How Was The Universe Created According To Allah? The Complete Quranic Answer Every Muslim Should Know

How Was The Universe Created According To Allah?

Have You Ever Looked Up At The Night Sky And Wondered Who Really Built All This?

I still remember a ten year old student of mine, Zayd, pausing mid Tajweed lesson to ask me a question that had nothing to do with Makharij or Noon Sakinah. He looked up from his Mushaf and asked, “Ustadha, if Allah made everything, how exactly did He do it?”

That question stopped the entire class. Not because it was hard to answer, but because it deserved a real answer, not a rushed one.

In more than a decade of teaching Quran and Tajweed to students across different age groups, I have learned that questions about creation are some of the most common and most sincere questions children and adults ask. They are not signs of doubt. They are signs of a heart trying to connect facts with faith.

This article walks through exactly how the universe was created according to Allah, using the Quran itself as the primary source, supported by classical Tafsir and modern scholarly interpretation. We will also look at practical ways parents and students can use these verses in Hifz and Tajweed learning, because understanding the meaning behind what you recite changes how you recite it.

The Quranic Foundation: Allah As The Sole Creator

The Quran does not treat creation as a side topic. It is one of the central themes repeated across dozens of Surahs. Allah describes Himself as Al-Khaliq (The Creator), Al-Bari (The Originator), and Al-Musawwir (The Fashioner), three names that together describe the full process of bringing something from nothing into a precise, functioning form.

The most detailed description of the universe’s creation appears in Surah Al-A’raf:

“Indeed your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days, then established Himself above the Throne.” (Quran 7:54)

This same statement, with slight variations, appears in Surah Yunus, Hud, Al-Furqan, As-Sajdah, Qaf, and Al-Hadid. Scholars at institutions like <a href=”https://quran.com/al-araf/54″ target=”_blank”>Quran.com’s verified Tafsir collection</a> note that this repetition across seven different Surahs is intentional. It reinforces a single, consistent message rather than a poetic exaggeration.

What Does “Six Days” Actually Mean?

This is usually the first question students and parents raise, and it is a fair one. Does the Quran mean six literal 24 hour days, the same as our calendar days?

According to detailed scholarly rulings compiled by <a href=”https://islamqa.info/en/answers/187655″ target=”_blank”>Islam Question and Answer’s research division</a>, classical commentators explain that these six days were not measured by the sun and moon, since neither existed yet at that stage of creation. The “day” mentioned in these verses refers to a period or phase, not a specific 24 hour cycle as we experience it now.

I explain this to my older students using a simple analogy. If someone says “I built this house in three phases,” they are not necessarily talking about three calendar days. They mean three distinct stages of construction. The Quran uses the word “Yawm” (day) in a similar structural sense in these verses, a point widely accepted among mainstream Tafsir scholars.

The Six Stages Of Creation, Explained Simply

Breaking this down stage by stage makes it far easier for students, especially younger ones, to visualize and remember. Based on the combined details found in Surah Fussilat (41:9-12) and Surah Al-A’raf, the process unfolds like this:

• Stage 1 and 2: The earth itself was created, described as originally being formless.
• Stage 3 and 4: Allah placed firm mountains on the earth, blessed it, and measured out its sustenance and provisions.
• Stage 5 and 6: The heavens, described as being like smoke, were shaped into seven layers, each assigned its own function and order.

Some readers count this as eight days rather than six. This confusion is addressed directly in the verses themselves. The four days mentioned for preparing the earth’s sustenance include the original two days of the earth’s formation, not four additional days on top of them. That brings the total back to six, a detail confirmed across major Tafsir works and modern explanations alike.

The Order Of Creation According To The Quran

Something I love pointing out to my students is how specific and orderly the Quranic account is. It is not vague poetry. It follows a clear sequence:

1. The earth is created first, in an unformed state.
2. Mountains, rivers, and vegetation are established.
3. The heavens, described as smoke or vapor, are then fashioned into seven distinct layers.
4. Each heaven is given its own command and function.
5. The lower heaven is adorned with stars and lights.

Surah Fussilat captures this beautifully:

“Then He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, ‘Come willingly or unwillingly.’ They said, ‘We come willingly.'” (Quran 41:11)

This verse always sparks discussion in my classes. The heavens and earth are described as responding to Allah’s command with willingness, a poetic but theologically rich way of showing that all of creation is inherently obedient to its Creator, without needing physical vocal cords or human style speech.

Also Read: What Does Allah Look Like? The Honest Answer Every Muslim Student Should Know

Purpose Behind The Gradual Creation

A question I get almost every single time I teach this topic is: if Allah is All Powerful, why did He take six stages instead of creating everything instantly with a single command like “Kun” (Be)?

The Quran actually answers this indirectly elsewhere, since Allah does create things instantly when He wills:

“Indeed, His command when He intends a thing is that He says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.” (Quran 36:82)

So the gradual process was not due to any limitation. According to classical commentary referenced by scholars connected to <a href=”https://www.azhar.edu.eg” target=”_blank”>Al-Azhar University’s official academic resources</a>, the staged creation teaches deliberation, patience, and order as values for human beings to reflect on. If the Creator, who makes no mistakes, proceeds carefully and in stages, it is a lesson for us, who are far more prone to error, to also act with patience and structure in our own lives and work.

I often tell my students: even memorizing the Quran works the same way. Nobody completes Hifz overnight. It happens page by page, stage by stage, exactly the way the universe itself was built.

Common Misunderstandings Parents And Students Should Avoid

Over the years, I have noticed a few recurring misconceptions that are worth clearing up directly.

