Biblical Vs. Qur'anic Creation Story - From A 12 Year Old's Perspective

"Indeed, within the heavens and earth are signs for the believers. And in the creation of yourselves and what He disperses of moving creatures are signs for people who are certain [in faith]. And [in] the alternation of night and day and [in] what Allah sends down from the sky of provision and gives life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and [in His] directing of the winds are signs for a people who reason" (Qur'an, 45:3-5).

This creative tree is a project my young brother made (and asked me to finish) for his Religious Studies subject. Taking Biblical verses, he portrayed a generic Christian understanding of the order in which God made the universe, according to Genesis.

What's interesting is the similarity to the Islamic creation story. The Qur'an describes Allah's creations in His words, which Muslims believe as the ultimate truth and original creation narration.

This is a visual comparative story of the origin of the universe, as understood and studied by my brother.

DAY 1

 

Big Bang in The Qur'an
When describing the creation of the "heavens and the earth," the Qur'an supports the theory of a "Big Bang" explosion at the start of it all. In fact, the Quran says that "the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them"(Qur'an, 21:30). After this big explosion, Allah "directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke."

He said to it and to the earth: 'Come [into being] together, willingly or by compulsion.' They said: 'We come (together) in willing obedience'" (Qur'an, 41:11). So these elements and what was to become the planets and stars began to cool, come together, and form into shape, following the natural laws that Allah made in the universe. (About Islam)

"And it is He who created the night and the day and the sun and the moon; all [heavenly bodies] in an orbit are swimming." (Qur'an, 21:33).

The Bible
God created the sun, moon, and the stars to give light to the earth and to govern and separate the day and the night. These would also serve as signs to mark seasons, days, and years.

'In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.'

'Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.'

'And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.' Genesis 1:1-3

DAY 2
 

Life Came From Water
The Quran describes that Allah "made from water every living thing" (Qur'an, 21:30).

Another verse describes how "Allah has created every [living] creature from water. And of them are those that move on their bellies, and of them are those that walk on two legs, and of them are those that walk on four. Allah creates what He wills. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent." (Qur'an, 24:45).

These verses support the scientific theory that life began in the Earth's oceans.






The Bible
'And God said, "Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water." Gen 1:6
'God called the vault "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning--the second day. And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so.' Gen 1:8-9

DAY 3

The Qur'an
'[It is He] who has made for you the earth as a bed [spread out] and inserted therein for you roadways and sent down from the sky, rain and produced thereby categories of various plants.' (Qur'an, 20:53)

The Bible
'God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good. Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so.' Gen 1:10-11

DAY 4

The Qur'an
'Blessed is He who has placed in the sky great stars and placed therein a [burning] lamp and luminous moon.' (Qur'an, 25:61)

'The sun and the moon [move] by precise calculation,And the stars and trees prostrate. And the heaven He raised and imposed the balance' (Qur'an, 55:5-7)

The Bible
'And God said, "Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. God made two great lights--the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.' Gen 1:14-16
'And there was evening, and there was morning--the fourth day.' Gen 1:19

DAY 5

 

The Qur'an
'And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows its place of dwelling and placeof storage. All is in a clear register.' (Qur'an, 11:6)

'And there is no animal that walks upon the earth nor a bird that flies with its two wings but (they are) genera like yourselves; We have not neglected anything in the Book, then to their Lord shall they be gathered.' (Qur'an, 6:38)

The Bible
'And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky." Gen 1:20

'God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.' Gen 1:25

Day 6

The Bible
According to the Bible, God created the animals to fill the earth. On day six, God also created man and woman to commune with him. He gave them every creature and the whole earth to rule over, care for, and cultivate.

'Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."' Gen 1:26

The Qur'an
The Quran describes how Allah created Adam: "We created man from sounding clay, from mud moulded into shape..." (15:26). And, "He began the creation of man from clay, and made his progeny from a quintessence of fluid" (32:7-8). Thus, human beings have a fundamental attachment to the earth.

While the creation of Eve is not described in detail, the Quran does make it clear that a "mate" was created with Adam, from the same nature and soul. "It is He Who created you from a single person, and made his mate of like nature, in order that he might dwell with her in love" (7:189). She is not mentioned by name in the Qur'an, but in Islamic tradition she is known as "Hawwa" (Eve).

Day 7

According to the Bible, God had finished his work of creation and so he rested on the seventh day, blessing it and making it holy: 'By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.' Gen 2:2

The Qur'an
After completing the Creation, the Quran describes that Allah "settled Himself upon the Throne" (57:4) to oversee His work. A distinct point is made to counter the Biblical idea of a day of rest: "We created the heavens and the earth adn all that is between them in six days, nor did any sense of weariness touch Us" (50:38).

Allah is never "done" with His work, because the process of creation is ongoing. Each new child who is born, every seed that sprouts into a sapling, every new species that appears on earth, is part of the ongoing process of Allah's creation. "He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then established Himself on the Throne. He knows what enters within the heart of the earth, and what comes forth out of it, what comes down from heaven, and what mounts up to it. And He is with you wherever you may be. And Allah sees well all that you do" (57:4).
(About Islam)

Duas and salam,
From Seyaab, Zaufishan's brother.

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- A Christian Reaffirmed My Muslim Faith
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