Signs of the Quran - Astronomy

Universe & Space - Age

"We created the heavens and the earth and all between them in Six Days nor did any sense of weariness touch Us."

Surah Qaf Surah 50 Ayah 38

"Say: Is it that ye deny Him Who created the earth in two Days? And do ye join equals with Him? He is the Lord of (all) the Worlds.

He set on the (earth) Mountains standing firm high above it and bestowed blessings on the earth and measured therein all things to give them nourishment in due proportion in four Days in accordance with (the needs of) those who seek (sustenance).

Moreover He Comprehended in His design the sky and it had been (as) smoke: He said to it and to the earth: "Come ye together willingly or unwillingly." They said: "We do come (together) in willing obedience."

So He completed them as seven firmaments in two Days and He assigned to each heaven its duty and command. And We adorned the lower heaven with lights and (provided it) with guard. Such is the Decree of (Him) the Exalted in Might Full of knowledge"

Surah Ha-Mim Surah 41 Ayah 9-12

Scientists estimate the age of the earth to be 4 billion + years (see figure below) and they the age of the universe to be 14 billion years (see John Gribbin, "The Birth of Time", Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1999, page 201).

The relation between the formation of the earth and the universe in the Quran is the same as estimated by scientists. This is 14 : 4 = 7 : 2 , an exact time plan of creation which harmonises with the modern scientific point of view. There is a clear indication in the verses S50:A38 and S41:V9 that there has been a timeframe of creation and formation of the earth, its atmosphere and the universe.

14 billion years are to be seen as a week and 2 billion years as one day in order to be able to understand these two verses and the fact that they harmonise with astronomy today. The age of the earth is slightly higher because the last Billion years are the stage after the completion of the creation of the earth and the time span of the biological evolution of multi-cellular organisms. The figure above indicates the estimated age of the Earth to be approximately 4.6 Billion years and the Precambrian to have ended about 700,000 Million years ago. The creator is still guarding and causing evolution and mutations to happen. Creation and evolution are different words for the same process.