Duration of the Creation of the Earth
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 (35)
Allah Almighty explained that He created the earth in two days, and He created the mountains and determined the earth’s provisions and benefits in another two days. Thus, the creation of the earth and what is within it took four days, as He said: {Say, "Do you indeed disbelieve in He who created the earth in two days and attribute to Him equals? That is the Lord of the worlds." (9) And He placed on it [i.e., the earth] firmly set mountains over its surface, and He blessed it and determined therein its [creatures'] sustenance in four days without distinction - for [the information of] those who ask. (10)} [Fussilat: 9-10]. Here, He detailed what pertains to the earth separately from what pertains to the heavens, indicating that the earth was created first as it is the foundation, and the usual practice is to start with the foundation before the roof.
And His saying: {created the earth in two days} means Sunday and Monday. {And He placed on it [i.e., the earth] firmly set mountains over its surface, and He blessed it} means He made it blessed, suitable for goodness, planting, and cultivation. {and determined therein its [creatures'] sustenance} refers to what is needed in terms of provisions and the places suitable for planting and cultivation, which means Tuesday and Wednesday. Thus, with the previous two days, they total four, and this is why He said: {four days without distinction - for [the information of] those who ask.}. Mujahid and Ikrimah said regarding His statement, the Almighty: {and determined therein its [creatures'] sustenance} that He made in each land what would not be suitable elsewhere, such as the fiber in Yemen, the Sabiri in Sabor, and the robes in Rayy.
Ibn Kathir said: {and He blessed it and determined therein its [creatures'] sustenance} means He prepared the places for planting, as well as the locations of springs and rivers. Then, when He completed the creation of the form of the lower and upper worlds, He spread out the earth, bringing out what had been deposited within it. Springs emerged, rivers flowed, and plants and fruits grew. For this reason, the spreading of the earth was explained as the extraction of water and pasture from it, and the firm establishment of the mountains. He said: {Are you a more difficult creation or is the heaven? He [i.e., Allah] constructed it. (27) He raised its ceiling and proportioned it. (28) And He darkened its night and extracted its brightness. (29) And after that He spread the earth. (30) He extracted from it its water and its pasture, (31) And the mountains He set firmly (32) As enjoyment [i.e., provision] for you and your grazing livestock. (33)} [An-Nazi'at: 27-33], meaning: He established it in the places where He placed it, stabilized it, and strengthened it.
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him, pp. 228-230.
- Interpretation of the Great Qur’an, Ibn Kathir, 4/93.
- The Beginning and the End, Ibn Kathir, 1/16.
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:
