Tafsir of Al-Furqan 25:59

{In six days}: Meaning, in a duration the measure of which is this duration, for there was neither day nor night at that time. It is said: six days from the days of the Hereafter, each day being a thousand years. The apparent meaning is that they are from the days of this world. Mujāhid said: The first of them is Sunday, and the last is Friday. The explanation for this is that God designated those days—measured by this duration—to His angels by these names; then, when He created the sun, set it in motion, and ordered the affairs of the world as they are, the naming continued for these days.

As for the motive behind this specific number—the six—rather than any other, we do not doubt that it is a motive of wisdom, for we know that He does not ordain anything except by a motive of wisdom, even if we do not perceive it or find the way to know it. Examples of this include the number of the keepers of the Fire (nineteen), the bearers of the Throne (eight), the months (twelve), the heavens and the earths (seven each), the prayers (five), and the numbers set for rituals, legal limits, and expiations. Acknowledging the motives of wisdom in all His actions, and that what He has ordained is truth and correctness, is faith. He explicitly stated this in His saying: {And We have not made the keepers of the Fire except angels...} (al-Muddaththir: 31), then He said: {And none knows the soldiers of your Lord except Him} (al-Muddaththir: 31). This is also the answer as to why He did not create them in a single moment, despite being capable of doing so. Sa‘īd ibn Jubayr (may God be pleased with them both) said: He created them in six days, though He is capable of creating them in a moment, to teach His creation gentleness and deliberation. It is also said: Their creation was completed on Friday, so God made it a festival for the Muslims.

{The Most Merciful}: "Who created" is the subject (mubtada’), and "The Most Merciful" is its predicate (khabar). Or, it is an adjective for "The Ever-Living" (al-Ḥayy), and "The Most Merciful" is the predicate of an omitted subject. Or, it is a substitute (badal) for the hidden pronoun in "He established Himself" (istawā). It has been recited as al-Raḥmāni (in the genitive case) as an adjective for "The Ever-Living."

{So ask about Him}: It has been recited as fas’al (ask). The bā’ in bihi (about Him) is a connector for sal (ask), similar to the Almighty’s saying: {A questioner asked about a punishment bound to happen} (al-Ma‘ārij: 1). Just as it can be connected with ‘an (about) in expressions like: {Then you will surely be asked that day about the pleasure} (al-Takāthur: 8). So, fas’al bihi is like saying: "He took interest in it," "He cared for it," or "He was occupied with it." Sa’ala ‘anhu (asking about him) is like saying: "He searched for him," "He investigated him," or "He inquired about him."

Alternatively, it is a connector for khabīran (one well-acquainted): you make khabīran the object of sal, meaning: "Ask a knowledgeable man about Him, and he will inform you of His mercy," or "Ask a man who is well-acquainted with Him and His mercy." Or, you make it: "Ask by means of asking one who is well-acquainted," like saying: "I saw a lion by means of him," meaning: "by seeing him." The meaning is: "If you ask him, you will find him well-acquainted." Or, you make it a state (ḥāl) for the pronoun in bihi, meaning: "Ask about Him from one who is knowledgeable of everything."

It is said: al-Raḥmān (The Most Merciful) is one of the names of God mentioned in the previous scriptures, and they (the polytheists) did not know it. So it was said: "Ask about this name from those who can inform you among the People of the Book, so that those who deny it may come to know it." From there, they used to say: "We do not know al-Raḥmān except the one in al-Yamāmah," referring to Musaylimah. He used to be called: "The Raḥmān of al-Yamāmah."

{And when it is said to them, "Prostrate to the Most Merciful," they say, "And what is the Most Merciful? Should we prostrate to that which you order us?" And it increases them in aversion.}