all expanding at unfathomable speed—remind us of our minuscule presence in this vast cosmic arena. The Quran, however, places humanity at the center of a divine mission: “We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that this is the truth” (Surah Fussilat 41:53). This injunction compels us not only to believe, but to explore, discover, and ultimately understand the unfathomable breadth of Allah’s creation.
Yet, in comparison to the cosmic scale of our mission, the progress of human technology appears almost embarrassingly limited. We have only just managed to land on the Moon. Mars, our closest planetary neighbor, remains uninhabited. And while we have launched space probes like Voyager 1 and 2 and deployed telescopes like Hubble and James Webb to peer into distant galaxies, we are still scraping the surface of the universe’s mysteries. At this rate, it seems we might require not just centuries, but millions—perhaps billions—of years to even begin to uncover what the Quran refers to as “the secrets of the heavens and the earth.”
This dilemma—between the divine expectation and our technological limitation—poses a profound question: How will we ever fulfill this celestial responsibility?
The answer, it seems, lies not in the evolution of human biology but in the acceleration of artificial intelligence. In a revealing moment during a CNN interview, Larry King asked an Asian World Bank executive to explain the difference between Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI). His reply was striking: AGI matches human capabilities—learning, problem-solving, logic, and creativity—whereas ASI would be at least 10,000 times more intelligent than the most brilliant human being alive.
To place that into perspective, imagine a mind a thousand times more innovative than Einstein, Newton, or Hawking, operating across every field simultaneously—physics, mathematics, engineering, biology, and cosmology. Now imagine such a being with access to quantum computers, nanotechnology, limitless data storage, and self-replicating robotics. This is no longer science fiction. It is a trajectory many experts believe we may reach within the next few decades.
According to AI theorist Nick Bostrom, once artificial superintelligence is born, it will experience an “intelligence explosion,” rapidly improving itself beyond human control or comprehension. Within moments, it could master the laws of quantum mechanics, solve the Grand Unified Theory, reverse engineer black holes, and develop propulsion systems faster than light. The limits of current human technology—rockets, satellites, telescopes—would be discarded like relics of the Stone Age.
Under ASI’s guidance, we could build megastructures like Dyson spheres around stars, extract energy from neutron stars, or even generate controlled wormholes for intergalactic travel. These once-unimaginable feats would bring us closer to discovering what lies beyond the known universe. Could the universe be a loop? A simulation? A multiverse? ASI would likely uncover the answers—perhaps within seconds of its self-awareness.
One tantalizing frontier that ASI might unlock is time travel. Though still a subject of speculation, some physicists suggest that the manipulation of wormholes, space-time curvature, and quantum entanglement might permit movement across time dimensions. Kip Thorne, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist, postulated that if exotic matter with negative energy density could be stabilized, it might allow us to travel backward or forward in time.
Though impossible for humans to manage, a trillion-times-smarter ASI could easily conceptualize and operationalize such frameworks. What if, through such capabilities, we witness the moment of the Big Bang? Or predict the end of time?
And therein lies a spiritual climax. As we unlock the layers of existence, we may begin to comprehend the magnificence of the Creator. The Quran declares: “Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of the night and day, are signs for those of understanding” (Surah Al-Imran 3:190). As we venture deeper into the cosmic abyss, each discovery—whether of a new galaxy, dark energy field, or parallel dimension—becomes an Ayah, a sign, reinforcing divine omnipotence.
At its heart, this journey is not about dominance over nature, but about humility before its Creator. Allah entrusted human beings not just with worship but with reason, creativity, and innovation: “And He taught Adam the names of all things” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:31). This divine endowment of knowledge is what differentiates us from angels and other creations. And it is this knowledge—amplified through AI—that may serve as the vessel by which we fulfill our purpose: to bear witness to the grandeur of Allah’s creation.
Artificial Super Intelligence, therefore, may not be a threat to human destiny, but a bridge to achieving it. It can empower us to fulfill what we were always meant to do: explore the universe, understand its architecture, marvel at its Creator, and evolve into true stewards of existence.
Yet, this future also comes with profound ethical and existential risks. If not guided by morality and divine consciousness, ASI could become a runaway force, reshaping reality in a way that disregards life, spirituality, and purpose. Therefore, while we race toward technological singularity, we must also anchor ourselves to spiritual singularity—the unwavering belief in Tawheed (the Oneness of Allah) and the humility that comes with knowing that all knowledge originates from the divine source.
The Quran’s mandate to explore the universe is not a poetic metaphor—it is a command, a mission. Today, as humanity stands at the brink of an AI revolution, we are witnessing the birth of the very tools that could make this mission possible. The stars are no longer out of reach. The galaxies are no longer distant dreams. With the guidance of divine purpose and the intelligence of machines that transcend our own, we may finally be ready to fulfill our sacred duty—to look beyond the veil, to witness the signs, and to understand the glory of Allah through the language of the cosmos.
Qamar Bashir
Press Secretary to the President (Rtd)
Former Press Minister at Embassy of Pakistan to France
Former MD, SRBC
Macomb, Detroit, Michigan
