The
accounts of the flood in the Jewish and Christian traditions acknowledge Noah
as being a righteous man in a world crushed under the weight of sin and
disbelief. The Quran and the sayings of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy
and blessings of Allah be upon him, teach us that Prophet Noah was a beacon of
hope among the descendants of Adam 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. Noah was a calm, patient man who called his
people to return to the worship of the One True Allah. He was an
exceptional speaker, enjoining those around him to leave the worship of idols,
and to hear his warning of a terrible punishment for those who venerated idols
and statues.
“And indeed We sent Noah to his
people and he said O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Allah
but Him.” (Quran 23:23)
Noah
narrated stories 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 Who owned heaven and earth, and he pointed out the wideness and
beauty of the earth. Noah 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, not false deities. When Noah began
to speak of the punishment that awaited idolaters, his people became resentful
and angry.[1]
How
Idolatry Began
Prophet
Muhammad informed us that there were ten generations between Prophets Adam and
Noah.[2] We know that this was a very large period of time, as Noah
himself lived over a century, and people before lived even longer.
In
those years, between Adam and Noah there were generations of people that
remembered the laws taught by Adam and worshipped Allah correctly. The
years passed and the people forgot; at times, the righteous men amongst them
reminded the people of their obligations to Allah. As time continued to
move on, the righteous men began to die, and Satan came whispering to the
people who had looked up to them, putting thoughts into their minds in his sly,
cunning way.
Satan
inspired the good people to make statues of the righteous men. In this
way, Satan said, they would remember the righteous people and thus remember to
worship Allah. The good people built statues in their meeting places and
their homes, and Satan left them alone until everyone had forgotten the reason
the statues existed. Many years later, the devious Satan appeared amongst
the people again, this time suggesting that they worship the idols directly.
An
authentic narration of Prophet Muhammad sums up the beginning of idolatry in
the following way. Ibn Abbass, a close companion of the Prophet Muhammad
said:
“The names (of the idols)
formerly belonged to some pious men of the people of Noah, 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.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)
Noah’s
Call
The
word Prophet (Nabi in Arabic) is derived from the
word Naba, meaning
news. Revelation is given by Allah and, in turn, the Prophet spreads the
news amongst his people. A Messenger, on the other hand, is sent with a
specific mission, usually to convey a new ordainment from Allah. Every
Messenger is a Prophet, but every Prophet is not a Messenger.[3] Since
this was mankind’s first deviation from the correct worship of Allah as taught
by Prophet Adam, Allah, in his infinite Kindness and Mercy, fulfilled His
promise to Adam to send messengers as guidance for mankind. Allah sent
Noah, the first of His Messengers.[4] Abu
Hurairah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad said:
“On the day of Judgement, the
people will come to Noah and say ‘Oh Noah, you are the first of the Messengers
sent to earth, and Allah called you a thankful slave.’”(Saheeh Al-Bukhari)
Worshipping
anything other than Allah has grave consequences, the least of which is a lack
of freedom; for Satan enslaves man, destroys his mind and renders him unable to
distinguish between right and wrong. When Noah warned his people of the
torment that awaited them if they did not give up their idolatry, his warning
fell mostly on deaf ears. Noah explained Satan’s deceit, but his people
turned away and refused to listen. Noah warned them day and night; he
announced his message in public and he spoke quietly to people privately; yet
all, but a few, denied his words. Noah cried out to Allah.
“He said: ‘O my Lord!
Verily, I have called my people night and day (secretly and openly to accept the
doctrine of Islamic Monotheism), but all my calling added nothing but to their
flight from the truth. Verily! Every time I called unto them that
You might forgive them, they thrust their fingers into their ears, covered
themselves up with their garments, and persisted (in their refusal), and
magnified themselves in pride.” (Quran 71:5-7)
Those
who responded to Noah’s call were the weakest and poorest of his people; the
leaders and those with power responded arrogantly and rejected the call.
They said:
“Verily we see you in plain
error” (Quran 7:60)
Noah
continued to appeal to his people, day after day and year after year. For
950 years he endured their taunts and mockery.
