The Creation of the Heavens and Earth
Allah created the heavens and the earth and everything in between them in six 'days' ('days' is the word used here for the purposes of translation from Arabic to English, but it should be noted that this does not necessarily mean days in terms of 24 hours, but days in terms of set periods of time), as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And indeed We created the heavens and the earth and all between them in six days and nothing of fatigue touched Us"
(Qur'an 50:38)
(Note: Allah often refers to Himself as "We" and "Us" in the Qur'an, but this does not mean that there is more than one of Him, rather it is the majestic or royal 'We' that means 'I')
Thus, Muslims do not believe that Allah got tired from creating the heavens and earth and was in need of resting, as He is far above this and should not be likened to His creation who get fatigued and need food and sleep. Allah states in the Qur'an that the heavens and earth were once one, and then He split them:
"Have not those who disbelieve known that the heavens and the earth were joined together as one united piece, then We parted them? And We have made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?"
(Qur'an 21:30)
Muslims believe that Allah created the Heavens and the Earth in the following way:
"Say (O Muhammad): 'Do you verily disbelieve in Him Who created the earth in two Days? And you set up rivals (in worship) with Him? That is the Lord of the 'Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists).
He placed therein (i.e. the earth) firm mountains from above it, and He blessed it, and measured therein its sustenance (for its dwellers) in four Days equal (i.e. all these four 'days' were equal in the length of time) for all those who ask (about its creation).Then He rose over (Istawa) towards the heaven 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.'
Then He completed and finished from their creation (as) seven heavens in two Days and He made in each heaven its affair. And We adorned the nearest (lowest) heaven with lamps (stars) to be an adornment as well as to guard (from the devils by using them as missiles against the devils). Such is the Decree of Him, the All Mighty, the All Knower"
(Qur'an 41:9-12)
From this verse, we know that the universe was "smoke" in the beginning and that Allah created stars for three purposes:
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To adorn the nearest heaven
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For missiles to hit the devils
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As signs to guide travellers (given elsewhere in verse 6:97)
Allah is so powerful that He is able to do anything in an instant and all He has to say is "Be!" and it is. However, He chose the time period for the creation of the Heavens and Earth to be six 'days' out of His wisdom. Reasons why He may have taken so long for the creation of the Universe, may be:
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To teach His slaves kindness and deliberation in their affairs, because if the One Who does not make mistakes created the universe in a deliberate manner, then it is more appropriate for those who are vulnerable to making mistakes to do things in a deliberate manner
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He wanted to create something each 'day' to show His power to the angels and those who witnessed it.
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He was preparing things for Adam and his offspring before Adam existed, to emphasise Adam's high standing before the angels
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Doing things in a short time is more indicative of power, and deliberation is more indicative of wisdom. Allah wanted to manifest His wisdom in the creation of the Heavens and Earth, just as He manifested His power when He said, "Be!" And it is.
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Creation was accomplished step by step, lest anyone think that this happened as the result of an accident of nature.
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Finally, Allah has decreed a course for everything, for which reason He delays the punishment for the sinners, because everything has an appointed time with Him. In the case of the creation of the Universe, He decreed that the time should be six 'days'.
After Allah created the universe He did not leave His creation, but continues to create. Allah tells us in the Qur'an that He is expanding the universe:
"With power did We construct the heaven. Verily, We are able to extend the vastness of the heavens thereof"
(Qur'an 51:47)
As discussed above, Allah tells us what was created during the six days in brief and general terms, but as to the details of what was created, Allah knows best about that. We do however know that on the sixth 'day' from the beginning of creation, Allah created Adam (peace be upon him) and that that day of Adam's creation was a Friday.
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