The Beginning of Creation. Water is The First Creature

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم

Praise be to God the Creator of the world, the One Who exists without beginning, without end, without location, without a “how” and Who does not depend on time. Nothing resembles Him in anyway and He hears and sees everything without organs. Whatever you imagine, God is different from that. May the elevation in degree and preservation of his community of what he fears for it, be granted to our master Muhammad Al-'Amin, the Honest One, who called for following Islam, the religion of truth, the religion of all the Prophets: of the First, Adam, to the last Muhammad.

Allah created the heavens, the earths, and the mountains.

Allah created the rivers and the seas.

Allah created the sun, the moon, the stars, and the planets.

Allah created the shrubs, the trees, the humans, and the animals.

The first thing Allah created was water. It is above the heavens. Then Allah created the Grand `Arsh.

The `Arsh is a platform with pillars. It is the largest of the bodies that Allah created, and it is the ceiling of Paradise.

Allah is the Creator of everything and He doesn't need any thing.

The First Human Being, Our Master Adam.

After Allah had created the heavens, the earths, the angels, the jinn, the trees, the birds, and the animals, Allah created our master Adam from soil.

First Creation: Water

When Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, was asked how this universe started to exist, he said:

« كان الله ولم يكن شىء غيره وكان عرشه على الماء وكتب في الذكر كل شىء ثم خلق السماوات والأرض »

(kâna l-Lâhu wa lam yakun chay'un ghayruhu wa kâna `archuhu `ala l-mâ'i wa kataba fi dh-dhikri kulla chay'in thumma khalaqa s-samâwâti wa l-'arD)

Which means: « 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.

Allâh, ta`âlâ, 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

Innallâha ta^âlâ khalaqa kulla shay'in mina l-mâ'

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 Throne al-`Arsh:

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 السَّمَوَاتُ السَّبْعُ فِي جَنْبِ الْكُرْسِيِّ إِلاَّ كَحَلَقَةٍ فِي أَرْضٍ فَلاَةٍ وَفَضْلُ الْعَرْشِ عَلَى الْكُرْسِيِّ كَفَضْلِ الْفَلاَةِ عَلَى الْحَلَقَةِ

Ma s-samâwatu s-sab^u fi jambil-Kursiyyi illâ kahalqatin fi arDin falâh. Wa faDlul-^Arshi ^alal-Kursiyyi kafadlil-falâti ^alal-Halaqah. [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 لِقُدْرَتِهِ وَلَمْ يَتَّخِذْهُ مَكَاناً لِذَاتِهِ

Innallâha, ta^âlâ, khalaqal-^Arsha iDh-hâran liqudratihi wa lam yattakhidh-hu makânan li dhâtih

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

The Upper Pen & the Guarded Tablet

After Allah created the water and the Throne, He created the Upper Pen, then the Guarded Tablet, and then the rest of the creations.

The Upper Pen and the Guarded Tablet: It was narrated in the description of the Guarded Tablet that it is a white pearl and its edge is made of red ruby. Its width is the traveling distance of five hundred (500) years.

Allah ordered the Pen to write. The Pen wrote, by the Will of Allah, without anyone holding it. It wrote on the Guarded Tablet what was and what will be in this life until its end. Fifty thousand (50,000) years after this event, Allah created the heavens and Earth in six (6) days. No person is born and no drop of water falls except in accordance to what was written in the Guarded Tablet.

The seven Earths

The Earth that we are on is one of seven (7) Earths that Allah created ; it is also the highest one. Each Earth is separated from the other. In the seventh Earth there is a place called Sijjin. The souls of the blasphemers go there after their bodies decay, until the Resurrection (Ba`th). Hellfire (Jahannam) is under the seventh Earth. It is the fire with which Allah threatened the blasphemers and sinners among His slaves. Allah created this Earth during the first two days.

The Seven Heaven

After Allah created the Earth, He created the seven heavens. Each heaven is a solid body that is held up without any pillars. The heavens are separated. From one heaven to the other is a distance of five hundred (500) years, and every heaven has a gate.

The first heaven is so far away from the Earth. Some people are unable to encompass this to the extent that they believe that the space which contains the stars and planets is the entire universe. They also falsely believe that it extends without an end. There is no point to their claims, because Allah told us in the Qur’an and the Prophet also informed us in his Hadith what is contradictory to their claims. Paradise exists above the seventh heaven.

