When did time actually start?
That’s not just a scientific question. It’s deeply spiritual, emotional, and tied to our very existence. Was there a “before” time? Or did time begin with the universe? In this blog, we dive into logic, religion, and science to understand the moment time was truly born.
The Question That Changes Everything
We often ask where time began, but maybe the better question is: why did time begin? And if something begins, it means there was once a state with no beginning — a timeless state.
When did time actually start? Before answering, we need to explore how time is defined.
Time is not an object. It can’t be seen or touched. It’s a force tied to motion, space, and creation. According to science, time began with the Big Bang. According to faith, it began with God’s command: “Be.”
Science: Time Began with the Universe
Physicists agree that time, space, and matter began together around 13.8 billion years ago. The moment the Big Bang occurred, time started ticking. There was no “before” in terms of physical dimensions, because even the concept of “before” requires time.
So, when did time actually start? According to modern physics: the moment the universe expanded from nothing.
But even science admits: what existed before the Big Bang? No one knows. Some suggest quantum fluctuations. Others suggest a previous universe. But they all agree: our current measurement of time began with that explosion of matter and energy.
Though captivating, this explanation doesn’t satisfy the emotional or spiritual depth we seek. It answers the mechanics, not the meaning.
Religion: God Created Time, Not Just the Universe
Religious texts speak of God as the Creator of everything. That includes time itself. God is often described as timeless, not bound by past or future. The Quran refers to God as “the First and the Last,” and the Bible calls Him “eternal.”
This means: before time existed, God already existed. When did time actually start? When God chose to begin His creation.
The words “Kun” (Be) in the Quran signify that time began at God’s command. That command triggered creation — of energy, matter, space, and yes, time.
God doesn’t live in time. Time lives in God’s creation.
This understanding reshapes everything. It puts God outside the realm of physics, science, or human understanding. It means time is not just a clock ticking — it’s a design, a boundary set for human experience.
Before Time: A Realm We Can’t Fully Understand
If time truly began with the universe, then what filled the silence before the first second? The answer is: not nothing, but something beyond our current dimensions.
That realm was timeless. Souls may have existed there. God surely did. It’s a realm where there was no yesterday or tomorrow. Just a divine stillness.
When did time actually start? When God chose to give motion to the stillness. From planning to commanding.
I believe that before time began, there was order — not chaos. A perfect design was prepared. Then, with divine will, that stillness was turned into movement. That movement — the beginning of space and time — was not accidental. It was planned.
This is where spiritual logic steps in. You can’t explain this origin using physics alone. There are laws beyond what we can test or see.
The Birth of Time Is Not Just Scientific — It’s Personal
Each soul begins its test within time. Your birth wasn’t just a biological event — it was your soul entering time. Before that, your soul existed in a realm we cannot access through science. A realm without decay, aging, or deadlines.
When did time actually start? For you, it started the moment your soul was assigned a body. That’s your personal time beginning. And it will end with your death.
But your soul? It moves beyond time again.
Time, then, is not just cosmic — it’s personal. Every human lives in a limited timeline, and that awareness is both terrifying and beautiful. Terrifying because it ends. Beautiful because it gives every moment value.
Time Is a One-Way Street
Time began. It will also end. But in between, it moves forward only.
Science calls this the “arrow of time.” It’s the reason you remember yesterday but not tomorrow. It’s why you grow older and never younger. It’s why every second takes you closer to something, never back.
Religions also speak of an end to time. A Day of Judgment. A moment when the clocks will stop. That means time is not infinite. It had a starting line. And it has a finish line.
The end of time will be different for everyone. For some, it ends with death. For others, it ends with the collapse of this universe. But in both views — spiritual and scientific — time does not loop. It doesn’t reset.
This reality forces us to value our time. Time isn’t just numbers ticking down — it’s a path shaped by every choice we make.
A Timeline Designed with Purpose
I don’t believe time is random. I believe it’s part of a divine system — a flawless structure with a beginning and an end.
Think about this: how Earth orbits at just the right distance from the Sun — not too close, not too far — and how every sunrise follows a consistent rhythm. Gravity holds us down at a constant rate. Our biological clocks align with time.
That’s not coincidence. That’s system design.
When did time actually start? When God shaped the formless void into a system that runs with perfect order. When the infinite created a timeline for the finite.
This realization changes how you see life. Your birth, your moments, your death — they all happen on a timeline not of your making. But how you use that timeline? That’s your part of the story.
Why This Matters So Much
If time had a real starting point, then every life within it has a deadline. It means this test has an expiry. And the One who gave it a beginning holds the power to bring it to an end — instantly.
Realizing the true beginning of time reminds us that our life here isn’t forever. We are travelers in a temporary dimension, heading toward a permanent destination.
Time is not random. It’s part of a flawless design.
When we begin to understand time this way, we stop wasting it. We stop fearing it. Instead, we start using it wisely. To love better. To worship better. To learn more. To give more. Because once time ends, it’s over.
And only what you did within that time will remain.
When did time actually start? When God chose to give motion to the stillness. That’s when time was born.
Internal Links
- Why Time Travel to the Past Is Impossible
- What I Believe About God – A Force Beyond Time and Emotion
Outbound Link
- NASA – Big Bang: How the Universe Started – An official scientific view of the origin of time and the universe.
