Does superdeterminism prove creation?

The Ninth International Creation Congress in the Light of Sciences was held between 20 and 21 November 2025 with the theme “The Qur’an Reads the Universe” and was organized in cooperation with Gaziantep University of Islamic Science and Technology, Şahinbey Municipality and the Creation in the Light of Sciences Association.

Participating in the congress with a talk titled “Superdeterminism and Creation,” President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that reason is the instrument of measurement and comprehension and said: “The light of the mind is science and the illumination of the heart is religious knowledge. According to the Qur’an, revelation brings truths that cannot be comprehended by the mind down to the level of certain knowledge. Truths that the intellect could not grasp a hundred years ago are becoming explainable today through superdeterminism.”

Defining superdeterminism as the understanding that “everything is measured, calculated and nothing is accidental,” Tarhan continued: “We must integrate reason and revelation through concepts such as superdeterminism. There is only one belief system that is fully compatible with reason and that is the belief in Tawhid. We must be able to defend this confidently.” He described the twenty first century as “the age of wisdom.”

 

The Ninth International Creation Congress in the Light of Sciences, organized between 20 and 21 November by Gaziantep University of Islamic Science and Technology, Şahinbey Municipality and the Creation in the Light of Sciences Association, hosted sessions spanning a wide range of fields including natural sciences, religious studies, social sciences and artificial intelligence.

Held at the Gaziantep Şahinbey Congress and Arts Center, the congress hosted academics and researchers over two days. Prominent themes included “Critique of the Theory of Evolution,” “Creation and Darwinism in the Light of Social Sciences” and “Creation in the Light of Natural and Health Sciences.”

Creation is positioned as a field of belief within academic circles

President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan delivered an online keynote speech titled “Superdeterminism and Creation.” In his remarks, Prof. Tarhan stated that creation is often positioned as a “field of belief” in today’s academic environments and explained: “It is said that creation is not a scientific theory and has not been proven because belief has not been theorized. For this reason many people keep creation in the category of belief.”

Drawing attention to the questioning nature of the new generation, Prof. Tarhan noted that Generation Z challenges traditional assumptions and said: “This generation may be self centered and comfort seeking but they are very endearing. Their expectations of justice and innocence are high. They do not ask ‘How should I perform prayer’ but instead ask ‘Why should I perform it.’ They say ‘You say there is a God but prove it.’”

No scientific counterargument has been presented against the Creation Manifesto

Stating that unverifiable beliefs are kept in a “doubtful knowledge file” in the human brain, Prof. Tarhan emphasized the importance of scientific studies related to creation and continued:

“A piece of knowledge does not turn into action unless it is verified. Creation congresses serve an important function in this respect. The Creation Manifesto published last year emerged with this assertion. No scientific counterargument has been presented against it. Only a few slogan level objections appeared.”

Can the theory of everything be established through the scientific method

Emphasizing that his own argument is based on the “superdeterminism thesis,” Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that if superdeterminism and creation are considered together, “the theory of everything can be established through the scientific method.”

Prof. Tarhan said: “This is a very bold claim, but at the moment the superdeterminism thesis of quantum physics points to Tawhid when examined rationally. Scholars of kalam and theology cannot establish the unity of reason, inspiration and revelation. Bediüzzaman says, ‘Reason and revelation unite, but only if reason is truly reason.’ What shows that reason is functioning properly is superdeterminism.”

Presenting a comprehensive framework on the relationship between creation, consciousness and modern physics, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan noted that when the concepts of reason, inspiration and revelation are examined together with the superdeterminism approach in quantum physics, a “deep epistemological synthesis” emerges from philosophical, theological and scientific perspectives.

“Truths that could not be comprehended 100 years ago can now be explained through superdeterminism”

Stating that reason is the tool of measurement and comprehension, Prof. Tarhan continued: “Reason connects events and grasps order. The light of the mind is science and the illumination of the heart is religious knowledge. Inspiration is an individual and spiritual form of perception. Newton discovering gravity or Archimedes experiencing the ‘Eureka’ moment are examples of inspiration. Revelation, on the other hand, is not a human source but a divine one and is absolute knowledge. According to the Qur’an, revelation brings truths that the intellect cannot comprehend down to the level of certain knowledge. Truths that the intellect could not grasp a hundred years ago are now becoming explainable through superdeterminism.”

What does superdeterminism say?

Prof. Tarhan explained superdeterminism, which rejects the assumption of free will in quantum mechanics, as follows: “Superdeterminism says that the initial conditions of the universe were determined in such a way that even the choice of the observer determines the outcome. In quantum physics, when the observer intervenes, the wave behavior changes. We are subjective observers of the universe. Every choice, even the decision to observe, is part of a chain predetermined from the beginning. Superdeterminism states that hidden variables may exist but there must be a universal database at the moment the universe first came into existence. Without such initial knowledge, it is impossible for the universe to operate with such perfection.”

Discussing the layers of determinism, Prof. Tarhan stated: “Superdeterminism is the counterpart of divine manifestation in modern physics. When revelation, inspiration and reason merge within the perspective of superdeterminism, a new synthesis emerges that points to Tawhid.”

The Preserved Tablet revisited with modern physics: Is the universe a software?

