What was the first of creation? Was it the 'ama' (a cloud-like mist), or water, or the Throne, or the Pen? Was the 'ama' created before the water of the Throne? Is water greater than the Throne? Does the 'ama' in the hadith, "Where was Allah before He created the heavens?" encompass Allah? And were the heavens created before the earth?

The first things God Almighty created were water, then the Throne, then the Pen, then the Earth, then the heavens. This does not contradict the priority of the creation of the Pen, because its priority relates to what issued from it in terms of writing, or to what is other than water and the Throne. The Earth was created first, without being flattened, then the heaven, then the Earth was flattened, meaning it was spread out. What is mentioned in the hadith, "He was in a mist, above which was air and below which was air, then He created His Throne upon water," does not mean that the mist surrounded God Almighty. Rather, it means "above," as in other verses. God Almighty is above His heavens, upon His Throne, distinct from His creation.