Timeline of Creation

Timeline of Creation

by: Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi
Oxford

Q: Dr. Abu Zayd from New Jersey, America, wrote to me:
The question concerns three verses in Surah Fussilat regarding the timeline of creation:
• Verse 9: Say, “Do you indeed disbelieve in the One who created the earth in two days and attribute to Him equals? That is the Lord of the worlds.”
• Verse 10: And He placed on the earth firmly set mountains over its surface, and He blessed it and determined therein its [provisions] in four days, equally for those who ask.
• Verse 12: And He completed them as seven heavens in two days and inspired in each heaven its command, and We adorned the nearest heaven with lamps [stars] and made it as protection. That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the All-Knowing.
When adding the durations mentioned in these verses—2 days + 4 days + 2 days—the total becomes 8 days. However, the Qur’an in other places and some ahadith mention that the total creation took 6 days. How can this apparent discrepancy be resolved?
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A: The Qur’an, in several places, explicitly states that the creation of the heavens and the earth was completed in six days. For instance, in Surah Al-A‘raf, Allah says:
“Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then established Himself above the Throne. He covers the night with the day, [each] pursuing the other rapidly; and [He created] the sun, the moon, and the stars, subjected by His command. Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command; blessed is Allah, Lord of the worlds.” (Surah Al-A‘raf, 7:54)
However, some readers have misunderstood the verses in Surah Fussilat as suggesting that the creation took eight days. This arises from a misinterpretation of the timeline provided in the following verses:
1. “Say, ‘Do you indeed disbelieve in the One who created the earth in two days and attribute to Him equals? That is the Lord of the worlds.’” (Surah Fussilat, 41:9)
2. “And He placed on the earth firmly set mountains over its surface, and He blessed it and determined therein its [provisions] in four days, equally for those who ask.” (Surah Fussilat, 41:10)
3. “Then He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, ‘Come willingly or by compulsion.’ They said, ‘We have come willingly.’ And He completed them as seven heavens in two days and inspired in each heaven its command. And We adorned the nearest heaven with lamps and as protection. That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the All-Knowing.” (Surah Fussilat, 41:11–12)
Upon closer analysis, the Qur’an remains consistent in stating that the heavens and the earth were created in six days. The apparent discrepancy in Surah Fussilat is resolved when the timeline is properly understood:
1. Creation of the Earth: The earth was created in two days. (Surah Fussilat, 41:9)
2. Preparation of the Earth: The placement of mountains, the blessing of the earth, and the determination of its provisions were completed over a total of four days. However, these four days include the initial two days during which the earth was created. Thus, the preparation took an additional two days, making the total time for the earth’s creation and preparation four days. (Surah Fussilat, 41:10)
3. Creation of the Heavens: The seven heavens were created in two days. (Surah Fussilat, 41:12)
When understood this way, the total period for the creation of the heavens and the earth, including their preparation, is six days, as stated in other Qur’anic verses.
The confusion arises from the assumption that the “four days” mentioned in verse 10 are in addition to the two days described in verse 9. This leads to the erroneous conclusion that the earth alone took six days to create, which, when combined with the two days for the heavens, results in a total of eight days. However, the phrase “in four days” in verse 10 refers to the completion of four days, inclusive of the initial two days.
This interpretation is well-documented in classical Islamic scholarship:

1. Imam Al-Qurtubi: He provides an analogy to clarify the structure of the verses:
“It is like someone saying, ‘I traveled from Basra to Baghdad in 10 days, and to Kufa in 15 days,’ meaning the total journey to Kufa took 15 days, including the 10 days to Baghdad.” (Al-Jami‘ li Ahkam al-Qur’an, Vol. 15, p. 343)
2. Imam Al-Baghawi: He explains that the acts of placing mountains and determining provisions did not require an additional four days. Rather, they were completed within the two days following the initial two days of the earth’s creation, making the total time for the earth’s creation and preparation four days. (Tafsir Al-Baghawi, Vol. 7, p. 165)
3. Al-Zamakhshari: He states:
“The phrase ‘in four days’ means in the completion of four days, which includes the first two days.” (Al-Kashshaf, Vol. 3, p. 444)

Conclusion:
The verses in Surah Fussilat affirm that the heavens and the earth were created in six days, as consistently stated throughout the Qur’an. The misunderstanding arises from a misreading of the timeline, where the four days for the earth’s creation and preparation are mistakenly interpreted as being separate from the initial two days. When the verses are carefully examined, it becomes clear that there is no discrepancy.
This precision reflects the Qur’an’s coherence and the divine wisdom underlying its revelation. The six-day timeline of creation is supported by the Qur’an and ahadith, and remains a consistent theme throughout Islamic scripture.