Who Created The Heavens And The Earth In Six Days? Part III

The six days of creation as mentioned in the Qur’an
The mention of these six days came in brief in seven verses in the Qur’an, and in detail in four other verses at chapter 41, named by Allah as Sûrat Fussilat (They are Explained in detail). Even the name in itself is a miracle because it gives a glimpse about the fact that this Surah talks in detail about the creation of the heavens and earth. This is taken as flagrant proof on the ability of the Creator, the authenticity of the Holy Qur’an and the message of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), that came with the basics of doctrine and the cornerstone of faith. It further proves, the integrity of the revelation and comes as a warning with the stories of the nations that have been annihilated when they disbelieved their messengers, insisted on disobeying Allah and corrupted earth with their sins. It also came to verify the reward of those who fear Allah and believe in Him, His Message and His messengers.

The verse comprises 11 cosmic signs considered to be magnificent signs of the scientific miracles in Qur’an. The verse is concluded with a promise from Allah to the whole humanity, to the atheists in particular, that close to the Day of Judgment, Allah will reveal some concealed secrets about this universe to all human beings, to assert what came in the Holy Qur’an (that was conveyed to us by the last Prophet, Muhammad, PBUH).

The four verses of Sûrat Fussilat (They are explained in detail) (9-12), reveal the fact that the creation of the primary earth preceded the separation of the primary (gaseous) heaven into seven heavens. So Allah revealed the fact that the earth was created in two days (that’s to say on two stages). A day for the “ratq’: the single entity of the first material that formed the universe“and a day for the “fatq’: dividing apart this single entity“. It also mentions that Allah has placed the mountains as pegs from above, then He blessed it, and assessed therein its sustenance (for its dwellers) in four days (that’s to say four consecutive stages). Then He created the heavens in two days (that’s to say, two stages). Allah is the most able, He says to it: "Be," and it is, so this progressiveness is for an important wisdom that we have to realize. From this wisdom man has to grasp the essence of the laws of the Creator in His creation, thus applying them in populating earth and performing his duties as a vicegerent on it.

The reader might be confused, while reading these verses at the first look, into thinking that the creation of earth alone has lasted six days (that’s to say six stages). In addition to two more days for the creation of the heavens, this will make at the end a total of eight days for the creation of the heavens and earth. This would have clashed with many other verses stating that the creation of the heavens and earth lasted for six days (six stages). Yet, because the creation of heavens and earth was a single intertwined mission this would make the two days in which the earth was created to be the two same days in which the seven heavens were created. This is because the order that came from Allah at the end of these four verses was for both the earth and the heavens, in what can be translated as, “ Then He Rose and Dominated (Istawâ) over the heaven when it was smoke, and Said to it and to the earth: "Come both of you willingly or unwillingly." They both said: "We come willingly.” ( Surat Fussilat (They are explained in detail): 11).

Most Qur’an commentators have however disagreed with this explanation because they considered the two days in which the earth was created inclusive in the four days of: placing the mountains, blessing and assessing sustenance. On the other hand, they all agree that the conjunction in this verse (then) doesn’t denote sequence together with the time-delay, but denotes the interval needed for the process of “Istiwâ: rising and dominating over the Throne in a manner that uniquely suits Allah’s Majesty” and separation of the seven heavens from the primary smoky heaven. This is because the conjunction (then) here would mean something that has taken place in a later interval. To prove this further, Allah says in Sûrat An-Nâzi‘ât - (Those Who Pull Out) what can be translated as,

27. Are you more difficult to create or is the heaven that He constructed? 28. He raised its height, and has perfected it. 29. Its night He covers with darkness and its forenoon He brings out (with light). 30. And after that He spread the earth, 31. And brought forth (from it) its water and its pasture. 32. And the mountains He has fixed firmly, 33. (To be) a provision and benefit for you and your cattle.

This proves that the four stages of: placing the mountains, blessing and assessing sustenance, stand for the process of “dahu’: spreading the earth”. In other words, bringing out the earths’ water and pasture by creating its atmosphere and oceans of water. So the two days in which the earth was creates (the very same days in which the heavens were created) were the same two days in which was created the elements of the primary earth within the smoky heaven. Listen to Allah saying in Surat Fussilat, what can be translated as,

11. Then He Rose and Dominated (Istawâ) over the heaven when it was smoke, and Said to it and to the earth: "Come both of you willingly or unwillingly." They both said: "We come willingly." 12. Then He finished from their creation as seven heavens in two Days and He instilled in each heaven its affair. And We (Allah) adorned the nearest (lowest) heaven with lamps (stars) to be an adornment as well as guards (from the devils by using them as missiles against them). Such is the Decree of Him the All-Mighty, the All-Knower.

