Between Revelation and Science: An Interpretation of the Hadith “Allah Existed, and there was nothing before Him” and the Origin of the Universe

The noble Prophetic Hadith narrated by Imam Al-Bukhari and Muslim in their Sahih collections represents a firm theological and scientific foundation. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah existed and there was nothing before Him (in another narration: other than Him; in another: with Him). And His Throne was over the water.” This noble text does not only establish the oneness and eternity of the Creator, but also opens vast horizons for understanding the gradual creation of the universe. This aligns remarkably with the most advanced findings of modern science in two pivotal stages:

Stage One: The Big Bang and the Beginning of Universal Creation
This stage embodies the beginning of creation from a material “nothingness,” which is the precise meaning established by the first part of the Hadith: “Allah existed and there was nothing before Him.”

The Perspective of Revelation: The Hadith establishes that Allah (the Almighty) existed in His eternity, and there was no other created being with Him—no time, no space, and no matter. This is the moment of absolute “non-existence” regarding anything else, where the divine command was issued to begin creation.

The Perspective of Science: This corresponds with the “Big Bang” theory. Modern science indicates that the entire universe began from a point of infinite smallness and density which exploded, and with it, the universe began to expand, creating time, space, and matter. The attached images illustrate this concept under the title “The First Axis: Beginning of the Universe,” clearly indicating that this moment is the start of the gradual material creation after there was no material thing before it.

Stage Two: The Formation of Earth and the Prior Existence of Water
This stage moves to the gradual creation of celestial bodies, specifically planet Earth, focusing on the role of water, which is referred to in the second part of the Hadith: “And His Throne was over the water.”

The Perspective of Revelation: The Hadith indicates the existence of an early creation before the creation of the heavens and the earth, which is “water,” as the Throne of the Most Merciful was upon it. This means that water, as a created element, preceded the existence of stars and planets, including Earth and the Solar System. This is supported by the words of Allah: “And He is who created the heavens and the earth in six periods—and His Throne was over the water” (Surah Hud: 7).

The Perspective of Science: The “Second Axis” in the images, titled “Creation of Earth and the Prior Existence of Water,” refers to a stunning scientific fact recently confirmed (as shown in the link at the bottom of the images): the water we drink on Earth is older in its formation than the Solar System and the Sun itself. Studies suggest that these water molecules formed in a pre-solar cloud before matter gathered to form the Sun and the planets. This precise alignment—between the Hadith placing water before the creation of the Earth and science proving Earth’s water is older than the Solar System—is one of the brilliant aspects of scientific miracle (I’jaz).

Conclusion
Reading this great Prophetic Hadith in the light of contemporary scientific discoveries only increases a believer’s certainty in the truth of this revelation. It brought forth cosmic facts 1400 years ago that minds and technologies have only reached recently. It is a harmony that reinforces the belief that the Creator of the universe is the same One who sent down this revelation, so that His book and the Sunnah of His Prophet ﷺ remain a proof for all of humanity in every time and place.

Note:
❌ There is not a single piece of direct evidence for Multiverses (no image, no direct observation of another universe).
❌ There is not a single experiment we can conduct today to reach “another universe.”

The multiverse is a failed attempt by some atheist physicists to divert people’s attention from the greatness of the Creator in creating and sustaining this universe, which is subject to precise calculations; if any small part of them were disturbed, the universe would not continue. Glory be to Him who is the Originator of the heavens and the earth, and the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth.

From the book: “Forty Hadiths on Scientific Miracles” by Dr. Mohamed Bourehab, President of the International Organization of Scholars of Scientific Miracles.