—it can denote nothing but creating, and functions only in the place of bringing something into existence; that meaning never departs from it. Likewise, when Allah uses the verb jaʿala with a sense other than creating, it is not creation, does not stand in the stead of creation, and its meaning remains fixed.

Among the verses in which Allah employs jaʿala with the meaning of creating is His statement:

“Praise be to Allah, who created the heavens and the earth and made darkness and light” (6:1)—that is, He created the darkness and the light.1

He also says, “and made for you hearing and sight” (16:78), meaning: He created for you hearing and sight.

And His words, “We made the night and the day two signs” (17:12), that is: We created the night and the day as two signs.2

He says as well, “and made the sun a radiant lamp” (71:16).

And: “It is He who created you from a single soul and made from it its spouse” (7:189), meaning: He created from it its spouse; He created Eve from Adam.

And His words, “and made for it firm mountains” (27:61), meaning: He created for it stabilising mountains. Many similar instances occur in the Quran, and every one of them carries nothing but the sense of creating.