The First Creation: Water



When Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, was asked how
this universe started to exist, he said: "Allah existed [eternally]
and nothing else existed with Him. He created the ^Arsh (Throne) [and
placed it] above the water. Then He [ordered the Pen to] write in the
(Guarded) Tablet everything that would happen. Then Allah created the
heavens and Earth." (Related by al-Bukhariyy.)



The Prophet answered this question by first stating that Allah's
Existence does not have a beginning, i.e., He is Eternal. There is no
one attributed with eternity other than Him. In other words, nothing
existed eternally except Allah, and Allah created everything, i.e., He
brought all the creation from non-existence into existence.



Allah, ta^ala, did not create all the creations at one time. Had He
willed for this, it would have occurred. Rather, in six days, He
created the heavens and Earth; and for Earth Allah created rivers,
mountains, and valleys. The wisdom of this is to teach us not to be
hasty in doing things.



The first creation is water. The Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa
sallam, said:

إِنَّ اللهَ
تَعَالَى
خَلَقَ كُلَّ
شَيْءٍ مِنَ
الْمَاءِ



Innallaha ta^ala khalaqa kulla shay'im minal-ma'.

Which means: "Allah created everything from water." (Related by Ibn
Hibban.)



This also means that Allah created water before creating light,
darkness, Earth, the heavens, the Throne, or the Guarded Tablet. Allah
made water the origin for other creations. He created the Throne from
water. Then He created the Upper Pen, then the Guarded Tablet. After
these creations, Allah created the rest of the creations: the Earth,
heavens, animals, mountains, trees, and rivers. Adam, peace be upon
him, was of the last kind of creation, humans.



The (^Arsh) Throne: It is a platform with four pillars; it is the
largest of Allah's creations. It is also the ceiling of Paradise.



The Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, said:

مَا
السَّمَوَات&#1\
615; السَّبْعُ
فِي جَنْبِ
الْكُرْسِيّ&#1\
616; إِلاَّ
كَحَلَقَةٍ
فِي أَرْضٍ
فَلاَةٍ
وَفَضْلُ
الْعَرْشِ
عَلَى
الْكُرْسِيّ&#1\
616; كَفَضْلِ
الْفَلاَةِ
عَلَى
الْحَلَقَةِ



Mas-samawatus-sab^u fi jambil-Kursiyyi illa kahalqatin fi ardin falah.
Wa fadlul-^Arshi ^alal-Kursiyyi kafadlil-falati ^alal-halqah.

(Related by Ibn Hibban.)



This hadith means that the seven heavens in relation to the Kursiyy
are like a ring in a very big open space. Likewise, the Kursiyy in
relation to the Throne is like a ring in a very big open space. This
indicates the huge size of the Throne, which is now carried by four
(4) huge angels. It takes a fast bird seven hundred (700) years to
cover the distance between the ear lobe and the shoulder of any of
these four angels. On the Day of Judgment eight (8) angels will carry
the Throne.



The Throne is surrounded by angels. It is not a place for Allah,
because Allah is not a body in need of a place.



Imam ^Aliyy, may Allah raise his rank said:

إِنَّ اللهَ
خَلَقَ
الْعَرْشَ
إِظْهَاراً
لِقُدْرَتِه&#1\
616; وَلَمْ
يَتَّخِذْهُ
مَكَاناً
لِذَاتِهِ



Innallaha, ta^ala, khalaqal-^Arsha idh-haral-liqudratihi wa lam
yattakhidh-hu makanal-li Dhatih.

Which means: "Allah created the Throne as an indication of His Power;
He has not taken it as a place for Himself."