To prove this further Allah says in Sûrat Al-Baqarah - (The Cow) what can be translated as,

29. It is He, Who has created for you all what is on earth. Then He rose over (Istawâ) towards the heaven and made them seven heavens and He is the All-Knower of everything.

The word “created” here stands for estimating the elements of the earth.

The six days of creation as regards to applied sciences:

Applied science view the creation of universe as follows:

The stage of the primary cosmic egg, from which all the creation has started (“ratq’: the single entity of the first material that formed the universe“).
Explosion of the primary cosmic egg (“fatq’: dividing apart this single entity) or the smoky stage and the start of expansion.
The stage of creating the different elements in the smoky universe through the creation of matter and anti-matter, the creation of hydrogen atoms, Helium and some Lithium.
The separation of nebulae, each of which started to condense by the force of gravity forming the stars, the sun, the earth and the rest of the celestial bodies.
The stage of spreading the earth, forming its atmosphere, oceans of water and rocks. Then the sheets of rocks started moving to form the oceans, the continents, the mountains and the land. Then the water cycle started and the surface of the earth became almost even, with a store of water under its surface.
The stage of creating life from its simplest forms to its diversified categories.

And Allah knows all about what He created…

Astronomers and astrophysicists estimate the age of the universe to be 10 – 15 billion years. Whereas, geologists estimate the age of this planet to be 4.6 billion years, and this conclusion has been also reached by scientists who analyzed the rocks and the sand they got from the moon, and the age of many other meteors that hit the earth. It seems that the great difference between the age estimated for planet earth and that estimated for the universe is due to the fact that the estimated age for the earth is the age of solidification of its outside crust. Consequently, this age would not include the stages of the primary earth, nor the stages of creating the elements from which this primary earth was formed.

The verses in both Surat al-Baqarah (2:29) and Surat Fussilat (41: 9 – 12) signify the fact that creating the earth has preceded the separation of the primary smoky heaven into seven heavens. It is obvious that the creation here was for the elements of the earth, this was followed by the creation of the earth in the form of a primary planet that was later spread to take the present form. This is because the creation of the heavens and earth is an intertwined inseparable process.

Praise be to Allah, who from above the seven heavens, more than 1400 years ago brought forth these decisive verses in the form of a rebuking, disapproving question to all atheists and disbelievers. The verses can be translated as,

9. Say (O Prophet Muhammad - pbuh): "Do you verily disbelieve in Him Who created the earth in two Days? And you set up rivals with Him (in worship)? That is the Lord of the ‘Âlamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists). 10. He placed therein (i.e. the earth) firm mountains from above, and He blessed it, and assessed therein its sustenance (for its dwellers) in four equal Days (i.e. all these four days were equal in the length of time) for all those who would ask (about its creation). 11. Then He Rose and Dominated (Istawâ) over the heaven when it was smoke, and Said to it and to the earth: "Come both of you willingly or unwillingly." They both said: "We come willingly." 12. Then He finished from their creation as seven heavens in two Days and He instilled in each heaven its affair. And We (Allah) adorned the nearest (lowest) heaven with lamps (stars) to be an adornment as well as guards (from the devils by using them as missiles against them). Such is the Decree of Him the All-Mighty, the All-Knower.”

(Surat Fussilat (They are explained in detail)).

And also says what can be translated as,

54: “Indeed your Lord is Allâh, Who created the heavens and the earth in Six Days, and then He Rose and Dominated (Istawâ) over the Throne (in a manner that uniquely suits His Majesty).”

(Surat Al-Araf (The Heights)).


By: Dr. Zaghloul Ragheb Mohamed El-Naggar
Professor of Geology, Head, Committee on Scientific Nations in the Glorious Qur'an & Purity Sunnah Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Cairo, Egypt.

Masha'Allah. Jazaak'illahu khairaa for the beautiful post, Lalia.

Fi'amaan'illah.