Earth Created before stars ?

Earth Created before stars RESPONSE:

The author of wikiislam.net under this article quotes two verses from Holy Quran which are 

Then turned He to the heaven when it was smoke, and said unto it and unto the earth: Come both of you, willingly or loth. They said: We come, obedient. Then He ordained them seven heavens in two Days and inspired in each heaven its mandate; and We decked the nether heaven with lamps, and rendered it inviolable. That is the measuring of the Mighty, the Knower.  41;11-12

and  the second one is 

It is He who created for you all of that which is on the earth. Then He directed Himself to the heaven, [His being above all creation], and made them seven heavens, and He is Knowing of all things. 2;29 

After quoting these verses he says 

Some websites attempt to reconcile the Qur'anic description with modern science by denying that the word 'Then' in the verses above indicate sequence, and instead claim that it means 'moreover'. They claim this despite the fact that these words (thumma in 41:11 and 2:29, and fa in 41:12 - all translated as 'Then') generally are used to indicate sequence. In other contexts thumma was sometimes used to mean 'moreover', which is generally clear from those contexts, but the passages quoted above describe a process - the creation of the heavens and Earth, and it would be ludicrous to use these words when describing such a process if they were not indicating sequence.

REPLY

Let us analyze the claim of wikiislam author.

First of all he must know that these verses are differential among Muslim interpreters 

We read in Tibyan ul Quran by Allama Ghulam Rasool Saeedi Vol 1 page 328

" Scholars have differences on the issue that whether Earth is created first or sky"

Now it is clear that the interpretation of these verses is differential and it is differential till when the interpretation is started. Now in differences people are free to choose the interpretation they feel better and which is according to their knowledge and which is also underpinned by other verses of Holy Quran and sayings of Masoomen.

We read in Holy Quran Chapter 79 verse 30 

" And after that He spread the earth"

We find in Nahjul Balagha address 1 that Heaven was created first.

We read in Tafseer ibn e Kaseer vol1 under verse 2 29 

" QATADA RA believe that Heaven was created before Earth"

Meaning of word Thumma;

The word thumma has several meanings;

We read in Hans Wehr 4th Edition page 127

thumma means "then,thereupon,furthermore,moreover,and again"

We read in Lanes Lexicon page 351

"It does not necessarily denote order, but has the meaning ;and;"

We read in DIc. of Quran by M.G. Farid page 117

" This particle is also used in sense of And"

We read in Mufridat e Imam Raghib page 178

" This conjunction describes delay whether it is by the thing itself or by Quality"

We read in Lughat ul Quran page 404

"It is not necessary that the word thumma always is in the sense of sequence it also means 'And'...... an example of it is 2;29 ' ..............And he heeded to the sky and set it in seven' If we translate it as 'then' it will mean that Earth was created before Heaven but from Surah Naziat 79;30 we get first Heavens were created . It is further described by 21;30.....It is clear that in the verse 2;29 thumma is not used in the meaning of sequence "

Why to use  "And", " Moreover" here ;

These words must be used because of the context.We read in previous verses of both of the verses cited by wikiislams author ;

" How can you disbelieve in Allah''2; 28

or 

"Do indeed disbelieve in He who"41;9

From these words it is clear that Allah is describing the things which are worth-pondering for them. So the words "moreover,and" are better to translate here. While in Chapter 79 there is clear sequence which clears that Heaven was created before Earth. The word BAAD is used meaning AFTER.So author of wikiislam! it is not ludicrous to use thumma without meaning of sequence. It is used because of their quality among the thoughts of people.It is used because people think first about their surroundings and then high above sky. The attempt to prove thumma only means sequence is like to prove ENGLISH word 'Then'only means sequence. It is clear from Longmann English Dictionary page 1826 that English word 'then' is also used to add something to that you are discussing. The word thumma is also used to add something to what you are previously talking.Allah is describing his traces.Firstly he described Earth and then sky.

Same is the opinion of Ayoutullah Nasir Makarim Sherazi in Tafseer e Namoona,Qazi Thana Ullah pani Patti in Tafseer e Mazhari, Molana Ahmad yar Khan Naeemi in Tafseer e Naeemi and Molana Syed Zafar Hussain in Tafseer Ul Quran etc. 

Wikiislams author has no right to prove that this means ''Earth created before Heavens'' because it is a differential problem among interpreters and so Muslims must discuss together what it means.

Yusuf Ali: It is He Who hath created for you all things that are on earth; Moreover His design comprehended the heavens, for He gave order and perfection to the seven firmaments; and of all things He hath perfect knowledge.

Above discussion clarifies that in the verses 2;29 and 41;11-12 the word thumma means ''moreover,and'' and sequence is not described.

Author of wikiislam should not claim the Holy Quran verses as error rather he should ask it as a question upon Muslim.

(If  anyone have any question ,argument regarding this or any of the article on this blog then please comment or message at imtiazbashir7@gmail.com)