Noah
continued to appeal to his people and they became divided into two
groups. His words spoke to the heart of the weak, poor, and oppressed,
but the wealthy influential people distrusted those words and could think only
of the possible erosion of their power and status. A war of words began
between Noah and the disbelievers. They accused Noah of being nothing but
any other human, of being nothing special. Noah agreed with this
observation and said that, indeed, he was only a human being, but one who
brought a clear warning. And Allah, the Almighty told us:
“Indeed We sent Noah to his
people (he said): ‘I have come to you as a plain Warner that you worship none
but Allah, surely, I fear for you the torment of a painful Day.’ The
chiefs of the disbelievers among his people said: ‘We see you but a man like
ourselves, nor do we see any follow you but the meanest among us and they too
followed you without thinking. And we do not see in you any merit above
us in fact we think you are liars.’” (Quran 11:25-27)
Noah
explained to his rebellious people that they would receive benefits by turning
to Allah and begging His forgiveness. He (Allah) would bestow rain on
them, as well as children and wealth, He would grant them bounteous gardens and
flowing rivers. However, the disbelievers rebuffed his words; they felt
secure in their arrogance and pride.
The
Conflict Intensified
Those
against Noah and his call began to bargain with him. They told him, that
these two diverse groups, the meek and poor and the rich and powerful, could
not exist together in the same faith. Although continuously taunted and
bullied by the disbelievers, Noah reacted in a kind gentle manner. He
explained that he would never turn away the humble and weak believers who had
heeded his call. These people, he would inform them, were the guests of Allah.
Noah appealed to his people. He tried to reason with them and make them
see the reality of their situation. Without personal gain and with a
humble but heavy heart Noah refuted their arguments.
“O my people! I ask of
you no wealth for it; my reward is from none but Allah. I am not going to
drive away those who have believed. Surely, they are going to meet their
Lord, but I see that you are a people that are ignorant. O my
people! Who will help me against Allah if I drove them away? Will
you not then give a thought? And I do not say to you that the Treasures
of Allah are (only) with me or that I know the unseen, nor do I say I am an
angel; and I do not say that Allah will not bestow any good on those whom your
eyes look down upon. Allah knows what is in their inner selves (in regard
to Belief). In that case, I would indeed be among the unjust.” (Quran
11:29-31)
The
disagreements continued until the disbelievers had run out of arguments.
They mocked Noah and the believers, but Noah continued to deliver his
message. Finally, he could bear no more and turned to Allah with
heartfelt supplication. Noah did not run out of patience; he remained a
patient, kind and gentle man. But he had come to realise that the
disbelievers would do nothing but spread corruption and disbelief throughout the
land. They would mislead and corrupt the believers and deliver a legacy
of disbelief to their children. Noah prayed to Allah. He said:
“My Lord! Leave not one
of the disbelievers on the earth. If you leave them, they will mislead
Your slaves and they will beget none but wicked disbelievers.” (Quran 71:27)
So Allah
accepted Noah’s prayer.
The
Ark
Allah
instructed Noah to build the ark and passed judgement on the disbelievers in
the form of a flood.
“And construct the ship under
Our Eyes and with Our Inspiration and address Me not on behalf of those who did
wrong; they are surely to be drowned.” (Quran11:37)
Noah
chose a place outside the city and far away from the sea to build his ark.
The disbelievers mocked and laughed, making comments about the ship’s location,
far from any water source. The disbelievers had no comprehension of the
power and magnificence of Allah, so they could not understand why Noah would
build a ship, on the top of a hill, far away from the ocean. They called
him crazy and laughed out loud. The ship began to take shape and when it
was finished, Noah patiently waited for the command from Allah.
“Until when Our Command came
and the lowlands gushed forth, overflowing, We said: ‘Load it with two of
each kind of animal (male and female), and embark your family, except against
whom the Word has already gone forth, and those who believe.’ And none
believed him except a few.” (Quran 11:40)
When
the water started to gush from the earth and fall from the sky, Allah
instructed Noah to enter the ark with his family and the believers. Allah
also commanded Noah to take a pair (male and female) of every animal, bird and
insect with him. The disbelievers watched him incredulously, asking what
he intended to do with all the animals.
Noah’s
wife did not join him, for she had never believed in the message that Noah had
been preaching; nor did his oldest son, who preferred to flee to a high
mountain. The scholars of Islam hold different opinions about the number
of people on the ark, but the highest estimate is 80. As the believers
and animals entered the ark, the water gushed from every crack in the earth,
and the rain fell from the sky in quantities never seen before. Hour
after hour the water levels rose, and the seas and rivers invaded the land.
The believers
entered the ark in the name of Allah, just as Muslims today begin everything
they do, in the name of Allah.
“Embark therein; in the Name of
Allah will be its course and its anchorage. Surely, my Lord is Oft
Forgiving, most Merciful. So it sailed with them amidst waves like
mountains...” (Quran 11:41)
Noah
had built the ark according to Allah’s instructions, from planks and nails, and
it kept the believers safe from the deluge of rain and from the water gushing
out of the earth. Then the earth’s interior moved in unusual ways, and
the bottom of the oceans rose in sudden bursts causing waves to flood the
earth. These waves, as big as mountains, submerged everything; they
lifted up the ark, making it appear as fragile as a matchbox tossed in the
ocean. This construction, made of wood, became a ship of safety and
security, for its passengers had true belief and trust in Allah.
From
his secure place on the ark, Noah could see one of his sons overwhelmed by the
water. Noah cried out to his son, imploring him to come aboard the ark
and to leave the non-believers to their fate. The son, however, was
thinking in terms of this world, and not with heartfelt trust in Allah.
He replied that he would take himself to a mountain, never imagining that waves
could swallow a mountain. Noah pleaded with his son saying “nothing can
save you on this day except the mercy of Allah”. The son refused, and
he drowned.
“And Noah called out to his
son, who had separated himself (apart), ‘O my son! Embark with us and be
not with the disbelievers.’ The son replied, ‘I will betake myself to a
mountain; it will save me from the water.’ Noah said: ‘This day there is
no saviour from the Decree of Allah except him on whom He has mercy.’ And
a wave came in between them so he (the son) was among the drowned.” (Quran
11:42-43)
The Flood Ends
“‘O Earth! Swallow up
your water, and O sky! Withhold (your rain).’ The water was
diminished (made to subside) and the Decree (of Allah) was fulfilled (the
destruction of the people of Noah). And it (the ship) rested on Mount
Judi, and it was said: ‘Away with the people who are wrongdoing.’” (Quran
11:44)
Unlike
Christian and Jewish traditions Islam, does not mention Noah sending a bird
(neither a dove nor raven) to search for dry land. Rather, at Allah’s command,
the rain stopped and the water ceased to gush from all the cracks in the
earth. Calm returned and the sun began to shine. The flood had
cleansed the earth of idolatry and disbelievers. Not a single person who
had disbelieved in Allah remained on the earth. The earth swallowed up
the water and the ark rested upon Mt. Judi (what is believed to be in present
day Turkey).
Noah
was a Prophet and leader of men, but he was also a father. He turned to Allah
with sadness and cried,
“O my Lord! Verily my son
is of my family! And certainly your promise is true and you are the Most
Just of the judges.” (Quran 11:45)
Noah
remembered that Allah had promised to save his family. Noah did not doubt
the word or promises of Allah, but he wanted to understand. Thus Allah
taught Noah a lesson.
As
human beings we use words to mean certain things, but Allah can often give them
new, more comprehensive meanings. For instance, the word prayer
originally meant making supplication to Allah, but Islam came and gave it new
meaning – it became the ritual prayer preformed five times a day. When we
use the word family, we think of blood ties and relationships, and Noah was
imploring Allah that his son was of his family. Allah told Noah that his
son was definitely not part of his family because he was
unrighteous. True family are the righteous believers in Allah.
“He said: ‘Oh Noah!
Surely, he is not of your family; verily, his work is unrighteous, so ask not
of Me that of which you have no knowledge! I admonish you, lest you be
one of the ignorants.’” (Quran 11:46)
Noah
understood. He said;
“O my Lord! I seek refuge
with You from asking from You that of which I have no knowledge. And
unless You forgive me and have Mercy on me, I would indeed be one of the
losers.” (Quran 11:47)
Noah
released the animals, the birds and the insects and they scattered over the earth.
Noah and his family (the believers) disembarked, whereupon Noah touched
his head to the ground in prostration. At this point the Quran and the
narrations of Prophet Muhammad leave the story of Noah. We do not know
how his affairs with his people continued, nor do we know what happened to his
family. All we can ascertain is that on his death bed Noah drew his sons
close to him and called on them to worship One Allah: The Creator and Sustianer
of the Universe.
Prophet
Muhammad said:
“When the death of the
Messenger of Allah, Noah, approached, he admonished his sons: ‘Indeed I would
give you far reaching advice, commanding you to do two things, and warning you
against doing two things as well. I charge you to believe that there is
no Allah 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 Allah but Allah” were put on
the other, the latter would outweigh the former. I warn you against
associating partners with Allah and against pride.” (Sahih al Bukhari)
Most of Noah's people rejected his message, but the message
survives in the hearts and minds of Muslims to this day. The comforting words,
and the hopes of salvation Noah conveyed to his sons while on his death bed,
remain part of a Muslim's belief and confirm his attitude towards Allah.
For the Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon him,
also told us that Allah undertakes a covenant with the believers: If we do not
worship other Allahs beside Allah, then He will not refuse us heaven.