In current cosmological models the universe was first both hot and dense with temperatures exceeding billions of degrees. In the first second after the Big Bang, as the universe cooled, elementary particles such as quarks and electrons were formed. It happened about 15 billion years ago. The scientists believe that the picture of the universe provided by the Big Bang is fairly accurate. This is what science or cosmology says about the creation of the universe. About its present position it is believed that it is still expanding. But there is no clear answer to the question whether the universe will expand forever or eventually will collapse.
Such enigmas are addressed by Islam. Let us see how the issue is treated by the Quran, which takes the question in all its comprehensiveness and addresses all its aspects -- i.e., creation, evolution, past, present, future, and its various systems.
Now we turn over the pages of the Holy Quran and see what it has to say on the subject. The Quran begins with the celebration that Allah is lord of all the worlds. It means the universe is not confined to earth and solar system, that there are other worlds and God has created all. Therefore he is exalted. The first thing regarding the creation of universe is that the universe is created by God. The following verses from the Holy Quran substantiate my point:
"To Him is due the primal origin of heavens and earth and when he decreeth a matter He saith it ‘be' and it is done." (Al-Bakara:117).
"Verily your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and earth in six days and is firmly established on the throne, regulating and governing all the things." (Younis:3)
"To Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and on the earth; to him do all questions go back." (Al-Imran:109)
There are many verses in the Holy Quran that clearly explain that the authority over the entire universe belongs to Allah, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He created the universe then made laws and systems. It is a fundamental belief of Islam because it saves humans from wild goose chases. Islam lays stress on its believers to think and ponder over the creation of God.
The following verse speaks to the issue of the creation of the universe and the earth:
"O, prophet how can they (unbelievers) negate Allah who created the earth in two days. He is the Lord of all the worlds . . . Moreover He comprehended in His design the sky. And it had been (as) smoke: He said to it and the earth come ye together willingly or unwillingly." (Rehman: 41)
According to standard Big Bang Theory, after the big bang when the universe was expanding, it was cooling as well. The cooling has caused the formation of different particles-matter formation. When the energy got sufficiently low, the particles like neutrons and protons combined to make primordial gases. These gases, due to anisotropy, started to concentrate in some regions of the universe, giving rise to the formation of galaxies and stars. This description of the creation of the universe is supported both by experimental discoveries and mathematical formulations.
The universe is expanding in vast space. Quran says:
"With power and skill did We construct the firmament; for it is We Who creates vastness of space." (Al-Zariat:47)
At another place the Almighty says:
"Blessed is He who made constellations in the skies and placed therein a lamp and a moon giving light." (Al-Furqan:61)
In 20th century philosophers began to speculate about the structure of the universe and galaxies. Now, after using giant telescopes, sophisticated instruments, and high speed computers, it is said that the universe is made up of thousands of millions of galaxies and constellations, but the Quran gave the vision through the unlettered prophet 1400 years ago; that is why the Quran says that there are signs for those who are wise, who think, ponder, and want to understand.
The Holy Quran explains the phenomena of time: "the number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve (in a year) so ordained by Him, the day He created the heavens and the earth." (Al-Tauba:30)
It clearly shows that the specification of time, length of days that we see today was created after the creation of earth and the solar system. How explicitly the time and space are mentioned in the Holy Quran.
The concepts of the movements of earth, the moon, position of the sun and stars and sky are also very explicitly clarified by the Quran.
The word "star" (nujm and najum) appears thirteen times in the Quran. On this subject there is one complete chapter (Al-Najm) in the holy book of Islam. Quranic words Najm and Kokab are translated by the scholars as stars and planets respectively.
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