In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.

There are many places in the Holy Quran where Allah (SWA) has mentioned that creating the earth, skies and creation took six days.

“And we created the heavens and the earth and all that is in between them in six days, and no weariness even touched us.”  (Surah Qaaf v.35)

However, from verses 9-12 of Surah Ha Mim As-Sajdah it seems as though the world was created in eight days if you were to count the days mentioned in sequence.

It is stated first that the creation of the earth took place in two days:

“The One who has created the earth in two days.”  (Surah Ha Mim As-Sajdah v.9)

Then it is stated separately:

“He has placed firm mountains in it (the earth) towering above it, and put blessings in it, and proportioned its food therein, in four days.”  (Surah Ha Mim As-Sajdah v.10)

According to the consensus of the mufasireen the four days mentioned in this verse are inclusive of the first two days mentioned in verse 9, if not the total period of creating would become eight days, which is against the explicit statement of the Quran.

Only Allah (SWA) knows Best why ‘four days’ was mentioned, but maybe the Holy Quran is indicating the four days were not continuous, but in two parts: two days before the creation of skies and two days after it.”  (Maariful Quran p.639 – p.640 v.7)

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham