Stories of the Prophets
Nuh (AS)
(September 11, 2020)
الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على سيد المرسلين وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين
In the last session on Sept 4, there was a discussion about the death of Adam (AS), and the stories of his successors, Prophets Sheeth (AS) and Idrees (AS).
The next Prophet to be sent to the earth was Nuh (AS). It is said that there were ten generations between Adam (AS) and Nuh (AS). He was sent in an era where sin and lawlessness had overtaken the people. Mankind had been one community believing in the Oneness of Allah, but confusion and deviation had crept in over a period of time. We have this ayah in Surat al-Baqarah, which says: Mankind was a single community, then Allah sent prophets to bring good news and warning, and with them He sent the Scripture with the Truth, to judge between people in their disagreements.”(al-Baqarah, 2:213).
Beginning of Idolatry
In the years between Adam (AS) and Nuh (AS), there were generations of people that remembered the laws taught by Adam (AS), and worshipped Allah alone. A hadith sums up the beginning of idolatry in the following way. Ibn Abbas (RA), a close companion of the Prophet Muhammad said: “The names (of the idols) formerly belonged to some pious men of the people of Nuh, and when they died Satan inspired their people to prepare and place idols at the places where they used to sit, and to call those idols by their names. The people did so, but the idols were not worshipped till those people (who initiated them) had died and the origin of the idols had become obscure, whereupon people began worshipping them.”
They called out to the idols to meet their needs and fulfill their wishes, to cure their sick and so on. This was the beginning of shirk (polytheism) in the practices and beliefs of mankind. Some of the names of these idols are mentioned in Surat Nuh in the Qur’an:
وَقَالُوا لَا تَذَرُنَّ آَلِهَتَكُمْ وَلَا تَذَرُنَّ وَدًّا وَلَا سُوَاعًا وَلَا يَغُوثَ وَيَعُوقَ وَنَسْرًا
“They said, ‘Do not leave your gods; do not leave Wadd or Suwa, or Yaguth, or Ya’uq, or Nasr.” (Nuh, 71:23)
Then there came a time when, besides one man, every human on earth was engaged in shirk. This man was Nuh ibn Laamit the great grandson of Idrees (AS). He was neither the leader of the tribe nor a very rich man but, even before being called to prophethood, he worshiped Allah faithfully and was, in the words of the Qur’an,
إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَبْدًا شَكُورًا
“Truly he was a thankful servant.” (al-Isra’, 17:3)
Allah (SWT) in His mercy sent Nuh (AS) as a messenger to guide his people. Nuh (AS) was an excellent speaker and a very patient man. He called his people to return to the worship of the One True Allah and to abandon the worship of anything besides Allah. When he began to warn of the punishment that awaited the disbelievers, his people got divided into two groups. His words touched the hearts of the weak, the poor and the miserable. As for the rich, the strong, the mighty and the leaders, they looked down upon his warning with distrust. They believed that they would be better off if things stayed as they were. They started to accuse Nuh (AS). The Qur’an tells about their chiefs as saying:
“…We see you but a man like ourselves. We do not see that anyone follows you but the lowliest of us, and they followed you without thinking, and we do not see in you any merit above us, in fact we think you are liars.” (Hud, 11:27)
Thus the conflict between Nuh (AS) and the heads of his people intensified. The disbelievers began to bargain. They said that they were ready to listen to his message on the condition that he chased away all the low class people from his followers. Nuh realized that they were obstinate. However, he was gentle in his response. The Qur’an reports his as saying: “O my people, I do not ask you for any wealth for this; my reward comes only from Allah. I will not drive away those who believe; they shall surely meet their Lord. Yet I see that you are a people who act out of ignorance. And O my people! Who would protect me from Allah if I were to drive them away? Will you not take heed?” (Hud, 11:29)
Nuh (AS) refuted the arguments of the disbelievers with his prophetic knowledge. He narrated stories to his people about the mysteries of life and the wonders of the universe. He described how the day, which gives sunlight and activity, followed the night that gives coolness and rest. He spoke of Allah, the Divine Creator to Whom belonged the heavens and the earth. He explained that the creation of the world was for the well being of mankind; but that man also had an obligation to understand this and direct his worship to Allah, and not to false deities. He also explained to them Satan’s deceit, but his people turned away and refused to listen. Nuh (AS) warned them day and night. He announced his message in public and he also spoke privately to people. Those who responded to his call were the weakest and poorest of his people. The leaders and those with power responded arrogantly and rejected the call. They said:
أَنُؤْمِنُ لَكَ وَاتَّبَعَكَ الْأَرْذَلُون
“Are we to believe in you when your followers are but the lowest of the low.” (ash-Shu’ara, 26:111)
The Qur’an states that Nuh (AS) bprayed to Allah, telling Him that his preaching only made his people disbelieve further. He told Allah how they had closed their minds to accepting the message. He told Allah how he had used all the resources, conveying the message both in public places and with individuals in private. He spoke of how he had told the people the rewards they would receive if they became righteous, namely that Allah would supply plentiful rain as a blessing, and that Allah would also guarantee them an increase in children and wealth.
Nuh (AS) worked very hard and exerted great effort in calling his people towards Allah Alone. He spent years warning his people of a punishment that was to come if they would not turn back from shirk that they were practicing. He reminded them about the history of the statues that had been made into idols, and how Shaytan had taken them astray by deceit. He reminded them of the gifts of Allah. Yet the disbelievers began to mock Nuh (AS) and said: “Oh Nuh, you have argued with us and prolonged your argument so bring us that which you have promised us if you are truthful.” (Hud, 11:32)
Nuh (AS) said that if Allah wills He is the one who will bring about what he had warned them off. He told his people, to prepare their army and the partners that they had associated with Allah, and to come forward to kill him, and that they will not be spared. His people were afraid to do this so they backed out. Years passed. He continued to appeal to his people, day after day and year after year, inviting them to believe in the oneness of Allah. For 950 years he endured their taunts and mockery.
Each generation that came was worse in transgression and arrogance than the previous one. Yet he never relented nor did he allow them to dictate to him according to their whims and fancies. He knew if he threw out the weak believers solely to please them, they will make more conditions and further demands. He cried out to Allah saying: “My Lord! I have called my people night and day. But my calling only drove them away. And whenever I invite them to be forgiven by You, they press their fingers into their ears, cover themselves with their clothes, persist ˹in denial˺, and act very arrogantly.” (Nuh, 71:5-7)
Nuh (AS) saw that the number of believers was not increasing while that of the disbelievers was increasing. He was sad for his people but be never reached to the point of despair. There came a day when Allah revealed to Nuh that no others would believe. Allah inspired him not to grieve for them, at which point Nuh prayed that the disbelievers be destroyed. He said: “My Lord, leave not a single disbeliever to dwell upon the earth. Surely, if You leave them, they will mislead Your servants and they will beget none but wicked disbelievers.” (Nuh, 71:26-27)
Allah told Nuh (AS): “Build an ark through our guidance and assistance and do not say anything to me about those who have oppressed for they will all be drowned.” (Hud, 11:37)
Nuh (AS) chose a place outside the city, far from the sea. He did not know how to build an ark. He was neither a ship builder nor a carpenter. Allah sent Jibril (AS) to guide him in this regard. The wooden planks were not available so Allah ordered him to plant trees. When one tree grew long enough he cut it and took it to start making the ark. Each time he returned after fitting a tree with nails to the ark, he would find that the next tree was ready. As he returned to the ark each time with his plank of wood he would find that it would just fit into the previously placed plank in the ark.
The people’s mockery continued. “O Nuh! Does carpentry appeal to you more than prophethood? Why are you building an ark so far from the sea? Are you going to drag it to the water or is the wind going to carry it for you?” Nuh replied: “You will come to know who will be put to shame and suffer.”
It is reported that the ark took almost 100 years to build, was 510 feet long and 50 feet high. Allah had given Nuh (AS) a sign which meant that the floods were drawing near. He was commanded that when the water gushes out of the hot earthen oven near his house, he should take his believing family members, the other believers, and a pair (male and female) of every type of animal, bird and insect. Seeing him taking these creatures to the ark, the people laughed out loudly saying: “Nuh must have gone out of his head. What is he going to do with the animals?”
According to some narrations the number of believers was only eighty. The Qur’an states that Nuh’s wife was not a believer, so she did not join him; neither did one of Nuh’s sons, who was secretly a disbeliever but had pretended faith in front of Nuh. So, they too with the other disbelievers did not go on board. To those who boarded the ark, Nuh (AS) told them to recite:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ مَجْرَاهَا وَمُرْسَاهَا إِنَّ رَبِّي لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيم
“In the name of Allah it shall sail and anchor. My Lord is most forgiving and merciful.” (Hud, 11:41)
This is a dua in the Qur’an, and we are encouraged to recite when boarding any conveyance. Another Prophetic dua we are taught to recite is:
سُـبْحانَ الّذي سَخَّـرَ لَنا هذا وَما كُنّا لَهُ مُقْـرِنين، وَإِنّا إِلى رَبِّنا لَمُنـقَلِبون
“Glory to the One who subjugated this conveyance for us whereas we had no power over it. Certainly we are going to return to our Lord.”
So, the sky literally opened up with a downpour of rain and water which was underground gushed out. Nuh (AS)’s son who had disbelieved, told his father that he would not join them. Nuh (AS) pleaded with him saying that nothing would remain on earth unless Allah willed. The son said that he will save himself from the floods by climbing up a mountain, never imagining that waves could swallow a mountain too. Nuh pleaded with his son saying: “Nothing can save you on this day except the mercy of Allah”.
The son refused, and got drowned. Nuh (AS) called out to Allah asking Him about his son, saying that Allah had promised to save his entire family. Allah responded saying, “He is not from your family.” This was because of his disbelief and rejection of Allah’s message.
Nuh (AS) suddenly felt he had committed a grave sin. It was disrespect to ask Allah about His Divine Decisions. This is why Nuh (AS) immediately asked for forgiveness saying, “Oh Allah! I seek Your Protection from asking You that which I have no knowledge about and if you do not forgive me and have Mercy upon me, I will be from amongst the losers”.
From this we learn that guidance is in the Hands of Allah. If the family members or relatives of a pious man have rebelled, it does not reduce his rank and status in any way. Though he is ordered to make every effort to convince his family members to accept the guidance, he cannot impose guidance upon them. Even in the case of the Prophets, it is Allah who grants guidance to their followers and not the Prophets themselves. They are only ordered to convey the message of guidance. This is why we must constantly call out to Allah Almighty to guide us, our families, and our offspring.
The waters from the sky and the earth met together and destroyed everything. All life was destroyed and nothing remained. Whilst the floods were going on outside, those inside the ark remained safe. Allah then ordered the earth to swallow its water and the sky to withhold, in order to stop the flooding. Slowly the water began to subside. Allah ordered Nuh (AS) to dock saying that he will be granted Allah’s Protection and Blessings. The ark was anchored on Mount Judi. Where it is we don’t know. Some people say that it is in Turkey but that is not proven by any authentic narration. Allah knows best!
Nuh (AS) and his people disembarked from the ark. There was no life on earth at all. When Nuh (AS) and his followers stepped out together with the other animals and creatures, they were the only creatures existing at that time. They multiplied and spread across the world over a period of time. This is why Nuh (AS) is known as the “second father of man” or the “second Adam” or the “closest common forefather” of man.
We learn from a prophetic tradition that when the death of Nuh (AS) approached, he admonished his sons saying: “Indeed I would give you far-reaching advice, commanding you to do two things, and warning you against doing two as well. I charge you to believe that there is no god but Allah and that if the seven heavens and the seven earths were put on one side of a scale and the words: “There is no god but Allah” were put on the other, the latter would outweigh the former. And I warn you against associating partners with Allah and against pride.”
That is the story of Nuh (AS). May Allah give us the tawfiq to take useful lessons from it; Allahumma Ameen.
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Resources and References:
Imam Ibn Kathir – Stories of the Prophets
Mufti Menk – Lessons from the Stories of the Prophets in the Qur’an (https://muslimahlifestyle.com/lessons-stories-prophets-quraan-mufti-menk-creation-of-aadam-as/)
Anwar Al-Awlaki – The Lives of the Prophets (https://www.kalamullah.com/anwar-alawlaki.html)
Aisha Stacey – The Religion of Islam (islamreligion.com)
