An Allegation of Contradiction levelled against the Quran: Six oreight days?

The Heavens and Earth were Created in 6 Days but some Christian Missionaries seemto think the Quran contradicts Itself on this Fact. All these references from the HolyQuran show that the Heavens and the Earth were created in 6 days: 7:54, 10:3, 11:7,25:59, 32:4, 50:38, 57:4 and 41:9-12.The Christian missionary (or any other critic) agrees with all these references but one(41:9-12). The critic tries to put this reference forward as a contradiction. After simpleanalyses we realise the critic is completely wrong and is basing his/her allegationsolely on their own inadequate understanding of the verses in question.The Quran was revealed in the Arabic language and remains in the Arabic languagedespite it being translated in numerous other languages, English is one of theselanguages it has been translated in. The most popular English translation of the Quranis by Abdullah Yusuf Ali. Often, Christian missionaries and other critics of Islamutilize this translation when quoting from the Quran.However, on this occasion the critics do not utilize the Yusuf Ali Translation. This isvery interesting as this particular translation disproves their claims and clearly showsthat there in no contradiction contained within the Quran. The question that needs to be asked is; why would the critic of Islam depart from the most popular translation of the Quran on this occasion?The answer to this question may become apparent to the neutral observer during thecourse of this refutation. Without further delay allow us to move on to the Quranicverses that the critics allege to be contradictory.The Quran teaches, in numerous verses, that the Earth was created in 6 days. Thecritic would agree with this but they would allege that 41:9-12 teaches it was createdin 8 days, they come to this allegation as they incorrectly double count, this is provenwithin this article. In order to highlight the errors of the critic it requires us to quotethe English translation of the Quran, I will use Abdullah Yusuf Ali, and this is thetranslation of each verse (whatever is in the brackets is commentary for clarification purposes from me):41:9- Say: Is it that ye deny Him Who created the earth in two Days? And do ye joinequals with Him? He is the Lord of (all) the Worlds

.This is the initial creation of the Earth and the earlier stage of Creation and it lasted for two days. The next stage of the development of the Earth, as we know it, ismentioned in the next verse of the Quran.

41:10- He set on the (earth), mountains standing firm, high above it, and bestowed blessings on the earth, and measure therein all things to give them nourishment in due proportion, in four Days, in accordance with (the needs of) those who seek (Sustenance).

This is the next (last) stage of the Creation of the Earth and seems more like the finishing touches (i.e. adding’ mountains’, ‘blessings’ and ‘nourishment’) and this stage took four days while the initial stage took two days. Simple Mathematics tells us

that 4+2=6! Therefore it is clear that the duration of the Creation of the Earth is 6 days. The next verse is a further reference to the first two days but refers to the Heavens.

41:11- 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."

This verse refers to the ‘sky’ (Heavens) and teaches us that it was’ as smoke’ before itsCreation. It is clear that this verse is referring to a stage of Creation when the Earthhad not been completed as the Earth had not ‘come together’ with the sky at this stage. So, at this stage the Earth had not been finalised (fully created), therefore it isclear that the creation of the Heavens and the Earth are occurring simultaneously.The next verse mentions the Heavens.

41:12- So He completed them as seven firmaments in two Days, and He assigned toeach 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, Fullof Knowledge.

The Creation of the Heavens is completed in two days. These two days fall within the6 days that God used to create the Earth. This is clear as the Earth is not finalised whilst the Heavens were being Created. Therefore we can safely say that the Earthand the Heavens were created simultaneously. This follows modern scientificknowledge too.

So, it is clear that the Quran teaches 6 days for Creation. However, one may bewondering how the critics claim that the Quran teaches eight (8) days rather than six(6). The critic double-counts and confuses himself as he counts the two days that ittook for the Creation of the Heavens as extra days, thus adding these two days onto 6days, therefore the critic wrongly gets a total of 8 days. The error is committed by thecritic as the critic overlooks the fact that the Earth had not been fully formed whilstthe heavens were being created (i.e. both were being created at the same time). Inshort, the critic does not realise that the Creation of the Heavens and the Earth areCreated simultaneously. I hope they realise their errors after reading this article andGod-Willing they will correct themselves.This article does give me the chance to address deceptive methods used by somecritics and anti-Islamic websites (mainly produced by Christian missionaries). Asearlier stated in the article; Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s translation of the Quran into theEnglish language is commonly used but for these verses in question (41:9-12) manycritics and anti-Islamic websites break from the norm and use alternative translations.They do this as the first word in 41:11 is summa which can be translated into threedifferent English words:1.Moreover (Abdullah Yusuf Ali uses this word to translate summa)2.Then (the critics tend to use translations that use this word)3.Simultaneously