Creation

How and why Allah created the heavens and the earth.

Questions

Evidence library

Revelation tells us that Allah alone brought the heavens and the earth into being, by His command, in six days, and that He did so in truth and for a purpose.

  1. Quran Al-Anbiyaa · 21:30

    The heavens and the earth were a joined entity that Allah separated, and every living thing is from water.

    أَوَلَمۡ يَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ كَانَتَا رَتۡقࣰ ا فَفَتَقۡنَٰهُمَاۖ وَجَعَلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلۡمَآءِ كُلَّ شَيۡءٍ حَيٍّۚ أَفَلَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ ۝٣٠

    Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe

  2. Quran Fussilat · 41:9–12

    The earth in two days, its mountains and provisions, then the sky "while it was smoke" made seven heavens.

    ۞قُلۡ أَئِنَّكُمۡ لَتَكۡفُرُونَ بِٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ فِي يَوۡمَيۡنِ وَتَجۡعَلُونَ لَهُۥٓ أَندَادࣰ اۚ ذَٰلِكَ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ۝٩ وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَٰسِيَ مِن فَوۡقِهَا وَبَٰرَكَ فِيهَا وَقَدَّرَ فِيهَآ أَقۡوَٰتَهَا فِيٓ أَرۡبَعَةِ أَيَّامࣲ سَوَآءࣰ لِّلسَّآئِلِينَ ۝١٠ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَوَىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَهِيَ دُخَانࣱ فَقَالَ لَهَا وَلِلۡأَرۡضِ ٱئۡتِيَا طَوۡعًا أَوۡ كَرۡهࣰ ا قَالَتَآ أَتَيۡنَا طَآئِعِينَ ۝١١ فَقَضَىٰهُنَّ سَبۡعَ سَمَٰوَاتࣲ فِي يَوۡمَيۡنِ وَأَوۡحَىٰ فِي كُلِّ سَمَآءٍ أَمۡرَهَاۚ وَزَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِمَصَٰبِيحَ وَحِفۡظࣰ اۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَقۡدِيرُ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡعَلِيمِ ۝١٢

    9 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 10 And He placed on 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 11 Then He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, "Come [into being], willingly or by compulsion." They said, "We have come willingly 12 And He completed them as seven heavens within 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 Knowing

  3. Quran An-Naazi'aat · 79:27–33

    Allah built the sky and raised its ceiling, then spread the earth and set the mountains firmly, as provision for people and livestock.

    ءَأَنتُمۡ أَشَدُّ خَلۡقًا أَمِ ٱلسَّمَآءُۚ بَنَىٰهَا ۝٢٧ رَفَعَ سَمۡكَهَا فَسَوَّىٰهَا ۝٢٨ وَأَغۡطَشَ لَيۡلَهَا وَأَخۡرَجَ ضُحَىٰهَا ۝٢٩ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ ذَٰلِكَ دَحَىٰهَآ ۝٣٠ أَخۡرَجَ مِنۡهَا مَآءَهَا وَمَرۡعَىٰهَا ۝٣١ وَٱلۡجِبَالَ أَرۡسَىٰهَا ۝٣٢ مَتَٰعࣰ ا لَّكُمۡ وَلِأَنۡعَٰمِكُمۡ ۝٣٣

    27 Are you a more difficult creation or is the heaven? Allah constructed it 28 He raised its ceiling and proportioned it 29 And He darkened its night and extracted its brightness 30 And after that He spread the earth 31 He extracted from it its water and its pasture 32 And the mountains He set firmly 33 As provision for you and your grazing livestock

  4. Quran Al-Baqara · 2:29

    Allah created all that is on the earth for us, then turned to the heaven and made it seven heavens.

    هُوَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ لَكُم مَّا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ جَمِيعࣰ ا ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَوَىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَسَوَّىٰهُنَّ سَبۡعَ سَمَٰوَٰتࣲۚ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عَلِيمࣱ‏ ۝٢٩

    It is He who created for you all of that which is on the earth. Then He directed Himself to the heaven, [His being above all creation], and made them seven heavens, and He is Knowing of all things

  5. Quran Al-A'raaf · 7:54

    The heavens and the earth were created in six days, then Allah established Himself above the Throne.

    إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامࣲ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِۖ يُغۡشِي ٱلَّيۡلَ ٱلنَّهَارَ يَطۡلُبُهُۥ حَثِيثࣰ ا وَٱلشَّمۡسَ وَٱلۡقَمَرَ وَٱلنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَٰتِۭ بِأَمۡرِهِۦٓۗ أَلَا لَهُ ٱلۡخَلۡقُ وَٱلۡأَمۡرُۗ تَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ۝٥٤

    Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He covers the night with the day, [another night] chasing it 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

  6. Quran Hud · 11:7

    Creation in six days while His Throne was upon water, to test which of you is best in deed.

    وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامࣲ وَكَانَ عَرۡشُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلۡمَآءِ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلࣰ اۗ وَلَئِن قُلۡتَ إِنَّكُم مَّبۡعُوثُونَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ ٱلۡمَوۡتِ لَيَقُولَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ إِنۡ هَٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحۡرࣱ مُّبِينࣱ‏ ۝٧

    And it is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and His Throne had been upon water - that He might test you as to which of you is best in deed. But if you say, "Indeed, you are resurrected after death," those who disbelieve will surely say, "This is not but obvious magic

  7. Quran Qaaf · 50:38

    The heavens, the earth and what is between them were created in six days with no weariness.

    وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامࣲ وَمَا مَسَّنَا مِن لُّغُوبࣲ‏ ۝٣٨

    And We did certainly create the heavens and earth and what is between them in six days, and there touched Us no weariness

  8. Quran Al-Baqara · 2:117

    Allah is the Originator of the heavens and the earth; He says "Be" and it is.

    بَدِيعُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ وَإِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمۡرࣰ ا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ ۝١١٧

    Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, "Be," and it is

  9. Quran Yaseen · 36:82

    When Allah intends a thing, He only says to it "Be", and it is.

    إِنَّمَآ أَمۡرُهُۥٓ إِذَآ أَرَادَ شَيۡـًٔا أَن يَقُولَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ ۝٨٢

    His command is only when He intends a thing that He says to it, "Be," and it is

  10. Quran An-Nahl · 16:40

    Allah's word to a thing He intends is only "Be", and it is.

    إِنَّمَا قَوۡلُنَا لِشَيۡءٍ إِذَآ أَرَدۡنَٰهُ أَن نَّقُولَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ ۝٤٠

    Indeed, Our word to a thing when We intend it is but that We say to it, "Be," and it is

  11. Quran Ad-Dukhaan · 44:38–39

    The heavens and the earth were not created in play but in truth.

    وَمَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا لَٰعِبِينَ ۝٣٨ مَا خَلَقۡنَٰهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ ۝٣٩

    38 And We did not create the heavens and earth and that between them in play 39 We did not create them except in truth, but most of them do not know

  12. Quran Saad · 38:27

    Creation is not aimless; thinking so is the assumption of those who disbelieve.

    وَمَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا بَٰطِلࣰ اۚ ذَٰلِكَ ظَنُّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْۚ فَوَيۡلࣱ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ ۝٢٧

    And We did not create the heaven and the earth and that between them aimlessly. That is the assumption of those who disbelieve, so woe to those who disbelieve from the Fire

  13. Quran Aal-i-Imraan · 3:190–191

    Those of understanding reflect on creation and say, "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly".

    إِنَّ فِي خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱخۡتِلَٰفِ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ لَأٓيَٰتࣲ لِّأُوْلِي ٱلۡأَلۡبَٰبِ ۝١٩٠ ٱلَّذِينَ يَذۡكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ قِيَٰمࣰ ا وَقُعُودࣰ ا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمۡ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقۡتَ هَٰذَا بَٰطِلࣰ ا سُبۡحَٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ ۝١٩١

    190 Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding 191 Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire

  14. Quran At-Talaaq · 65:12

    Seven heavens and earths were created so that you may know Allah's power and knowledge.

    ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبۡعَ سَمَٰوَٰتࣲ وَمِنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مِثۡلَهُنَّۖ يَتَنَزَّلُ ٱلۡأَمۡرُ بَيۡنَهُنَّ لِتَعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءࣲ قَدِيرࣱ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدۡ أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عِلۡمَۢا ۝١٢

    It is Allah who has created seven heavens and of the earth, the like of them. [His] command descends among them so you may know that Allah is over all things competent and that Allah has encompassed all things in knowledge

  15. Quran Al-Ahqaf · 46:3

    The heavens and the earth were created in truth and for a specified term.

    مَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَأَجَلࣲ مُّسَمࣰّ ىۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ عَمَّآ أُنذِرُواْ مُعۡرِضُونَ ۝٣

    We did not create the heavens and earth and what is between them except in truth and [for] a specified term. But those who disbelieve, from that of which they are warned, are turning away

  16. Quran Al-Furqaan · 25:2

    Allah created every thing and determined it with precise determination.

    ٱلَّذِي لَهُۥ مُلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَمۡ يَتَّخِذۡ وَلَدࣰ ا وَلَمۡ يَكُن لَّهُۥ شَرِيكࣱ فِي ٱلۡمُلۡكِ وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَيۡءࣲ فَقَدَّرَهُۥ تَقۡدِيرࣰ ا ۝٢

    He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and who has not taken a son and has not had a partner in dominion and has created each thing and determined it with [precise] determination

  17. Quran Al-Qamar · 54:49

    All things were created with a decree (qadar).

    إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيۡءٍ خَلَقۡنَٰهُ بِقَدَرࣲ‏ ۝٤٩

    Indeed, all things We created with predestination

  18. Quran Al-Hadid · 57:3

    Allah is the First and the Last, the Ascendant and the Intimate, Knowing of all things.

    هُوَ ٱلۡأَوَّلُ وَٱلۡأٓخِرُ وَٱلظَّٰهِرُ وَٱلۡبَاطِنُۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عَلِيمٌ ۝٣

    He is the First and the Last, the Ascendant and the Intimate, and He is, of all things, Knowing

  19. Quran Al-Kahf · 18:51

    No one was made to witness the creation of the heavens and the earth.

    ۞مَّآ أَشۡهَدتُّهُمۡ خَلۡقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَا خَلۡقَ أَنفُسِهِمۡ وَمَا كُنتُ مُتَّخِذَ ٱلۡمُضِلِّينَ عَضُدࣰ ا ۝٥١

    I did not make them witness to the creation of the heavens and the earth or to the creation of themselves, and I would not have taken the misguiders as assistants

  20. Quran Al-Ankaboot · 29:19–20

    Allah begins creation and repeats it; travel through the land and observe how He began creation.

    أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ كَيۡفَ يُبۡدِئُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡخَلۡقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥٓۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرࣱ‏ ۝١٩ قُلۡ سِيرُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَٱنظُرُواْ كَيۡفَ بَدَأَ ٱلۡخَلۡقَۚ ثُمَّ ٱللَّهُ يُنشِئُ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءࣲ قَدِيرࣱ‏ ۝٢٠

    19 Have they not considered how Allah begins creation and then repeats it? Indeed that, for Allah, is easy 20 Say, [O Muhammad], "Travel through the land and observe how He began creation. Then Allah will produce the final creation. Indeed Allah, over all things, is competent

  21. Quran Al-An'aam · 6:1

    All praise is for Allah, who created the heavens and the earth and made darkness and light.

    ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَجَعَلَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ وَٱلنُّورَۖ ثُمَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّهِمۡ يَعۡدِلُونَ ۝١

    [All] praise is [due] to Allah, who created the heavens and the earth and made the darkness and the light. Then those who disbelieve equate [others] with their Lord

  22. Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 3191
    Sahih Bukhari

    There was Allah and nothing else; His Throne was over the water; He wrote everything and created the heavens and earth.

