(9–12) “Say: Do you indeed disbelieve in the One who created the earth in two days and set up rivals to Him? That is the Lord of all worlds. He placed firm mountains upon it, blessed it, and apportioned its sustenance in four full days, for those who inquire. Then He turned to heaven while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, ‘Come, willingly or unwillingly.’ They replied, ‘We come willingly.’”

Allah Most High denounces and expresses astonishment at the disbelievers’ disbelief in Him. They set up rivals alongside Him, associate them with Him, devote to them whatever acts of worship they please, and equate them with the mighty Lord, the noble Sovereign, who created the solid, immense earth in two days. He then spread it out in two days by placing firm mountains upon it, anchoring it against displacement, trembling, and instability.

Thus He completed its creation, spread it out, and brought forth its sustenance and everything attendant upon that “in four full days, for those who inquire” about it. None can inform you like the All-Aware. This is the truthful account, containing neither excess nor deficiency.

“Then,” after creating the earth, “He turned”—that is, He proceeded—“to” the creation of “heaven while it was smoke” that had risen over the surface of the water. “And He said to it.” Since singling it out might suggest that the command applied to it alone, He joined the earth to it by saying, “and to the earth, ‘Come, willingly or unwillingly.’” That is: Submit to My command, willingly or under compulsion, for it must inevitably be carried out. “They replied, ‘We come willingly’”: We have no will that opposes Yours.