Creation of the Heavens and Earth (Behind the Creation) |
Written by Nuraz |
Salaam (WRWB). The creation of the heavens and earth is described as one of the “better” of Allah (SWT)’s creations. In the Quran, Allah (SWT) proclaims,
وَمَا يَسۡتَوِي ٱلۡأَعۡمَىٰ وَٱلۡبَصِيرُ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتِ وَلَا ٱلۡمُسِيٓءُۚ قَلِيلٗا مَّا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ
Meaning - The creation of the heavens and earth is greater than the creation of mankind, but most of the people do not know. (40:58)
This ayat directly refers to those arrogant human beings who have absolutely no clue regarding the significance behind these creations. As in the ayat before it mentions, the stride for pride, having no concern or regards to whichever the warnings of Allah (SWT) are. Conveniently we will go further into this topic.
The Heavens are something that is full of blessings. From the 4 rivers, which I went into detail in another article. (go check that out) to the highest point of Sidratul Muntaha, the highest point in Jannah and the closest to Allah (SWT). To the bountiful fruits and to the beauty of others. The Heavens are all something that are in target for all practicing Muslims, based on their devotion and intention, instead of just the completion of their actions.
Allah (SWT) mentions in the Quran,
وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ فَرَشۡنَٰهَا فَنِعۡمَ ٱلۡمَٰهِدُونَ
Meaning - And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander. (51:48)
This demonstrates the sheer power of the creation of the heavens, Allah (SWT) proclaiming that He had made Heavens with that strength, specifying it is a creation that stands out amongst the rest.
The Heavens can be described as “soothing” or in “prosperity.” With its cloud-like structures. The way I imagine heaven, this white cloud, its fluffiness represents its comfort, and its height can indicate its astounding achievement. To further talk upon the creation, Allah (SWT) describes the Heavens,
وَمِنۡهُم مَّن يَسۡتَمِعُ إِلَيۡكَ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا خَرَجُواْ مِنۡ عِندِكَ قَالُواْ لِلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ مَاذَا قَالَ ءَانِفًاۚ أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ طَبَعَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمۡ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓاْ أَهۡوَآءَهُمۡ
Meaning - Is the description of Paradise, which the righteous are promised, wherein are rivers of water unaltered, rivers of milk the taste of which never changes, rivers of wine delicious to those who drink, and rivers of purified honey, in which they will have from all [kinds of] fruits and forgiveness from their Lord, like [that of] those who abide eternally in the Fire and are given to drink scalding water that will sever their intestines? (47:15)
This gives you the description of Paradise. As it discusses the fruits tailored with the plethora of rivers, described with “delicious”, “purified”, “unaltered”, all being adjectives providing a soothing sort of speciality of this creation. As His throne lies under it.
To add onto this significance behind Jannah, it is mentioned 147 times in the Quran. We may think Jannah is finished and is no longer in construction, but we are far wrong. Jannah, as mentioned, is ever-growing, more significant than the size it was during its previous years. Jannah is one of the most beloved creations of Allah (SWT).
And now comes another creation, the Earth. The creation between Earth and the Heavens comes in 6 days.
إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٖ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِۖ يُغۡشِي ٱلَّيۡلَ ٱلنَّهَارَ يَطۡلُبُهُۥ حَثِيثٗا وَٱلشَّمۡسَ وَٱلۡقَمَرَ وَٱلنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَٰتِۭ بِأَمۡرِهِۦٓۗ أَلَا لَهُ ٱلۡخَلۡقُ وَٱلۡأَمۡرُۗ تَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ
Meaning - Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He covers the night with the day, [another night] chasing it rapidly; and [He created] the sun, the moon, and the stars, subjected by His command. Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command; blessed is Allah, Lord of the worlds. (7:54)
This goes to the creation of Allah (SWT) and how the Earth fits perfectly, with tons of work put into it. Imagine Earth without the day or night, or without its orbit. Every single creation is put into fruition so beautifully.
Now you are asking, how does this serve as any reminder to us? Because everything is built so smoothly, so precisely it is a venue to be grateful towards Allah (SWT). Alongside the Earth, the day and night cycle is a bit more homecoming towards us. Especially since we can see it into effect on an eye level basis. The Quran also mentions this fascination and the same exact words I had just talked about. Allah (SWT), mentions in Surah Furqaan,
وَعِبَادُ ٱلَّرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَمۡشُونَ عَلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ هَوۡنٗا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ ٱلۡجَٰهِلُونَ قَالُواْ سَلَٰمٗا
Meaning - And it is He who has made the night and the day in succession for whoever desires to remember or desires gratitude. (25:62)
Earth as a whole is something called a gift to us. On Earth comes many blessings and gifts. Basically, a gift in a gift. This “gift,” is otherwise called the mountains, the trees, the ocean, the stars, the day and night cycle, the sun, the wind, the sky, and more. As Allah (SWT) specifies the power of creating these bits of nature with declaring,
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِي جَعَلَكُمۡ خَلَـٰٓئِفَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَرَفَعَ بَعۡضَكُمۡ فَوۡقَ بَعۡضٖ دَرَجَٰتٖ لِّيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ فِيمَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمۡۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ سَرِيعُ ٱلۡعِقَابِ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَغَفُورٞ رَّحِيمُۢ
Meaning - And it is He who has made you successors upon the earth and has raised some of you above others in degrees [of rank] that He may try you through what He has given you. Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful. (6:265)
All these elements of nature can be further deduced down (each of them having an article), but that is a time for another time. Maybe if you are from the future reading this, perhaps maybe there are articles of such. They are also the key components to the form of life. As Allah (SWT) mentions,
إِنَّ فِي خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱخۡتِلَٰفِ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَٱلۡفُلۡكِ ٱلَّتِي تَجۡرِي فِي ٱلۡبَحۡرِ بِمَا يَنفَعُ ٱلنَّاسَ وَمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مِن مَّآءٖ فَأَحۡيَا بِهِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِهَا وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَآبَّةٖ وَتَصۡرِيفِ ٱلرِّيَٰحِ وَٱلسَّحَابِ ٱلۡمُسَخَّرِ بَيۡنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّقَوۡمٖ يَعۡقِلُونَ
Meaning - Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, and the [great] ships which sail through the sea with that which benefits people, and what Allah has sent down from the heavens of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and dispersing therein every [kind of] moving creature, and [His] directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heaven and the earth are signs for a people who use reason. (2:164)
As the creations of Earth and the Heavens are a blessing to each and one of us, it should serve as a reminder to be grateful and to follow the message of Allah (SWT) and to follow the straight path, so we can have the best of the blessings in both worlds. These unique creations should make us strive to become a better version of ourselves.
Salaam (WRWB)