AN ANALYSIS OF THE VERSES RELATED TO THE CREATION OF PLANET EARTH.
With respect to scientific statements in the Quran, there are certain verses that easy to understand and there are those that are more complicated.
The verses below are extremely difficult to understand in terms of science and we thus prefer to say “We try our best to provide a scientific explanation but only Allah SWT and His prophet SAW knows the real meaning”
Quran 41:9 -12
Say: “Do you verily disbelieve in Him Who created the earth in two Days? And you set up rivals with Him? That is the Lord of all that exists.’
He placed therein firm mountains from above it, and He blessed it, and measured therein its sustenance in four Days equal for all those who ask.
Then He rose over the heaven(SKY) 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.”And He completed them as seven heavens within two days and inspired in each heaven its command.
And We adorned the (arabic : sama ad dunya) lowest heaven with lamps (stars) to be an adornment as well as to guard.
THE PIC TRIES TO ILLUSTRATE WHAT THE EARLY EARTH COULD HAVE LOOKED LIKE.THE GROUND IS COVERED IN LAVA AND THE SKY CONSIST OF SMOKE.
1-There is a difference of opinion as to what “smoke” refers to.
“Smoke” could to refer to the initial gaseous state of the universe/galaxy OR the early atmosphere of the earth.
It is agreed upon by scholars that the verses above refer to the creation of our planet but scholars differ however as to what “smoke” could refer to in the verse above.
It is our opinion that smoke in the verse above refers to earths early atmosphere resembling smoke.
Scientists believe that the early atmosphere of our planet was a result of the outpouring of volcanic gases which would have resembled smoke.
The commentary given in Ibn Kathir is that smoke was the steam which had arisen from the earth when the earth was created.
2-These are scientific verses with a strong spiritual dimension to them.
3- The arabic word “thumma” means THEN and is unlikely to be interpreted as moreover.
Those that attempt to understand SMOKE to be the initial gaseous state of the universe/galaxy in these verses above understand “thumma” to be “moreover” .
WE THUS DISAGREE WITH SMOKE BEING REFERENCE TO THE INITIAL GASEOUS STATE OF OUR UNIVERSE/GALAXY.
4-It is our opinion the verses above make reference to the creation of planet earth and SMOKE REFERS TO THE EARLY ATMOSPHERE OF OUR PLANET.
5-It is clear that the above verses are referring to a SEQUENCE OF EVENTS.
6- IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE 7 HEAVENS AS REFERRED TO IN THE ABOVE VERSES IS THE ATMOSPHERE OF OUR PLANET AND THIS CAN BE DEDUCED FROM SEVERAL OTHER VERSES OF THE QURAN WHERE 7 HEAVENS ARE MENTIONED.
7- When 7 heavens is understood to be atmosphere, the sequence of events as explained in the verses above are aligned with the current understanding scientists have of the early formation of our planet ie. the ground was created first and the atmosphere was completed thereafter.
8-The word “day” does not mean a 24 hour day but rather is a metaphor for time period/or stages.
Furthermore, “day” as used in the above verses does not have to equal the same time period as “day” used elsewhere in the Quran.
eg. 1 day could be 100 000 years in the verse above while “day” used elsewhere in the Quran could be 50 000 years.
9-THERE IS A DISCREPENCY IN THE QURAN IN THAT CREATION IS SAID TO BE IN 8 DAYS IN THE VERSES ABOVE WHILE NUMEROUS OTHER VERSES OF THE QURAN ,CREATION IS SAID TO BE IN 6 DAYS.?
WE RESOLVE THE DISCREPENCY BY CONCLUDING THAT THE UNIVERSE WAS CREATED IN 6 DAYS WHILE PLANET EARTH WAS CREATED IN 8 DAYS.THE DIFFERENCE IN THE NO. OF DAYS CAN BE RESOLVED BY UNDERSTANDING THAT DIFFERENT ENTITIES WERE CREATED
ALL VERESES OF THE QURAN WHERE CREATION IS SAID TO BE IN 6 DAYS IS BELOW AND CONTAIN THE PHRASE “HEAVENS AND EARTH” which is a metaphor for the universe.The term ” HEAVENS AND EARTH ” do not occur in the verses above as these verse relate exclusively to the creation of planet earth.
– Your Guardian-Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and is firmly established on the throne (of authority) (7:54)
– Verily your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six days (10:3)
– He it is Who created- the heavens and the earth in six Days (11 :7)
– He Who created the heavens and the earth ,and all that is between, in six days, (25 :59)
– It is Allah Who has created the heavens and the earth, and all between them, .in six Days. (32:4)
– We created the heavens and the earth and all between them in Six Days, (50:38)
– He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in Six Days, ( 57:4)
Great scholars like Imam Qurtubi provided a good explanation for maintaining the consistency of creation being in 6 days throughout the Quran but we respectfully propose the difference occurs in what was created viz. the universe vs the creation of planet.
10- “Samaa ad dunya” is a phrase for the universe because we are informed stars occur in it.
-Allah SWT then informs us that the “samaa ad dunya” contains stars. What is important is that the sequence of events has ended and Allah SWT does NOT use the word “then” but “and” to inform us that He placed stars in the universe (samaa ad dunya)
AFTER detailing a sequence of events pertaining to the creation of planet earth,Allah SWT informs us He beautified the universe with stars.(The creation of stars is thus not part of that sequence of events which is aligned with the views of the scientific community)
11-Allah SWT and His Prophet SAW know best!