    Narrated Imran bin Husain: I went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and tied my she-camel at the gate. The people of Bani Tamim came to the Prophet (ﷺ) who said "O Bani Tamim! Accept the good tidings." They said twice, 'You have given us the good tidings, now give us something" Then some Yemenites came to him and he said, "Accept the good tidings, O people of Yemen, for Bani Tamim refused them." They said, "We accept it, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! We have come to ask you about this matter (i.e. the start of creations)." He said, "First of all, there was nothing but Allah, and (then He created His Throne). His throne was over the water, and He wrote everything in the Book (in the Heaven) and created the Heavens and the Earth." Then a man shouted, "O Ibn Husain! Your she-camel has gone away!" So, I went away and could not see the she-camel because of the mirage. By Allah, I wished I had left that she-camel (but not that gathering)

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصِ بْنِ غِيَاثٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، حَدَّثَنَا جَامِعُ بْنُ شَدَّادٍ، عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ مُحْرِزٍ، أَنَّهُ حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَعَقَلْتُ نَاقَتِي بِالْبَابِ، فَأَتَاهُ نَاسٌ مِنْ بَنِي تَمِيمٍ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ اقْبَلُوا الْبُشْرَى يَا بَنِي تَمِيمٍ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالُوا قَدْ بَشَّرْتَنَا فَأَعْطِنَا‏.‏ مَرَّتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ نَاسٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْيَمَنِ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ اقْبَلُوا الْبُشْرَى يَا أَهْلَ الْيَمَنِ، إِذْ لَمْ يَقْبَلْهَا بَنُو تَمِيمٍ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالُوا قَدْ قَبِلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، قَالُوا جِئْنَاكَ نَسْأَلُكَ عَنْ هَذَا الأَمْرِ قَالَ ‏"‏ كَانَ اللَّهُ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ شَىْءٌ غَيْرُهُ، وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ، وَكَتَبَ فِي الذِّكْرِ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ، وَخَلَقَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَنَادَى مُنَادٍ ذَهَبَتْ نَاقَتُكَ يَا ابْنَ الْحُصَيْنِ‏.‏ فَانْطَلَقْتُ فَإِذَا هِيَ يَقْطَعُ دُونَهَا السَّرَابُ، فَوَاللَّهِ لَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي كُنْتُ تَرَكْتُهَا‏.‏

  23. Hadith Sahih Muslim 2653b
    Sahih Muslim

    Allah wrote the measures of creation fifty thousand years before creating the heavens and the earth.

    Abdullah b. 'Amr b. al-'As reported:I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Allah ordained the measures (of quality) of the creation fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth, as His Throne was upon water

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَرْحٍ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ، وَهْبٍ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو هَانِئٍ الْخَوْلاَنِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْحُبُلِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو، بْنِ الْعَاصِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ مَقَادِيرَ الْخَلاَئِقِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ بِخَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ - قَالَ - وَعَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  24. Hadith Sunan Abi Dawud 4700
    Sahih graded by Al-Albani

    The first thing Allah created was the Pen, and He commanded it to write what was decreed.

    Ubadah b. al Samit said to his son :Son! You will not get the taste of the reality of faith until you know that what has come to you could not miss you, and that what has missed you could not come to you. I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: The first thing Allah created was the pen. He said to it: Write. It asked: What should I write, my Lord? He said: Write what was decreed about everything till the Last Hour comes. Son! I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say : He who dies on something other than this does not belong to me

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُسَافِرٍ الْهُذَلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ حَسَّانَ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ رَبَاحٍ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْلَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي حَفْصَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ عُبَادَةُ بْنُ الصَّامِتِ لاِبْنِهِ يَا بُنَىَّ إِنَّكَ لَنْ تَجِدَ طَعْمَ حَقِيقَةِ الإِيمَانِ حَتَّى تَعْلَمَ أَنَّ مَا أَصَابَكَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيُخْطِئَكَ وَمَا أَخْطَأَكَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيُصِيبَكَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏"‏ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ الْقَلَمَ فَقَالَ لَهُ اكْتُبْ ‏.‏ قَالَ رَبِّ وَمَاذَا أَكْتُبُ قَالَ اكْتُبْ مَقَادِيرَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَتَّى تَقُومَ السَّاعَةُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ يَا بُنَىَّ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏"‏ مَنْ مَاتَ عَلَى غَيْرِ هَذَا فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي ‏"‏ ‏.‏

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