The Creation of Water
Selections from the Book The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him …
Written by Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi...
Episode (28)
Water is the secret and source of life, and it is one of the earliest creations. Some scholars have even said that water was the first creation, preceding the creation of the Throne. Their argument is based on the verse in which Allah Almighty says: {And it is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and His Throne had been upon water –} [Hud: 7].
As narrated by Ibn Jarir, others have said that Allah Almighty created water before the Throne. This was reported by Al-Suddi from Abu Malik, Ibn Abbas, Ibn Mas'ud, and other companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him); they said: "Indeed, Allah's Throne was upon the water, and He had not created anything else except what He had created before the water."
Allah Almighty has mentioned the creation of water alongside the creation of the Throne, as seen in the previously mentioned verse, considering them among the first of the creations. Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said: He pointed out with the verse; {and His Throne had been upon water} [Hud: 7], that water and the Throne were the beginning of this world since they were created before the heavens and the earth. At that time, there was nothing beneath the Throne except water. Mujahid stated that the beginning of creation was the Throne, water, and air, and the earth was created from water. Al-Qurtubi, commenting on the verse {And it is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and His Throne had been upon water –} said: This clarifies that the creation of the Throne and water occurred before the creation of the earth and heavens. It is not necessary that the water upon which the Throne rests is the same water that exists on the earth. Allah's creation is beyond our comprehension, as some scholars have stated. Sa'id ibn Jubayr narrated that Ibn Abbas was asked about the verse {and His Throne had been upon water} and on what was the water placed. He replied: "It was upon the back of the wind."
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him, pp. 190-191.
- The Beginning and the End, Ibn Kathir, previous reference, 1/9.
- Fath Al-Bari, Explanation of Al-Bukhari, Ibn Hajar, previous reference, 6/334.
- Al-Jami’ li Ahkam al-Quran, Al-Qurtubi, previous reference, 9/8.
For further information and review of the sources for the article, see:
The Book of The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him on the official website of Sheikh Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi:
