Refutation of the Claim that Surah Fussilat (41), verses 9-12
contradicts other verses (7:54, 10:3, 11:7) which state that the world was created
in six days
By Samia Salim
By Samia Salim
Allah
says in the Quran,
“Then do they not reflect upon the
Qur'an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah , they would have found
within it much contradiction”[1]
The Quran is the final book of Allah(swt) that was revealed to our
beloved Prophet Muhammad(pbuh). It is the perfect word of our Lord that He has
promised to protect & guard from any corruption till the day of judgement.
“Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an and
indeed, We will be its guardian.”[2]
Anti
Islam subjects, orientalists, modernists, secularists, atheists & many
others have always tried to undermine the divinity of the Quran. Thousands of
books, articles & blogs have been written to show that Quran cannot be the
word of God & that it was written by Muhammad(Pbuh) himself. A lot of
effort has been put into trying to find contradictions within the Quran so as
to support their anti-Islamic stance.
Surah
Fussilat (41:9-12)
Verse
9
-"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."
Verse
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”
Verse
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."
Verse
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]
Contradiction
regarding Creation of the Earth & the heavens
One
of the famously quoted contradictions that people state in their books or
articles is that pertaining to the creation of the Earth & the heavens.
They say that in Surah Fussilat verses(9-12) the earth & the heavens is
said to be created in 8 days whereas in other places in the Quran the earth
& the heavens were created in 6 days.
When
one reads the translation of the above verses & adds up the number of days
mentioned it comes up to being 8 days.
This is clearly a result of misinterpretation. In Verse 9 Allah(swt) states that he created the
earth in 2 days, then in Verse 10 He states that he set on it firmly the
mountains & determined the sustenance of the creatures in 4 days. If you
add these it comes up to 6 days. Then in Verse 12 he states that he completed
the seven heavens within 2 days. So if you add 6 & 2 it comes up to 8 days.
Addressing the
Contradicting verses
In
Verse 9 of Surah Fussilat, Allah is addressing those who deny Allah(swt) as
their Lord, they are those who associate with Him partners & people who
contradict or question the fact that it is Allah(swt) who created the earth in
2 days. These verses are always misinterpreted in the form of contradictions so
as to undermine & place a question mark on the authenticity of the Quran.
These people even if you explain to them what the verse means will keep on
using this verse to cause disbelief in the hearts of man because they don’t
want to believe in the Oneness & superiority of Allah(swt).
“And
We did certainly create the heavens and earth and what is between them in six
days, and there touched Us no weariness”[4]
In
verse 9, Allah(swt) specifies the number of days that He took to create the
Earth. The verse that follows then informs us that a total of 4 days were taken
for the Earth to be created, the mountains to be firmly set as pegs on the
earth & provision of the sustenance. This explanation is supported by
Qurtubi in one of his books.
Al-Qurtubi
said:
“in four days” – this is like someone saying, “I set
out from Basra to Baghdad in ten days and to Kufa in fifteen days, i.e., a
total time of fifteen days.”[5]
Allah(swt) affirms to
the creation of the earth & the heavens in 6 days in various places in the
Quran.
“Indeed, your Lord is Allah , who created the
heavens and the earth in six days and then established Himself above the
Throne, arranging the matter [of His creation]. There is no intercessor except
after His permission. That is Allah , your Lord, so worship Him. Then will you
not remember?”[6]
“It is Allah who
created the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them in six days;
then He established Himself above the Throne. You have not besides Him any
protector or any intercessor; so will you not be reminded?”[7]
Translation of Verse 11-12
The
Arabic word ‘summa’ used in verse 11-12 have been translated in various
translations as ‘then’. The translation ‘then’ means ‘afterwards’. If this
translation is used in the verse of Surah Fussilat then it means that first
Allah(swt) created the Earth & then he started providing the sustenance
& then he created the heavens. This would make the total number of days to
8.[8]
“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?[9]
The
verse of Surah Anbiya above further supports our explanation given above. It
shows us that Allah(swt) created the earth & the heavens simultaneously.
Again the Arabic word ‘summa’ should be translated as moreover or
simultaneously rather than using the word ‘then’.
“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.”[10]
In Tafsir Ibn Kathir its mentioned
that Allah(swt) created the Earth in two days that is on Sunday & Monday,
provided in it with provision on Tuesday & Wednesday & created the
heavens in two days that is finished
forming them as seven heavens on Thursday & Friday & decreed in each
heaven its affair.[11]
Conclusion
Therefore
the explanations given above, the other verses which tell us about the creation
of the earth &heavens in 6 days are clear proofs to refute the claim that
there is a contradiction in the Quran.
[1]
4:82 www.Quran.com , Sahih international
[2]
15:9 www.Quran.com , Sahih international
[3] 41:9-12
www.Quran.com, Sahih International
[4] (50:38) www.Quran.com,
Sahih International
[5] Qurtubis Book, Al-Jaami’ li Ahkaam
al-Qur’aan, vol. 15, p. 343
[6] (10:3)
[7]
(32:4)
[9]
(21:30) www.Quran.com, Sahih International
[10]
(11:7) www.Quran.com, Sahih International
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