Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

 

The source of confusion is the inaccurate rendering of the above verses. I would urge you to refer to the Meaning of the Holy Qur’an in Today’s English  (Extended Study Edition) by Yahiya Emerick: I cite here excerpts from his rendering of the above verse.

“Say to them, “Are you rejecting the One who created the earth in two stages? Are you making others equal with Him? That is the Lord of All the Worlds!”

 

He placed well-rooted highlands upon (the earth) and (put many) blessings within them. Then He measured out every (physical and ecological system), so there would be sufficient resources (for all living things, a process that was accomplished) in four stages. (It’s a) balanced (system to provide for all those) who ask (for their needed resources to survive).

 

He also applied His design upon the sky, which was (filled with a kind of) smoke. He said to it and the earth, “You will come together willingly or unwillingly.” They responded, “We come willingly.”

 

Notes: I have presented verses 9-12 so precisely because there is an unfortunate misunderstanding that has led some critics to hold that eight separate stages of creation are mentioned in this passage, causing a contradiction with the other verses of the Qur’an that always mention the earth, or world, being created in six days or stages. This inaccurate misunderstanding is due to the fact that the Arabic text here has not been precisely translated by most English authors according to its syntactic structure.  Verse nine is a stand-alone question (preceded by the command to say or tell) that is meant to be orally asked of the pagans. It is not grammatically part of a series that continues uninterrupted into verses 10-12 (Ma’ariful Qur’an) After the question in verse 9 is asked, then verses I 0-12 explain the highlights of the earth and sky’s creation, both of which add up to a total of six stages or days. (lbn Kathir) This is, by the way, an extremely common Qur’anic device: throw out a question, and then give the answer.

 

Modem science had identified four distinct stages in the development of the earth. Stage one is called differentiation, a time in which heavier masses sunk to the core of the earth while lighter materials moved towards the surface. Stage two is called differention, in which the earth was strong enough to withstand the constant bombardment  of meteorites and comets. The third stage is known as the flooding stage, and it involved the free flowing of water and lava, along with the release of associated gases. Rain and the appearance of oceans occurred at this time. The final stage is called slow surface evolution and it is currently in operation today. This is the phenomenon of gradation and uplift of the crust, continental drift and also plate tectonics. This is also the stage in which living organisms arose.

 

‘The early atmosphere of the primordial earth was filled with particles and dust as a result of the constant bombardment of the surface by meteorites and cornets. The ‘joining’ of the earth and its atmosphere was caused by gravity, as gravity (aided by the earth’s magnetic shield) held the various gases in place, rather than letting them escape into space, so in that sense the two had no choice but to bond. Some modem commentators hold that the “smoke” refers to the nebulous gases of the entire universe. The general trend in the Qur’an is that when the Arabic word as-sama ‘ is mentioned, it means the sky (see 6:125), and when the plural as-samawat is mentioned, it usually refers to outer space or the upper heavens. In this instance, however, both terms are present. Therefore, it seems to be denoting a more immediate presence around the earth and its more localized footprint in the cosmos, as verse 11 mentions sky (as sama ‘) and verse 12 denotes that sky being turned into many skies (as-samawat), and thus my rendering as layers of the sky.

 

Please refer also to his rendering of the verse 27 of Sura 79 on page 732.

 

Almighty Allah knows best.