Misconception 1: The Quran contradicts modern cosmology. Many scholars, including those referenced through Islamweb’s fatwa department, clarify that there is no real contradiction between the Quranic six day account and scientific timelines. The six days describe how long the process of creation took, not how long ago it happened. Something built in an hour is a different statement from something built one hour ago.

Misconception 2: Allah rested after creation. This idea appears in earlier scriptures but is explicitly rejected in the Quran. Allah states clearly that no fatigue or weariness touched Him during the process (Quran 50:38), correcting this specific point.

Misconception 3: The order of creation is unimportant detail. In reality, the sequence, earth before heavens, sustenance before mountains, is used by scholars to demonstrate the precision and intentional design behind the universe, which strengthens the broader Quranic argument for a single, wise, all-knowing Creator.

Teaching This Topic During Tajweed And Hifz Lessons

This is where my experience as an instructor really comes into play. Verses about creation are recited frequently across the Quran, which makes them excellent teaching material for both meaning and pronunciation practice.

Here is how I structure this for different levels:

For Beginners (Ages 6 to 10)

• Focus on short, memorable verses like Surah Al-A’la, verses 1-3, which describe Allah as the one who created and proportioned everything.
• Use visual aids: draw the sun, moon, mountains, and stars as the child recites the related word.
• Keep Tajweed correction light at this stage. Correct only major errors in Makharij (letter articulation points) so the child does not lose confidence.

For Intermediate Students (Ages 11 to 15)

• Introduce Surah Al-A’raf, verse 54, and practice the elongation (Madd) rules present in words like “as-samawati” and “al-arda.”
• Discuss the meaning briefly before or after recitation, since understanding context noticeably improves a student’s Tajweed rhythm and emotional connection to the verse.
• Begin light Tafsir reading alongside Hifz revision, using simplified translations.

For Advanced Students And Adult Learners

• Study Surah Fussilat 9-12 in full, focusing on the precise application of Ghunnah (nasalization) and Qalqalah (echoing sound) rules found in the passage.
• Compare multiple Tafsir sources, such as those compiled through Quran.com’s Tafsir library, to build independent research skills.
• Encourage journaling reflections connecting the order of creation to personal life planning and goal setting.

A Real Teaching Story Worth Sharing

Going back to Zayd, the student I mentioned earlier. After that class, I assigned him a simple project: draw the six stages of creation as he understood them from Surah Fussilat, then recite the verses aloud to his family that weekend.

He came back the following week not just able to recite the verses with noticeably improved Tajweed, but able to explain each stage in his own words. His father later told me it was the first time Zayd asked to keep reciting past his scheduled practice time.

This is the real value of pairing meaning with memorization. Tajweed rules stick far better when a student understands and feels connected to what they are saying, rather than treating recitation as mechanical repetition.

Practical Tips For Parents Supporting Online Quran Learning

If your child or you yourself are studying online, a few adjustments make a noticeable difference in retention and focus:

• Set a fixed, quiet time daily. Consistency beats long, irregular sessions every time.
• Use a physical Mushaf when possible, even during online classes, since muscle memory from page position helps Hifz retention.
• Ask your tutor to explain meaning alongside Tajweed correction, rather than treating them as two separate lessons.
• Track small wins. Celebrating a correctly applied Madd rule or a properly recited Ghunnah keeps motivation high, especially for younger learners.
• Choose a tutor with a verified Ijazah chain, ideally one connected to recognized Islamic educational bodies, to ensure authentic Tajweed transmission.

Final Thoughts

The Quran’s account of how the universe was created is not just a historical or scientific statement. It is woven with lessons on patience, order, and the absolute power of Allah, delivered in language precise enough that scholars have studied its structure for over a thousand years.

Whether you are a parent guiding a child through early Hifz, or an adult learner deepening your own understanding, verses about creation offer some of the richest material in the entire Quran, both for meaning and for Tajweed practice. Take the time to sit with these verses, not just recite them. That is where the real transformation in learning happens.

Sources and Official References

1. Quran.com Verified Tafsir, Surah Al-A’raf 7:54: https://quran.com/al-araf/54
2. Islam Question and Answer, Tafsir Discussion on the Six Days of Creation: https://islamqa.info/en/answers/187655
3. Al-Azhar University, Official Academic Portal: https://www.azhar.edu.eg
4. Bayyinah Academy, Tajweed and Quran Memorization Curriculum: https://bayyinah.academy/courses

FAQs

1. How many days did Allah take to create the universe according to the Quran?

The Quran states six days across multiple Surahs, including Al-A’raf, Yunus, and Fussilat. Scholars explain these were phases or periods, not literal 24 hour days, since the sun and moon did not yet exist to measure time in that way.

2. Does the Quranic creation account contradict the Big Bang theory?

Most scholars find no direct contradiction. The six days describe the duration of the creation process itself, not the total time elapsed since creation, which addresses the apparent gap with modern cosmological timelines.

3. What is the correct age to start teaching a child about Quranic creation verses?

Children as young as six can begin with short, simple verses like Surah Al-A’la 1-3. Deeper discussion involving multiple Tafsir sources is generally better suited for students aged eleven and above.

4. Which Tajweed rules are most relevant when reciting creation related verses?

Verses like Al-A’raf 7:54 and Fussilat 9-12 contain strong examples of Madd (elongation), Ghunnah (nasalization), and Qalqalah (echoing letters), making them excellent practice material for intermediate and advanced students.

5. How can online Quran tutors verify their Tajweed and Ijazah credentials?

Reputable tutors typically hold a documented Ijazah with a traceable chain of narration (Sanad) back to a recognized scholar, often affiliated with established institutions or academies that publish their certification standards publicly.

---

If you wish to learn the Quran online or enroll in one of our Quran courses, click below and start your learning journey today. 

Explore Our Courses →