CREATION

Arabic K͟halqah . The following are the allusions to the Creation which occur in the Qurʾān, Sūrah l. 37 : “Of old We (God) created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in six days, and no wearine touched Us.” Sūrah xli. 8 : “Do ye indeed disbelieve in Him who in two days created the earth? Do ye a ign Him equals? The Lord of the World is He. And He hath placed on the earth the firm mountains which tower above it, and He hath ble ed it, and distributed its nourishments throughout it (for the cravings of all are alike), in four days. Then He applied Himself to the heaven, which was but smoke: and to it and to the earth He said, “Come ye, in obedience or against your will?” and they both said, “We come obedient.” And He completed them as seven heavens in two days, and in each heaven made known its office; and We furnished the lower heaven with lights and guardian angels. This is the disposition of the Almighty, the all-knowing one.” Sūrah xvi. 3 : “He created the heavens and the earth to set forth his truth, high let Him be exalted above the gods they join with Him! Man hath He created out of a moist germ; yet lo! man is an open caviller. And the cattle! for you hath He created them, .… Shall He who hath created be as he who hath not created? Will ye not consider?” Sūrah xiii. 2 : “It is God who hath reared the heavens without pillars, thou canst behold; then seated Himself upon His throne, and imposed laws on the sun and moon; each travelleth to its appoint eth goal. He order eth all things. He maketh His signs clear. Haply ye will have firm faith in a meeting with your Lord. And He it is who hath outstretched the earth, and placed on it the firm mountains, and rivers; and of every fruit He hath placed on it two kinds. He causeth the night to enshroud the day.” Sūrah xxxv. 12 : “God created you of dust—then of the germs of life—then made you two sexes.” According to the Traditions ( Mishkāt , xxiv. c. i. pt. 3), God created the earth on Saturday, the hills on Sunday, the trees on Monday, all unpleasant things on Tuesday, the light on Wednesday, the beasts on Thursday, and Adam, who was the last of Creation, was created after the time of afternoon prayers on Friday.