The “IX. International Congress on Creation in the Light of Sciences,” organized by Gaziantep İslam Bilim ve Teknoloji Üniversitesi, Şahinbey Municipality, and the Association of Creation in the Light of Sciences, was held between November 20-21, 2025, with the theme “The Qur’an Reads the Universe.”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, who participated in the congress with a speech titled “Superdeterminism and Creation,” stated that reason is a tool for measurement and comprehension, saying, “The light of reason is the natural sciences; the light of the heart is religious sciences. According to the Qur’an, revelation brings truths that reason cannot comprehend to the level of definite knowledge. Truths that reason could not grasp 100 years ago are now becoming explainable through superdeterminism and reason.”
Tarhan stated that “superdeterminism means ‘everything is measured, calculated, nothing is random,’” adding, “We must unite reason and revelation with concepts like superdeterminism. There is only one belief system consistent with reason, and that is the belief in Tawhid (Oneness of God). We need to be able to defend this loudly.” He characterized the 21st century as the “age of wisdom.”
The “IX. International Congress on Creation in the Light of Sciences,” organized in collaboration with Gaziantep İslam Bilim ve Teknoloji Üniversitesi, Şahinbey Municipality, and the Association of Creation in the Light of Sciences between November 20-21; hosted sessions spanning a wide range from natural sciences to religious sciences, social sciences to artificial intelligence.
Among the prominent themes at this year's congress, which hosted academics and researchers for two days at the Gaziantep Şahinbey Congress and Art Center, were topics such as “Critique of the Theory of Evolution,” “Creation and Darwinism in the Light of Social Sciences,” and “Creation in the Light of Science and Health Sciences.”
In university circles, creation is positioned as a “field of belief”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan delivered an online speech titled “Superdeterminism and Creation” as an Invited Speaker at the congress. In his speech at the congress, Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that creation is often positioned as a “field of belief” in university circles today, saying, “It is said that it is not a scientific theory, it has not been proven. Because belief has not been theorized. For this reason, many people keep creation in the category of belief.”
Highlighting the inquisitive nature of the new generation, Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that Generation Z, in particular, questions traditional assumptions and said, “This generation might be self-centered and conformist, but they are very likeable. Their expectations for justice and innocence are high. They ask, ‘Why should I pray?’ not ‘How should I pray?’ They say, ‘You claim there is a God, but prove it.’”
No scientific counter-argument came against the ‘Creation Manifesto’
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that unverified beliefs are kept in the “suspicious information file” in the human brain, emphasizing that scientific studies on creation therefore gain importance, and said, “If information is not verified, it does not turn into action. Creation congresses perform an important function in this regard. The Creation Manifesto, published last year, also came out with this claim. No scientific counter-argument emerged. A few sloganistic objections arose.”
The theory of everything can be established through scientific method!
Emphasizing that his own claim is based on the “superdeterminism thesis,” Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that if superdeterminism and creation are considered together, “the theory of everything can be established through the scientific method.”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “This is a very ambitious piece of information, but currently, the superdeterminism thesis of quantum physics, when viewed with reason, points to Tawhid. Islamic theologians and creed scholars cannot establish the integrity of reason-inspiration-revelation. Bediüzzaman says, ‘Reason and revelation unite, but only if reason is truly reason.’ What demonstrates that reason is truly reason is superdeterminism.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, providing a comprehensive framework on the relationships between creation, consciousness, and modern physics, stated that when the concepts of reason-inspiration-revelation are considered together with the “superdeterminism” approach in quantum physics, a “deep epistemological synthesis” emerges from a philosophical, theological, and scientific perspective.
“Truths that reason could not grasp 100 years ago can today be explained by superdeterminism and reason”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that reason is a tool for measurement and comprehension, adding:
“Reason establishes connections between events and grasps order. The light of reason is natural sciences; the light of the heart is religious sciences. Inspiration is a form of individual and spiritual comprehension. Newton’s discovery of gravity and Archimedes’ ‘Eureka’ moment are both examples of inspiration. Revelation, however, is not human but a divine source and is of absolute knowledge. According to the Qur’an, revelation brings truths that reason cannot comprehend to the level of definite knowledge. Truths that reason could not grasp 100 years ago are now becoming explainable through superdeterminism and reason.”
What does superdeterminism say?
Prof. Dr. Tarhan explained superdeterminism, which rejects the assumption of free will in quantum mechanics, as follows:
“Superdeterminism says: The initial conditions of the universe are so determined that even the observer’s choice dictates the results. In quantum mechanics, when the observer intervenes, wave behavior changes. We, too, are subjective observers of the universe. Every choice, even the decision to observe, is part of a chain determined from the outset.
Superdeterminism says: There may be hidden variables, but when the universe first came into existence, there must have been a universal database. Without such initial information, it is not possible for the universe to function so perfectly.”
Expressing the layers of determinism, Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated, “Superdeterminism is the counterpart of divine manifestation in modern physics. When revelation, inspiration, and reason unite from the perspective of superdeterminism, a new synthesis pointing to Tawhid emerges.”
The Preserved Tablet (Levh-i Mahfuz) Re-read with Modern Physics: Is the Universe a Software?