After the creation of the seven heavens, Allah created what is on the Earth: rivers, trees, mountains, and the like.

Adam the first Human

Allah then created Adam on the last and sixth day, which was Friday. Adam was the last kind of the creation, humans. He is the first of the prophets. Allah created him from clay after it was mixed with water from Paradise. From his left rib, Allah created Lady Eve (Hawwa'). Angels, jinn, and animals were created before Adam.

The prophet Adam was the first human.

Adam was the first of the prophets and messengers.

Allah created Adam without a father or a mother.

Allah created the angels from light. They are the inhabitants of the seven heavens.

Allah created the jinn from fire. The father of the jinn is Iblis.

Paradise

Allah created Adam in Paradise.

Paradise is above the seven heavens.

Paradise is very big.

Paradise is very beautiful.

Paradise has many trees, rivers, and birds with beautiful sounds. It has all what one would like.

Paradise and Hell

Allah prepared Paradise for the believers who followed the prophets (may peace be upon them) and believed them. The pious believers will enter Paradise on the Day of Judgment without punishment.

Also Allah created Hell for the sinners and the blasphemers who belied the prophets and did not follow Islam the true Religion. The blasphemers will enter Hell on the Day of Judgment and they will never go out of it.

The prophet Adam Lived in Paradise

Adam (may peace be upon him) lived in Paradise 130 years, eating from its fruits ; drinking from its rivers of water, honey, and milk ; and living in it enjoyably without getting sick, tired, or sad.

Lady Hawwa' (Eve)

After a period of time Allah created a wife for our master Adam. Her name was Hawwa' .

She lived a kind and peaceful life with Adam in Paradise.

She loved her husband and he loved her.

The prophet Adam Was Beautiful

The prophet Adam was beautiful. He was tall, with an upright body. He was not like the animals that walk on four legs. He was not ugly.

Hawwa' was beautiful also. She was tall, with an upright body. She was not ugly.

Adam and Hawwa' were not naked. They used to wear clothes.

Adam and Hawwa' and Their Descent to Earth

After Adam and Hawwa' lived in Paradise for a long period, Allah made them descend to earth.

Adam and Hawwa' gave birth to many children.

Adam and Hawwa' started to build and construct things such as homes.

All of their children were Muslim ; none of them was a blasphemer.

The Religion of Adam and Hawwa' is Islam

Adam and Hawwa' were Muslim. Each of them loved and worshipped Allah. They used to pray, fast, and go to Hajj (pilgrimage).

Adam and Hawwa' had good manners.

Good manners are for one to bear the nuisance of others, and to be good to people when talking to them and when dealing with them, whether or not they treat one likewise.

Our Master Adam is a Prophet and a Messenger

When Adam (may peace be upon him) came down to earth, Allah made him a prophet and a messenger to his wife and offspring, to teach them Tawhid and the prayers.

Tawhid is to know what attributes befit Allah and to know the difference between the Creator and the created things.

He taught them the basis for good behavior, truthfulness, trustworthiness, and sincerity.

An example of good behavior is to be trustful in dealing and not to cheat.

An example of trustworthiness is if someone put money with another person to safe keep it, that person would give it back.

Sincerity means to be obedient (which means to obey Allah's orders) hoping for reward from Allah and not seeking to please people.

The prophet Adam was eloquent

Our master Adam spoke all languages.

Adam was eloquent.

He had a beautiful voice.

He knew the names of everything.

Allah, the Exalted, said in the Qur'an:

﴿ وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الْأَسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا ﴾

This Ayah means: « and Allah created in Adam the knowledge of the names of everything. »

The prophet Adam used to talk with his children with clear words and not with signs.

The prophet Adam knew all the names of the creations such as the name of the sky, the earth, the sea, the air, the angel, the jinn, and the like.

The prophet Adam Plants and Harvests.

Allah created in our master Adam the knowledge of the matters of earning a living.

Allah created in Adam the knowledge of how to make the instruments for planting, like a shovel and a sickle.

Allah created in Adam the knowledge of how to plant seeds, vegetables, and fruits, and how to harvest.

Allah created in Adam the knowledge of how to make bread out of wheat, and Adam used to make it well.