Prophet Nuh (A.S.)
Quran References:
Prophet Nuh (AS) is mentioned in the Quran 43 times in the following Ayats:
(Quran, 3:33, 4:163, 6:84, 7:59, 7:69, 9:70, 10: 71-73, 11:25, 11:32, 11:36, 11:42, 11:45-46, 11:48, 11:89, 14:9, 17:3, 21:76, 22:42, 23:23, 23:39, 25:37, 26:105-106, 29:14-15, 33:7, 37:75, 37:79-81, 38:12-13, 40:5, 40:31, 42:13, 51:46, 53:52, 54:9, 57:26-27, 66:10, 71:1, 71:21)
Nuh (AS) is one of six Prophets who have Surahs in the Quran named after them.
The Idolatry of the People of Nuh:
For many generations, Nuh’s people would worship statues and they believed that these statues would bring them good and protect them from any evil. The statues would be made of righteous men who had previously passed away.
Originally, they were made as reminders of the people who died. However, as the generations passed, Shaytan corrupted their minds, informing them that their forefathers used to worship these statues, so the people followed this.
Prophet Nuh’s Call to Tawhid:
Prophet Nuh (AS) warned his people to refrain from worshipping anything other than Allah SWT alone and described the punishment that would come if they continued in their disbelief.
The warning of Nuh (AS) divided the people as the poor people believed in his message, but the rich and the powerful rulers rejected Nuh’s message.
The People accused Nuh (AS) of being a man just like themselves. (Quran, 11:27)
Prophet Nuh (AS) did not claim to be anything other than just a messenger of Allah SWT, but the rich and the powerful began to mock him and say: you are only being followed by the poor and the worthless.
The disbelievers told Nuh (AS) that they would only believe him if he dismissed his believers, the poor. They said: they are poor, while we are rich, no faith includes us both.
Despite this proposal, Prophet Nuh (AS) refused to do this.
The leaders of the city said: ‘Verily, we see you in plain error.’ (Quran, 7:60).
Nuh (AS) replied: ‘There is no error in me. I am a Messenger from the Lord of the Alamin, I convey to you the Messages of my Lord and give sincere advice to you. And I know from Allah what you know not.’ (Quran, 7:61-62)
Prophet Nuh (AS) continued to try to guide his people to the truth for many years. He showed them the signs of Allah SWT, but they would run away. When Nuh (AS) would tell them to repent to Allah SWT, they would put their fingers in their ears as they were too arrogant to listen to the truth.
Rejection and Mockery:
Prophet Nuh (AS) continued to call his people to Allah for 950 years.
This is mentioned in the Quran: ‘Indeed, we sent Noah to his people and he stayed among them a thousand years less fifty years.’ (Quran, 29:14)
As generations would pass, the disbelievers would continue to reject his call.
Prophet Nuh (AS) had seen that the number of his believers were not increasing, but the number of disbelievers were.
Allah SWT revealed to Nuh that there would be no other believers.
Prophet Nuh then prayed to Allah to destroy the believers and 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)
Allah’s Decree and the Ark:
Allah SWT accepted his prayer and instructed Nuh (AS) to build an ark.
‘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.’ (Quran, 11:37)
Prophet Nuh (AS) started to build an ark away from the sea and the people continued to mock him but Nuh replied: You will soon come to know who will be put to shame and suffer.
Allah SWT says in the Quran: ‘As he was constructing the ship, whenever the chiefs of his people passed by him, they made a mockery of him. He said: “If you mock us, so do we mock you likewise for your mocking. And you will know who it is, on whom will come a torment that will cover him with disgrace and on whom will fall a lasting torment.’ (Quran, 11:38-39)
The Flood:
When Allah SWT gave Nuh (AS) the sign of the flood, he rushed to the Ark with his believers. He also took animals, birds and insects on the ark.
The people witnessed this and they laughed at Prophet Nuh (AS).
Allah says in the Quran: ‘So it was till then there came Our Command and the oven gushed forth (water like fountains from the earth). We said: “Embark therein, of each kind two (male and female), and your family, except him against whom the Word has already gone forth, and those who believe. And none believed him except a few.’ (Quran, 11:40)
The Story of Nuh’s Wife and Son:
Nuh’s wife and son were not among the believers, so they did not enter the ark. Eventually, the flood killed all the disbelievers.
Allah SWT mentions the command of getting on the ark, and Nuh (AS) pleading with his son to join him in the following verses of the Quran:
“Embark therein in the Name of Allah will be its moving course and its resting anchorage. Surely, my Lord is Oft Forgiving, most Merciful.” So it (the ship) sailed with them amidst the waves like mountains, and noah called out to his son, who had separated himself (apart), “O my son! Embark with us and be not with the disbelievers.’
‘He (the son) replied: I will take myself to a mountain, it will save me from the water. noah then cried: “This day there is no saviour from the Decree of Allah except him on whom He has mercy.”
Prophet Nuh’s son was among the disbelievers who were destroyed by the flood along with Nuh’s wife.
Allah SWT says: ‘And a wave came in between them, so he (the son) was among the drowned.’ (Quran, 11:43)
Allah SWT mentions the plea of Prophet Nuh (AS) for his son.
Allah says in the Quran: ‘Noah called out to his Lord, saying: “My Lord! Certainly, my son is also of my family. Your promise is surely true, and You are the most just of all judges!” Allah replied: O noah! He is certainly not of your family – he was entirely of unrighteous conduct. So do not ask Me about what you have no knowledge of! I warn you so you do not fall into ignorance. noah pleaded: “My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking You about what I have no knowledge of, and unless You forgive me and have mercy on me, I will be of the losers.” (Quran, 11:45-47)
After the Flood:
Allah SWT mentions the Dua of Prophet Nuh (AS) in Surah Hud: ‘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 Zalimeen (polytheists, and wrongdoing)!” (Quran, 11:44)
The followers of Prophet Nuh (AS) and all the animals that accompanied him on the ark survived the flood and Allah SWT mentioned this in the following Ayats in the Quran:
And it was said: “O Noah! Come down (from the ship) with peace from Us and blessings on you and on the people who are with you (and on some of their offspring), but (there will be other) people to whom We shall grant their pleasures (for a time), but in the end a painful torment will reach them from Us.” (Quran, 11:48)
Final Advice:
On his deathbed, Prophet Nuh (AS) requested his son to worship Allah SWT alone.