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.
There is a difference of opinion among researchers/ scholars as to what “smoke” refers to in the above
verse.”Smoke” could to refer to the initial gaseous state of the universe/galaxy OR the atmosphere of the early earth
during our planets formation. 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 the early atmosphere during our planets formation many
millions of years ago as a result of volcanic eruption.
THE SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION IS SUMMARISED BELOW.
1-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-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 is 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.
Allah SWT possibly refers to the atmosphere as “7 heavens” in the above verse
to demonstrate the miraculous nature, importance and relevance it has in
sustaining life on this planet.
The creation of the atmosphere in the early stages of our planet was extremely
sophisticated and complicated and occurred over millions of years. It is divided
into multiple layers and each layer has a specific role to play. The trillions of
biological entities since life first started up until the end of time needs the
atmosphere to survive.
Many planets do not have an atmosphere and life on those planets are thus
not able to sustain life. Seven in the phrase “7 heavens”” could be interpreted
as the no 7. or multiple as was the case in earlier centuries.
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.
ALL VERESES OF THE QURAN WHERE CREATION IS SAID TO BE TO CREATION IN
6 DAYS IS BELOW AND CONTAIN THE PHRASE “HEAVENS AND 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)
WE UNDERSTAND “HEAVENS AND EARTH” TO BE A METAPHOR FOR THE
UNIVERSE IN THE ABOVE VERSES. IN THESE VERSES ALLAH SWT IS MAKING
REFERENCE TO THE CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE ie. the universe was created
in 6 stages/time periods
IN VERSES 41(9-12) REFERENCE IS MADE TO THE CREATION OF PLANET EARTH
ONLY.NO MENTION IS MADE OF THE PHRASE “HEAVENS AND EARTH”
IN VERSES 41 9-12 ALLAH SWT IS MAKING REFERENCE TO CREATION OF
PLANET EARTH ONLY. (Planet earth was created in 8 stages/time periods)
THE DISCREPENCY IN THE NO. OF DAYS (6 DAYS VS. 8 DAYS) CAN THUS BE
RESOLVED WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THAT DIFFERENT ENTITIES WAS CREATED
IE PLANET EARTH IN 8 AND THE UNIVERSE IN 6
CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE (6 DAYS/STAGES) – IN THE VERSES BELOW
(The term “heavens and earth” is understood to be the universe) - 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)
CREATION OF PLANET EARTH IN 8 DAYS(STAGES) IN THE VERSES BELOW
(The term “heavens and earth” do not occur but only earth.)
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.
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!