From Al-Khwarizmi's Algorithms to Qubits: The Islamic Roots of Modern Quantum Computing
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58352/tis.v50i2.984Keywords:
Quantum Computing, Al-Khwarizmi, Islamic Golden Age, Tawhid, Quantum Entanglement, Islamic Philosophy of ScienceAbstract
Abstract:
From the algorithmic genius of the 9th-century polymath Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi to the probabilistic approach of qubits in modern quantum systems, this article delves into the deep and largely ignored Islamic intellectual legacy that paved the way for today's quantum computing revolution. Inspired by the fusion of Greek, Indian and Persian knowledge in the Islamic Golden Age, such as in the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, we examine how early developments in algebraic, arithmetical and logical thinking, particularly al-Khwarizmi's Al-Jabr, led to the binary logic and computational systems that are essential for digital and quantum technologies. In addition, the paper explores how ideas of divine unity (tawhid) in Islam and occasionalism (as presented by Al-Ghazali) overlap with quantum concepts including entanglement and indeterminacy, and examines the potential for a convergence of the two.This study uses a historical-comparative approach, combining primary source material from Muslim scholars with secondary analysis of the quantum developments up to 2025, including those of contemporary Muslim scientists, such as those from Qatar's Hamad Bin Khalifa University. Key findings include that the Hindu-Arabic numbering system and proto-algorithms paved the way from classical to quantum computing, and ethical concerns in Sharia guide governance of quantum technologies. A literature review is presented on the seminal works on Islamic mathematics and the newly emerging quantum physics-Islamic ontology dialogues. This article aims to reclaim this heritage and calls for inclusive innovation in the Muslim world, countering Eurocentric narratives of technological progress. It ends with suggestions for a fair quantum adoption and calls for interdisciplinary cooperation to use quantum computing to solve world problems such as modelling climate cha nge and secure finance. This synthesis is a powerful contribution to history and a source of inspiration for ethically guided, faith-based developments in today's age of breathtaking computational power.
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