Which was created first, the heavens or the earth, along with the evidence?

The exegetes mentioned that the earth was created first, then the heaven, then the earth was flattened, spread out, and mountains, rivers, and trees were placed therein. Ibn Kathir said that this is like Allah's sunnah (way) in construction, which is to start with its lower parts then its higher parts. The proof for this lies in the noble verses in Surahs Fussilat and An-Nazi'at. The creation of the earth preceded that of the heaven, and the flattening and spreading of the earth occurred after the creation of the heaven. Ibn Abbas answered in agreement with this. Geologists believe that the earth was hot, then it cooled and its crust formed.