Prof. Tarhan stated that the concept of “Levh i Mahfuz” (the Preserved Tablet) in the Qur’an can be reinterpreted through modern physics and said: “The Preserved Tablet is not merely a record book but a manifestation of eternal knowledge. The Qur’an says ‘There is no calamity that befalls except that it is written in a book before We bring it forth.’ This shows that all possibilities and outcomes were coded at the beginning. We experience the visible form of eternal knowledge within time.”

Reminding that superdeterminism denies free will, Prof. Tarhan added: “Imagine a computer game. The writer of the game knows from which coordinate the player will score a goal, but the player does not know. The universe is a software like this. God says ‘He erases what He wills and confirms what He wills.’ Humans make free choices but the divine software knows the final outcome.”

Modern science converges with metaphysics

Prof. Tarhan emphasized that modern science has reached a point that intersects with metaphysics and said: “When reason, inspiration, revelation and superdeterminism come together, a holistic connection between cosmic determinism and consciousness, soul and divine knowledge is established. This synthesis makes it possible to reinterpret creation from both scientific and theological perspectives.”

Drawing attention to the metaphysical and ontological implications of the verse in Surah Al A’raf regarding the “Covenant of Alast,” Prof. Tarhan stated: “Regarding the creation of souls, the Qur’an says: ‘Your Lord brought forth from the loins of the children of Adam their descendants and made them testify concerning themselves. Am I not your Lord. They said yes, we testify.’ Look, there is a spiritual determinism before the creation of the souls.”

“The essence of the soul is known in divine knowledge”

Describing this testimony of the soul as “timeless awareness” and saying that it forms the basis of ontological determinism, Prof. Tarhan added: “The essence of the soul is known in divine knowledge. This corresponds exactly to the initial condition of superdeterminism.”

“They do not give credit but this is the truth”

Referring to Ibn Tufayl’s famous work, Prof. Tarhan noted that this work lies behind the European Renaissance and said: “The book that triggered the European Renaissance is ‘Hayy ibn Yaqzan.’ It tells the story of a young man who discovers God on an island by himself. This book played a catalytic role in Europe’s intellectual revolution. They do not give credit but this is the truth.”

Reason and revelation are not opposites, they complement each other

Emphasizing that time is an entity perceived only by humans, Prof. Tarhan said: “There is no time in the presence of God. Everything exists and does not exist at the same time. God has full command over both the past and the future simultaneously.”

Discussing the relationship between reason, inspiration and revelation within the context of superdeterminism, Prof. Tarhan stated: “This sentence is crucial: The knowledge of the Preserved Tablet descends through revelation, is recalled through inspiration and is understood through reason. Reason and revelation are not opposites; they complement one another. Inspiration is also a rational concept.” He added that human nature is created with an inclination toward choosing what is good and said: “Goodness is innate, evil is accidental.”

“Superdeterminism means everything is measured, calculated and nothing is random”

Saying that the Qur’anic expression “sittete eyyam” has been misinterpreted, Prof. Tarhan explained: “Six days does not mean six twenty four hour periods. It refers to six stages of creation, six ontological phases. The destinies recorded in the Preserved Tablet are like a seed that unfolds when the time comes. These six stages are compatible with the chain of knowledge, measurement, design, physics, matter and life in the universe. First knowledge was created, then mathematics, then design, then energy which corresponds to physics, then matter which corresponds to chemistry, then biology and human existence. What we call six days are six eras, six levels.”

Recalling verses related to measurement and calculation in the Qur’an, Prof. Tarhan said: “Superdeterminism means everything is measured, calculated and nothing is random. The Qur’an says, ‘We created everything according to a measure.’ The sun and the moon move according to a calculation.”

Summarizing the general schema of creation in his talk, Prof. Tarhan stated: “Nothing in the Qur’an contradicts reason. The Preserved Tablet is eternal knowledge, souls are the conscious aspect of this knowledge and the six days of creation are the unfolding of this knowledge within time. Superdeterminism is the counterpart of this in physics.”

“This era has two diseases: secularism and egoism”

Responding to a question about secularism, Prof. Tarhan described the most serious psychological problems through the human perspective and said: “This era has two diseases. The first is secularism, meaning worldliness. The second is egoism, self centeredness. These two diseases are not only present in secular individuals but also in people who claim to be religious.”

Prof. Tarhan stated that the reason young people distance themselves from religion is not secularism but poor role modeling and emphasized that he views the questioning attitude of the younger generation positively. He said: “There is a traditional understanding of religion but because we cannot be good examples for young people, they question it. We should not fear a questioning youth. Young people are pure, truth seeking and inquisitive.

Modern individuals question existence only in difficult times

Prof. Tarhan noted that modern individuals question existence only during difficult times and said: “Secularism causes people to perceive events as if they will never die. When a calamity or disaster occurs, existential questioning begins.”

Prof. Tarhan stated: “We must unite reason and revelation through concepts like superdeterminism. There is only one belief system that conforms to reason and that is the belief in Tawhid. We must be able to defend this confidently.” He described the twenty first century as “the age of wisdom.”

Emphasizing that the Qur’an is a book of wisdom, Prof. Tarhan added: “People have prejudices when they hear the word Islam but when we explain Tawhid, doors open. We must do this with scientific solidity.”

Concluding his remarks with the Qur’anic concepts of balance and measure, Prof. Tarhan said: “The solution to climate change is also a teaching of Tawhid. The United Nations’ ‘mizan’ project is essentially the environmental ethics proposed by the Qur’an. It is Anatolian wisdom that will offer this understanding of wisdom to the world.”