that offers better guidance than it—that He created the fundamental components of these existing, observable created things in six days, then rose over the Throne. He prescribed for the believers to assemble one day each week to worship Allah and solemnly observe that occasion, making it a reminder of the first week, in which Allah created the heavens and the earth.

Since the week became known only through the reports of the prophets, the names of its days appeared in their languages, peace be upon them. For naming follows the texts, and a name expresses what has been conceived. Since the day, the month, and the year could be conceived through reason, these notions were given names and expressed in words. As for the week, reason alone provides no means of knowing it; it became known only through revelation. Knowledge of it therefore belonged to those who received revelation transmitted from the prophets, rather than to others.

The prophets thus informed people about the creation of this existing, observable world, how its creation began, and that Allah created it in six days. As for what He created before that, one thing after another, this is comparable to what He will create after the Resurrection has taken place and the people of Paradise and the people of Hell have entered their respective dwellings. Such matters cannot be known in detail by His servants.

For this reason, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

“Allah’s Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, once stood among us and told us about the beginning of creation, all the way to the people of Paradise entering their dwellings and the people of Hell entering theirs.”

Narrated by al-Bukhārī. Thus, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, informed them about the beginning of creation through to the people of Paradise and Hell entering their respective dwellings.