to combine two mutually contradictory claims (1) in the innate dispositions and minds of people, so long as they have not been altered (2) from their original nature.

For this reason, the Messengers’ mere statement that Allah created the heavens and the earth, and other such statements, was sufficient to establish that they had come into existence. They did not also need to say:

“He created them after (3) their nonexistence.”

Instead, they were informed (4) of the time of their creation, as in the words of Allah Most High:

“He created the heavens and the earth in six days.”

[Surah Yunus: 3]

Since man knows that he was created after not existing, he was reminded of this so that he might take it as evidence of the Creator’s power to alter (5) the customary order. For this reason, Allah Most High mentions it in connection with the creation of John son of Zechariah [peace be upon him] (6), and with the second (7) creation. Allah Most High says:

“O Zechariah, We give you glad tidings of a son whose name is John—a name We have given to no one before. He said, ‘My Lord, how can I have a son when my wife is barren and I have reached extreme old age?’ He said, ‘So shall it be. Your Lord says: “It is easy for Me, for I created you before, when you were nothing.”’”

[Surah Maryam: 7–9]

[And Allah Most High says:

“Man says, ‘After I have died, shall I really be brought forth alive?’ Does man not remember that We created him before, when he was nothing?”] (8)

[Surah Maryam: 66–67]

Thus He reminded man of what he already knows—that He created him when he was nothing—so that he might infer from this His power to do the same again, as well as what is easier still.