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One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear islamhelpline, Assalaamu alaikum,

I would like to ask a question, before that im a fan of islamhelpline.com, doing a wonderful job,

Masha allah keep going, well , my question is allah has the capacity to create the entire world and universe as  he says ( kun),

For some reasons he dint create immediately, could u  plz  tel   me relevant hadith why  was the world and universe created step by step,

One of my cousin had told me this question had been asked t o prophet saws by sahabs, prophet replied, took a  stick and s tated tha t he  could put down the

Stick but  I  would nt do , it is not like I cannot put down, likewise allah has capacity ,..    one of my well known imam had stated alah has wanted us to understand that’s why he has created ,

Step by step our knowledge is limited that’s he has done it step by step, are these  authentic hadiths  pl let me know…………

Expecting ur reply…………

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Why Allah created earth in stages steps

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Firstly, we would like to clarify that to the best of our knowledge, we have not come across any authentic hadeeth regarding the clarification of this question by the Messenger of Allah (saws) unto his noble companions.

Your Question: ….My question is allah has the capacity to create the entire world and universe as he says ( kun),

For some reasons he dint create immediately, could u  plz  tel   me relevant hadith why  was the world and universe created step by step,

To comprehend the question asked, one must first be familiar with two of the Innumerable and Exclusive Attributes of Allah Subhanah:

1. Al-Qadir: Allah Subhanah is Able and Capable of doing whatever He Wills and Pleases.
2. Al-Hakeem: Allah Subhanah is The All-Wise; every Act or Deed of Allah Subhanah is never ever devoid of a Plan or Wisdom.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf Verse 54:

54 Your Guardian-Lord is Allah Who Created the heavens and the earth in Six Days (or Periods) and is firmly established on the Throne (of Authority): He draws the night as a veil over the day each seeking the other in rapid succession: He created the sun the moon and the stars, (all) governed by laws under His Command. Is it not His to create and to govern? Blessed be Allah The Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds!

In light of the absolutely clear Guidance of the Glorious Quran, it is indeed accurate that The Lord Most High created the heavens and the earth in stages and not at once.

If the Lord Most Majestic so Willed and Pleased, He could very well have created the heavens and the earth in an instant with His Word and Command (kunn)….for He Alone indeed is The ‘Al-Qadir’.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 36 Surah Yaseen Verses 81-83:

81 "Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth able to create the like thereof?" Yea indeed! For He is The Creator Supreme of Skill and Knowledge (Infinite)!

82 Verily when He intends a thing His (mere) Command is "Be" and it is!

83 So Glory to Him in Whose Hands is the Dominion of all things; and to Him will ye be all brought back.

But the fact that The Lord All-Mighty chose not to do so should signify to the believer that it was created in stages according to His Plan and His Absolute Wisdom….for He indeed is The ‘Al-Hakeem’; ie. it simply does not befit the Majesty of the Lord Most High to do anything for idle sport or play, but rather every single act and deed of the Lord Most Supreme is based on Absolute Truth and Wisdom.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 44 Surah Ad-Dukhaan Verses 38-40:

38 We created not the heavens the earth and all between them merely in (idle) sport:

39 We created them not except ‘bil-Haqq’ (in Truth; for just ends): but most of them do not understand.

40 Verily the Day of Sorting Out is the time appointed for all of them.

What exact does ‘bil-Haqq’ mean in the above Aayah and context is open to mild or slight interpretation, and the scholars and jurists is Islam have given their various opinions regarding the matter.

The interpretation of the absolute majority of the scholars, and one which has appealed to our heart, is that the term ‘bil-Haqq’ here in context of the Aayah may mean the truth of the ‘test’ which the Lord Most High has ordained for the life of this world.

To further understand the concept, one may divide life into two terms:

1. the life of this transitory world
2. the life of the eternal and everlasting Hereafter.

Everything that has been created for the ‘life of this world’, be it the sun, the moon, the earth, its vegetation, its animals, humans, etc. has been created, ordained, and governed to go through its steps and stages as Decreed by Allah Subhanah so that mankind can be involved in the ‘test’.

Leave alone the Wisdom of the Lord in creating the universe in stages, if one merely ponders over the wisdom behind the mundane acts and deeds which are Decreed to take places in stages, one would be bound to testify The Truth of the Wisdom of the Lord Most Wise:

For example:

1. Had the Lord Most Majestic so Willed, every drop of sperm emitted by man could have resulted in a new child (or even a fully grown human being!) instantly! But then the fears, the anxiety, the gratitude, the desire to love, cherish, bear, and foster the infant from its inception in the womb to puberty by the parents could never be tested!!!
2. Had the Lord Most Supreme so Willed, even grain dropped on earth could have resulted in a fruit-bearing tree in an instant! But then the fears, anxiety, gratitude, patience, etc. of the farmer/grower could never be tested!!!

But in the eternal and everlasting life the Hereafter, because man will not be involved in a test anymore, everything that will take place there will no longer need to be made in stages, but will come into existence at the One mere Command of the Lord Most Majestic Most Supreme!

For example, in the Realms of Paradise, one will not need to wait till the bricks and mortars of the promised Palaces and Gardens are brought and put together….but rather at the One mere Command of the Lord Most Generous, the Palaces, the Gardens, the Rivers of Milk and Honey, the fruit bearing trees, etc. will come into existence in an instant for each of the fortunate dwellers of Paradise!

Thus brother, in conclusion, being The ‘Al-Qadir’ the Lord Most Majestic is more than Able and Capable of creating the universe and everything that exists by His One mere Command of ‘Kunn’; but He being The ‘Al-Hakeem’ (All-Wise), He chose to Decree a process, a stage, and a determined period for everything in existence in the life of this transitory world, so that He may involve man to the ordained ‘test’.

Whosoever recognizes His ‘Signs’ He left in each and every one of His creation, and thereby submits unto Him will attain salvation….and whosoever refuses to recognize the innumerable ‘Signs’ He left in each and every one of His creation, and refuse to submit unto Him will be called to a severe account on that Inevitable and Tumultuous Day of Judgment.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 45 Surah Jathiya Verses 3-11:

3 Verily in the heavens and the earth are Signs for those who believe.

4 And in the creation of yourselves and the fact that animals are scattered (through the earth) are Signs for those of assured faith.

5 And in the alternation of night and day, and the fact that Allah sends down sustenance from the sky, and revives therewith the earth after its death, and the change of the winds are Signs for those that are wise.

6 Such are the Signs of Allah which We rehearse to thee in Truth: then in what exposition will they believe after (rejecting) Allah and His Signs?

7 Woe to each sinful dealer in falsehoods:

8 He hears the Signs of Allah rehearsed to him yet is obstinate and lofty as if he had not heard them: then announce to him a Penalty Most Grievous!

9 And when he learns something of Our Signs he takes them in jest: for such there will be a Humiliating Penalty.

10 In front of them is Hell: and of no profit to them is anything they may have earned, nor any protectors they may have taken to themselves besides Allah: for them is a Tremendous Penalty.

11 This is (True) Guidance: and for those who reject the Signs of their Lord is a Grievous Penalty of abomination.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan