Ibn Kathir in his tafsir claimed earth was created first before the heavens. Isn't that a contradiction to science?

According to some accounts, Ibn Kathir believed that the earth was created before the heavens, based on his understanding of certain verses in the Qur'an. However, this belief is not necessarily in contradiction with modern scientific understanding, as the Qur'an is not a scientific text and does not provide a detailed description of the creation of the universe.  The Qur'an is a religious text that is concerned with spiritual and moral teachings, and it does not provide a comprehensive account of the scientific processes involved in the creation of the universe. As such, it is not intended to be a source of scientific information or to be used as a basis for scientific theories.  It is important to remember that the Qur'an is a religious text and should be interpreted and understood within its proper context. While it is possible to draw connections between the teachings of the Qur'an and scientific understanding, it is important to approach these connections with care and to avoid imposing a modern scientific understanding on the text.