Science - Creation of the Earth in 6 eons

Scientifically, the formation of Earth unfolded over six distinct periods, beginning approximately 4.6 billion years ago: 

1.    Hadean Eon (4.6–4.0 Ga): Earth's formation, intense meteorite bombardment, and the emergence of a primitive crust.

2.    Archean Eon (4.0–2.5 Ga): The first stable continents formed, and life began with simple microorganisms.

3.    Proterozoic Eon (2.5 Ga–541 Ma): Oxygen accumulated in the atmosphere, leading to early multicellular life.

4.    Paleozoic Era (541–252 Ma): Explosion of marine life, evolution of vertebrates, and the first land animals and plants.

5.    Mesozoic Era (252–66 Ma): Age of dinosaurs, the rise of mammals, and the breakup of supercontinents.

6.    Cenozoic Era (66 Ma–Present): Mammals and birds dominate, human evolution unfolds, and Earth’s climate continues to shift.

Qur'an - Creation of the Earth in 6 eons

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وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ وَمَا مَسَّنَا مِن لُّغُوبٍ

“We created the heavens and the earth and all between them in Six Days (eons),

nor did any sense of weariness touch Us.”  50:38

In the Holy Qur’an, the repeated mention of various elements—dust (تُرَابٍ), sounding baked clay (صَلْصَالٍ كَالْفَخَّارِ), water (الْمَاء), wet clay (طِينٍ), sticky clay (طِينٍ لَّازِبٍ), dark smelly slime (حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ), and extract of clay (سُلَالَةٍ مِّن طِينٍ)— when describing the creation of man has always been a profound mystery. Why does God use these specific words repeatedly? Is there a deeper significance behind them?

One  - Earth was formed by space dust 4.6Ga years ago during the Hadean Period. Therefore, one can say that everything on Earth has originated from “dust” or “dirt”. That includes plants, animals, humans, etc.)!  ​The Holy Qur'an states that humans were created from dust.

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِن كُنتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ مِّنَ الْبَعْثِ فَإِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن تُرَابٍ...

“O Mankind! if you have a doubt about the Resurrection, (consider) that We created you out of dust,…” 22:5

Two - The Holy Qur'an also mentions that we were created from (صَلْصَالٍ كَالْفَخَّارِ ) meaning “baked clay that becomes brittle and produces a crackling sound when stepped on”.  That mirrors the geological state of early Earth remarkably well. During the Hadean period, Earth was essentially a molten sphere, continuously reshaped by volcanic activity. As the crust began to solidify, lava hardened into rock, forming the first primitive landmasses. The dried lava, with its brittle and fractured surface, would indeed exhibit that crackling sound—a striking parallel to the Qur’anic phrase.

 
خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِن صَلْصَالٍ كَالْفَخَّارِ

“He created man from ˹sounding˺ clay like pottery” - 55:14

Three - The massive impact that led to the Moon’s formation is thought to have also contributed significantly to Earth’s water supply, either by releasing trapped water from Earth’s interior or by delivering additional water-rich material from space. Scientifically, water is a fundamental component of life, making up a major percentage of the human body. The Qur’anic reference to human creation from water (الْمَاء) aligns beautifully with the biological reality that life itself emerged from water and continues to depend on it. It’s intriguing to consider whether this verse is pointing to both the material composition of humanity and the origins of life on Earth. 

وَهُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ مِنَ الْمَاء  بَشَرًا...

“It is He Who has created man from water…” - 25:54

Once the water appeared on the planet, it was mixed with clay. This is what is referred to as wet clay (طِينٍ) in the Holy Qur’an.
 

الَّذِي أَحْسَنَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقَهُ وَبَدَأَ خَلْقَ الْإِنسَانِ مِن طِينٍ

“He Who has made everything which He has created most good: 
He began the creation of man with (nothing more than) wet clay” - 32:7

Four -   Earth was bombarded by space objects for millions of years. The heavy bombardment finally ended 4.0 billion years ago at the end of Hadean Period. During this period, some parts of the Earth were covered by wet clay (طِينٍ) and were pounded by space objects. Pounding and bombardment of wet clay causes it to become sticky like the ancient method of constructing primitive huts by pounding the wet clay. The Holy Qur’an uses the word “sticky clay” (طِينٍ لَّازِبٍ) to describe this material. 

فَاسْتَفْتِهِمْ أَهُمْ أَشَدُّ خَلْقًا أَم مَّنْ خَلَقْنَا إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاهُم مِّن طِينٍ لَّازِبٍ

“Just ask their opinion: are they more difficult to create, or the (other) beings We have created?

We created them out of a sticky clay!” - 37:11

Five - During the Archean Period (3.0Ga years ago), bodies of liquid formed on Earth. The liquid was a mixture of water and various elements such as Sulfur. The Earth didn’t have any Oxygen yet and there was less than 70% sunlight. The bodies of liquids resembled smelly stagnant pools without Oxygen and the material in them resembled a smelly dark sludge or slime. The Holy Qur’an states: “dark smelly sludge”

(حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ) that had originated from “dried up clay” (صَلْصَالٍ). The sticky clay produced in step 6 remained under this liquid for millions of years! 

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلاَئِكَةِ إِنِّي خَالِقٌ بَشَرًا مِّن صَلْصَالٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ

“Behold! your Lord (Allah) said to the angels: "I am about to create man, from sounding clay, dark smelly slime;” - 15:28
 

قَالَ لَمْ أَكُن لِّأَسْجُدَ لِبَشَرٍ خَلَقْتَهُ مِن صَلْصَالٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ

(Iblis said) "It is not for me to prostrate myself before mortal man whom You have created out of

 sounding clay, out of dark smelly slime!" - 15:33

Six -   By 2.3Ga years ago, Earth had gone through Snowball periods. The atmosphere and sunlight were perfect. Oceans contained water. Ice began melting and dry land started appearing on Earth. Around 650Ma years ago, the water contents and minerals in it were perfect to kickstart living micro-organisms. The minerals dissolved in water (soup of life) is referred to as “extract of clay” (سُلَالَةٍ مِّن طِينٍ) in the Holy Qur’an. Once again water plays its key role in the creation.

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِن سُلَالَةٍ مِّن طِينٍ

“We created man from an extract of wet clay;” - 23:12

As you can see, the known six eons in the development of the Earth and living things match the terms that the Holy Qur’an uses to describe the components and stages of human body!