Surah al-Furqan (The Criterion ) 25 : 59

Explanatory Note

Within the same context of God’s limitless knowledge and His power to grant reward and inflict punishment, the sūrah mentions the facts that He is the One who has created the heavens and the earth, and established Himself on the Throne:

The days in which God created the heavens and the earth are certainly different from our earth days. For our days are only a product of the solar system, measuring a celestial cycle that came into existence after the creation of the heavens and the earth. Our days are equivalent to the time the earth rotates in its position relevant to the sun. Besides, creation does not require more than God should will something to exist. This is given the verbal symbol ‘Be’, and whatever is intended comes into existence. Perhaps these six days, whose measure is known only to God, refer to long stages that brought the heavens and the earth to their present status.

That God is ‘established on the throne’ refers to His being the Almighty who controls everything in the universe. The Arabic text uses the conjunctive word, thumma, which means ‘then’, after it mentions the creation of the heavens and the earth and before it refers to God being on the throne. However, this does not signify a chronological order. It only indicates the superiority of this lofty status.

Together with God’s greatness, control and might comes His all- encompassing mercy, and with it is joined His absolute knowledge: “The Most Merciful. Ask, then, about Him, the One who knows everything.” Thus, when you put your request to God, you are putting it to the One whose knowledge includes everything anywhere in the universe.