His words, “He created the heavens and the earth in six days, then rose over the Throne” [al-Aʿrāf 54], imply that He rose over the Throne after creating the heavens and the earth. He did not mention creating it at that time. Had He created it then, He would have mentioned its creation followed by His rising over it. His mentioning His rising over it without mentioning its creation is evidence that it had already been created.

Moreover, the Book, the Sunnah, and the agreement of Muslims and the People of the Book establish that creation took place in six days. Allah Most High says:

“It is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days—and His Throne was upon the water—to test you as to which of you is best in deeds.” [Hūd 7]

He thus states that He created the heavens and the earth in six days and that His Throne was then upon the water. In the Sahīh, it is narrated from ʿImrān ibn Husayn that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Allah existed, and nothing else existed. His Throne was upon the water. He wrote everything in the Record, then created the heavens and the earth.”