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that the concept of “Levh-i Mahfuz” (the Preserved Tablet) in the Qur’an can be re-read from the perspective of modern physics, saying, “The Levh-i Mahfuz is not just a ledger; it is the manifestation of eternal knowledge. In the Qur’an, it is stated, ‘No disaster strikes upon the earth or among yourselves except that it is in a register before We bring it into being.’ This indicates that all possibilities and outcomes are initially coded. We are experiencing the visible form of eternal knowledge within time.”
Reminding that superdeterminism rejects free will, Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “Think of a computer game. The game’s developer knows which coordinates the player will score a goal in, but the player does not. The universe is such a software. Allah says, ‘He erases what He wills or confirms.’ Humans make free choices, but the divine software knows the ultimate outcome.”
The point modern science has reached intersects with metaphysics
Prof. Dr. Tarhan emphasized that the point modern science has reached intersects with metaphysics, saying, “When reason, inspiration, revelation, and superdeterminism come together, a holistic connection is established between cosmic determinism and consciousness-soul-divine knowledge. This synthesis enables the reinterpretation of creation from both a scientific and theological perspective.”
Drawing attention to the metaphysical and ontological signs of the “Covenant of Alast” (Elest Bezmi) verse in Surah A’raf, Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “Regarding the creation of souls, the Qur’an states, ‘And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam—from their loins—their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them], ‘Am I not your Lord?’ They said, ‘Yes, we have testified.’ Look, there is a spiritual determinism even before the creation of souls.”
“The essence of the soul has been known in divine knowledge”
Describing this testimony of the soul as “timeless awareness” and stating that it forms the basis of ontological determinism, Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “The essence of the soul has been known in divine knowledge. This precisely corresponds to the initial condition of superdeterminism.”
“They don’t give references, but this is the truth!”
Referring to Ibn Tufayl’s famous work, Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that this work was in the background of the European Renaissance and said, “The book that caused the Renaissance in Europe is ‘Hayy bin Yaqdhan.’ It tells the story of a young man finding God alone on an island. This book was a catalyst in Europe’s intellectual revolution. They don’t give references, but this is the truth.”
Reason and revelation are not opposites; they complement each other…
Emphasizing that time is merely a human perception, Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “There is no time in the sight of Allah. Everything simultaneously exists and does not exist. Allah controls both the past and the future at the same time.”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan, addressing the relationship between reason-inspiration-revelation in the context of superdeterminism, stated, “This sentence is very critical: The knowledge of Levh-i Mahfuz descends through revelation, is recalled through inspiration, and understood through reason. Reason and revelation are not opposites; they complement each other. Inspiration is also a rational concept.”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan, stating that humanity is created with an innate disposition to choose good, said, “Goodness is innate, evil is incidental.”
“Superdeterminism means; ‘everything is measured, calculated, nothing is random’”
Stating that the expression “sittate ayyam” (six days) in the Qur’an is misinterpreted, Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “6 days are not 24-hour days. They are six stages of creation, ontological phases. The destiny in Levh-i Mahfuz is like a seed; it unfolds when its time comes. These 6 stages are compatible with the universe's chain of knowledge–measure–design–physics–matter–life. First, knowledge was created, then mathematics, then design, then energy, i.e., physics, then matter, i.e., chemistry, then biology, and humanity. What we call 6 days are 6 eras, 6 steps.”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan, recalling the verses he identified in the Qur’an regarding measure and calculation, stated, “Superdeterminism means, ‘everything is measured, calculated, nothing is random.’ In the Qur’an, it is stated, ‘Indeed, We have created all things with a [precise] measure.’ The sun and the moon move according to a calculation.”
Summarizing the general scheme of creation in his speech, Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “No issue in the Qur’an is contrary to reason. Levh-i Mahfuz is eternal knowledge, souls are the conscious aspect of this knowledge, and the 6-day creation is the unfolding of this knowledge within time. Superdeterminism is its counterpart in physics.”
“This era has two diseases: secularism and egoism”
In response to a question about secularity, Prof. Dr. Tarhan explained the most serious problems from the perspective of human psychology, saying, “This era has two diseases. The first is secularism, meaning worldliness. The second is egoism, self-centeredness. These two diseases exist not only in secular people but also in those who claim to be religious.”
Stating that the reason for young people drifting away from religion is not secularism but rather poor role models, Prof. Dr. Tarhan emphasized that he welcomed the questioning attitude of the young generation and said, “There is a traditional understanding of religion, but because we could not be good examples to the youth, they are questioning. Let's not be afraid of questioning youth. Young people are a pure, truth-seeking, questioning generation.”
Today’s people question existence only in difficult times
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that today's people question existence only in difficult times, saying, “Secularism causes people to look at events as if they will never die. However, when a calamity or disaster occurs, existence begins to be questioned.”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “We must unite reason and revelation with concepts like superdeterminism. There is only one belief system consistent with reason, and that is the belief in Tawhid. We need to be able to defend this loudly,” characterizing the 21st century as the “age of wisdom.”
Emphasizing that the Qur’an is a book of wisdom, Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “When Islam is mentioned, people have prejudices, but when we explain Tawhid, doors open. We need to do this with scientific soundness.”
Concluding his remarks through the Qur’an’s concepts of balance and measure, Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “The solution to climate change is also a teaching of Tawhid. The UN’s ‘mizan’ (balance) project is actually the environmental ethics proposed by the Qur’an. It is again the wisdom of Anatolia that will present this understanding of wisdom and insight to the world.”