It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the first thing Allah Almighty created was the Pen. Then He commanded it: "Write." The Pen asked: What shall I write? Allah said: "Write the decree (qadar)." So from that day, everything that is to happen until the Hour is established flowed (from the Pen). He said: And the Throne of Allah was upon the water. Then vapour rose from the water, from which the heavens were split apart. Then the fish (nun) was created, upon which the earth was spread out, and the earth is on the back of the fish. Then when the fish moved, the earth began to shake, so it was made firm by means of the mountains. That is why the mountains take pride over the earth. This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim), but they did not record it.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said concerning the saying of Allah, "Nun. By the Pen and what they inscribe": It means "what they write." This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim), but they did not record it.