THE EIGHTH DAY (Hereafter) 🎱

 🎱 THE EIGHTH DAY (Hereafter)

The Eighth Day: Cosmic Transition and Reflections on Surah Al-Haqqah, Verse 17

1. The Phases of Creation and the Cosmic Interpretation of Time

In many verses of the Qur’an, it is stated that the heavens and the earth were created in six “days” (Al-A‘raf 7:54; Hud 11:7; Qaf 50:38). The term “day” here, rather than referring to a 24-hour period, symbolizes cosmic eras and a gradual process of creation. In this context, the six days point to a planned and phased formation of the universe.

Following these six stages, the Qur’an describes the current state of the universe as a testing ground. This phase can be considered the seventh stage. It is a transitional period where human free will, moral responsibility, and testing come to the forefront. In this sense, the “seventh day” represents a time of waiting and trial—a phase where creation is complete, but the final outcome has yet to be revealed.

2. The Eighth Day: A New Layer of Existence

In the Qur’an’s descriptions of the Day of Judgment, it is frequently emphasized that the current order will come to an end and a new system of existence will begin. A symbolic expression of this transition appears in Surah Al-Haqqah, verse 17:

“That Day, eight (angels) will bear the Throne of your Lord above them.”

وَالْمَلَكُ عَلٰى أَرْجَآئِهَاۖ وَيَحْمِلُ عَرْشَ رَبِّكَ فَوْقَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ ثَمَانِيَةٌ

The expression “yawma’idhin” (that Day) always refers to a specific, defining “Day.”

Classical interpretations explain the “eight” as eight angels. However, in the symbolic or metaphysical interpretation (ishari meaning), this “eightfold structure” may represent a new cosmic stage following the process of creation—a phase we might call “the Eighth Day.”

With this perspective, the sequence of universal creation can be summarized as follows:

• Six stages: The phases of cosmic creation

• Seventh stage: The era of human trial, linked to free will and moral accountability

• Eighth stage: The beginning of a new order of existence initiated by the Day of Judgment

In this sense, “eight” may signify not only the bearers of the Throne but also the opening of a new cosmic order—the beginning of the realm of eternity.

3. The Bearing of the Throne and the Establishment of a New Order

In the Qur’an, the ‘Arsh (Throne) symbolizes God’s absolute sovereignty and the encompassing order of existence. The mention of the Throne being carried by eight in Al-Haqqah 17 may signify the establishment of a new ontological order.

These eight bearers may not only be angelic beings but could also represent divine attributes or universal principles such as:

• Mercy

• Justice

• Power

• Knowledge

• Wisdom

• Will

• Life

• Death

These principles might be interpreted as the foundational pillars of the post-apocalyptic cosmic structure.

4. “That Day”: The End of Time, The Beginning of Eternity

The recurring phrase “yawma’idhin – that Day” in the Qur’an does not refer to an ordinary temporal moment but to a moment of transcendence—a rupture from known time. This moment, which may be understood as the “Eighth Day,” marks the end of temporal reality and the beginning of eternal consciousness.

Therefore, Al-Haqqah 17 does not merely depict a scene of the apocalypse; it also signals the completion of the cycle of creation and the transition into a new dimension of reality.

Conclusion

Surah Al-Haqqah, verse 17, speaks not only of eight angels but symbolically announces a new phase of creation. It informs us that after six stages of creation and a period of testing, humankind is ushered into a wholly new realm of being—what might be termed “the Eighth Day.”

Thus, the number eight becomes a multilayered symbol—representing both the foundational elements of divine order and the beginning of eternal time.