Is There a Contradiction in the Two Sahih Reports on Creation?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Question
One narration describes creation as occurring from Sunday to Friday, while a narration in Sahih Muslim from Abu Hurayra states that it began on Saturday.
How can these accounts be reconciled, and how does the Quran’s reference to “six days” relate to them?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful and Compassionate
May Allah reward your careful inquiry; such questions strengthen faith rather than undermine it.
Two considerations address this issue: the implications of the rank of the two Sahih collections, and the assessments of hadith scholars regarding this specific report.
What the Rank of Bukhari and Muslim Means — and What It Does Not
The two collections hold the highest rank among hadith books. As Ibn al-Salah puts it:
وَكِتَابَاهُمَا أَصَحُّ الْكُتُبِ بَعْدَ كِتَابِ اللهِ الْعَزِيزِ
“Their two books are the most authentic books after the Book of Allah Almighty.” [Ibn al-Salah, Ulum al-Hadith, ed. Nur al-Din Itr] The Muslim community received these works with acceptance (talaqqi bi’l-qabul), which elevates what both authors agreed upon to the level of certainty.
However, this acceptance pertains to the authentic Prophetic material contained within the collections.
The hadith masters themselves identified a few narrations in Sahih Muslim as defective, reflecting the rigorous standards that established the collections’ esteemed status.
The Defect in the “Saturday” Report
The narration in [Muslim] reads:
خَلَقَ اللهُ التُّرْبَةَ يَوْمَ السَّبْتِ، وَخَلَقَ فِيهَا الْجِبَالَ يَوْمَ الْأَحَدِ
Imam Bukhari flagged its defect in al-Tarikh al-Kabir:
وَقَعَ الْغَلَطُ فِي رَفْعِهِ وَإِنَّمَا هُوَ مِنْ قَوْلِ كَعْبِ الْأَحْبَارِ … لِأَنَّ اللهَ أَخْبَرَ أَنَّهُ خَلَقَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ، وَهَذَا الْحَدِيثُ يَتَضَمَّنُ أَنَّ مُدَّةَ التَّخْلِيقِ سَبْعَةُ أَيَّامٍ
“The error lies in raising it to the Prophet; it is in fact the statement of Ka‘b al-Ahbar … for Allah informed us He created the heavens and earth and what is between them in six days, whereas this report implies seven.” [al-Bukhari, al-Tarikh al-Kabir, related in Ibn Kathir, Tafsir]
Ali ibn al-Madini concurred, and Ibn Kathir summed up:
هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ مِنْ غَرَائِبِ صَحِيحِ مُسْلِمٍ، وَقَدْ تَكَلَّمَ فِيهِ الْبُخَارِيُّ وَغَيْرُهُ وَجَعَلُوهُ مِنْ كَلَامِ كَعْبِ الْأَحْبَارِ
“This report is among the anomalies of Sahih Muslim; Bukhari and others discussed it and held it to be the speech of Ka‘b al-Ahbar.” [Ibn Kathir, Tafsir]
Busr ibn Sa‘id further explained the origin of the confusion: students in Abu Hurayra’s circle occasionally confused his reports from Ka‘b with those he narrated from the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).
How the Scholars Reconcile Sound Reports
When two authentic reports appear to conflict, scholars apply the discipline of mukhtalaf al-hadith in a specific order: confirm authenticity, attempt reconciliation, consider abrogation, assess which narration is stronger, and, if necessary, suspend judgment.
Sound narrations are not dismissed without due consideration. In this case, however, there is no genuine conflict, as the “seven-day” report is defective.
Where the “Six Days” Fit
The Quran establishes the period of creation as six days [Quran 7:54; 41:9–12], and the term “day” (yawm) refers to a span of time whose duration is known only to Allah.
Regarding the concept of vast ages, revelation neither confirms nor denies a specific timeframe.
It is not necessary to align scriptural texts with scientific chronology, nor to reject what is definitively established. Islamic creed is based on certainties and remains open regarding matters left unspecified by revelation.
And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani
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Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a recognized specialist scholar in the Islamic sciences, having studied under leading scholars from around the world. He is the Founder and Executive Director of SeekersGuidance.
Shaykh Faraz stands as a distinguished figure in Islamic scholarship. His journey in seeking knowledge is marked by dedication and depth. He spent ten years studying under some of the most revered scholars of our times. His initial studies took place in Damascus. He then continued in Amman, Jordan.
In Damascus, he was privileged to learn from the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas. Shaykh Adib al-Kallas was renowned as the foremost theologian of his time. Shaykh Faraz also studied under Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi in Damascus. Shaykh Hassan is recognized as one of the leading Hanafi jurists of our era.
Upon completing his studies, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in 2007. His return marked a new chapter in his service to the community. He founded SeekersGuidance. The organization reflects his commitment to spreading Islamic knowledge. It aims to be reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible. This mission addresses both online and on-the-ground needs.
Shaykh Faraz is also an accomplished author. His notable work includes “Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School.” This book, published by White Thread Press in 2004, is a significant contribution to Islamic literature.
His influence extends beyond his immediate community. Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been recognized as one of the 500 most influential Muslims. This recognition comes from the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center. It underscores his impact on the global Islamic discourse.
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani’s life and work embody a profound commitment to Islamic scholarship. His teachings continue to enlighten and guide seekers of knowledge worldwide.
