IS THE WORLD CREATED IN SIX DAYS?

      In seven cases in the Quran it is cited that the skies and earth were created in six days. In S 41: 11 it is written that the sky was made of smoke or gas, and the earth was created in two days, and also it took another two days, for its mountains and nourishments to be made. Then the Creator applied to the skies which was smoke, and made them as seven firmaments.

In QURAN S 11: 7 it is written that when He created the skies and the earth in six days, he then applied to Arsh and His Arsh was over water; i.e. whatever the Arsh is, it did exist before the creation of the solar system and it was then upon water.

      The Arabic Arsh has many shades of meaning like Throne-chair of state, Royal seat - Sovereign power and dignity - sovereignty. It also means a room with ceiling; and trellis.

      In Quranic literature, `DAY' is a matter of relativity and sometimes metaphorical: In S 22: 4 it is cited that, a day in the sight of God is like a thousand of our reckonings, and elsewhere in S 70: 4 the comparison is with fifty thousands of our years. Therefore the creation of the earth and skies (our solar system) must have been completed in six great epochs of evolutions. He created them and then maintained them under His constant care and everlasting order and control.

      To summarize the argument here, we may conclude that the Creator has created our solar system in six period of time, each period or day consisting perhaps of millions of years of our reckoning. Those Days or periods of time may possibly have been in the following order.

      1- The Day in which the planets were all together in a gaseous form.

      2- The Day in which the gaseous mass turned into bright melted or cold and solid substances.

      3- The Day in which the solar system was made. The earth was separated from the sun, and the moon and from the earth, and other planets, divided too.

   4- The Day in which the crust of the earth (THE LITHOSPHERE) was solidified, and the mountains were made, and the earth was prepared for the appearance of life.

   5- The Day in which trees and plants appeared on earth.

   6- And eventually the Day in which animals and man were created.

HIS IS THE CREATION AND ORDER

      Here in this verse CREATION has possibly its direct meaning, which is the act of bringing this world into existence. The word `order' or command, may refer to the rules, laws, methods and regulations by which the creator controls and maintains the universe, and all creation. This is contrary to the Jewish idea that God created the universe, and took a rest on the seventh day, which is the sabbath in the Jewish calendar.

      Muslims believe that creation was a prelude to Allah's work; and His authority is excercised constantly by the laws which He establishes and enforces in all parts of His creation. The planets with their regular movement in their orbits, show an amazing order, which is the evidence of His constant care and permanent control over everything. Every day, and every now and then, Allah has a new work to do.