 |
| Story of prophet Noah (A.S.) |
Variation on the Birth of Noah
He was Noah Ibn Lamik, Ibn Mitoshilkh, Ibn Enoch, Ibn yard, Ibn Mahlabeel, Ibn Qinan, Ibn
Anoush, Ibn Seth, Ibn Adam the Father of Mankind (PBUH). According to the history of the
People of the Book, (refers to the Jews, and Christians, so called by Allah because they received
Revealed Books, Taurat, Zabur and Injeel. These names are translated 'Torah, Psalms, and
Gospels' respectively, but the books that are extent are corrupt. Of the Revealed Books, ONLY
the Quran remains exactly as it was revealed).
The period between the birth of Noah and the death of Adam was 146 years. (According to
Genesis 5 (new Revised Standard Version), Noah was born one hundred and twenty six years
after the death of Adam. Ibn Abbas narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "The
period between Adam and Noah was ten centuries." (Sahih Bukhari, Noah was born 1056 years
after Adam's creation (or after he left the Garden of Eden). Thus, this hadith does not contradict
the previous statement from the People of the Book as it may first appear to do. The reader
should keep in mind, however that any statement or narratives taken from the People of the Book
are not necessarily credible. This was taken from Genesis 5).
Noah's People - Idolaters
For many generations Noah's people had been worshipping statues that they called gods. They
believed that these gods would bring them good, protect them from evil and provide all their
needs. They gave their idols names such as Waddan, Suwa'an, Yaghutha, Ya'auga, and Nasran,
(These idols represented, respectively, manly power; mutability, beauty; brute strength, swiftness,
sharp sight, insight) according to the power they thought these gods possessed.
Allah the Almighty revealed:
"They (idolaters) have said: "You shall not leave your gods nor shall you leave Wadd, nor
Suwa, nor Yaghuth, nor Ya uq nor Nasr (names of the idols)." (CH 71:23 Quran).
Originally these were the names of good people who had lived among them. After their deaths,
statues of them were erected to keep their memories alive. After sometime, however, people
began to worship these statues. Later generations did not even know why they had been erected;
they only knew their parents had prayed to them. That is how idol worshipping developed. Since
they had no understanding of Allah the Almighty Who would punish them for their evil deeds,
they became cruel and immoral.
Various Hadith describing the Origin of Idolatry
Ibn Abbas explained: "Following upon the death of those righteous men, Satan inspired their
people to erect statues in the places where they used to sit. They did this, but these statues were
not worshiped until the coming generations deviated from the right way of life. Then they
worshipped them as their idols."
In his version, Ibn Jarir narrated: "There were righteous people who lived in the period between
Adam and Noah and who had followers who held them as models. After their death, their friends
who used to emulate them said: 'If we make statues of them, it will be more pleasing to us in our
worship and will remind us of them.' So they built statues of them, and , after they had died and
others came after them, Iblis crept into their minds saying:'Your forefathers used to worship them,
and through that worship they got rain.' So they worshipped them."
Ibn Abi Hatim related this story: "Waddan was a righteous man who was loved by his people.
When he died, they withdrew to his grave in the land of Babylonia and were overwhelmed by
sadness. When Iblis saw their sorrow caused by his death, he disguised himself in the form of a
man saying: 'I have seen your sorrow because of this man's death; can I make a statue like him
which could be put in your meeting place to make you remember him?' They said: 'Yes.'
So he made the statue like him. They put it in their meeting place in order to be reminded of him.
When Iblis saw their interest in remembering him, he said: 'Can I build a statue of him in the home
of each one of you so that he would be in everyone's house and you could remember him?'
They agreed. Their children learned about and saw what they were doing. They also learned about
their remembrance of him instead of Allah. So the first to be worshipped instead of Allah was
Waddan, the idol which they named thus."
The essence of this point is that every idol from those earlier mentioned was worshipped by a
certain group of people. It was mentioned that people made picture sand as the ages passed they
made these pictures into statues, so that their forms could be fully recognized; afterwards they
were worshipped instead of Allah.
It was narrated that Umm Salmah and Umm Habibah told Allah's Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
about the church called "Maria" which they had seen in the land of Abyssinia. They described its
beauty and the pictures therein. He said: "Those are the people who build places of worship on
the grave of every dead man who was righteous and then make therein those pictures. Those are
the worst of creation unto Allah." (Sahih al Bukhari).
Commentary - Idolatry
Worshipping anything other than Allah is a tragedy that results not only in the loss of freedom; its
serious effect reaches man's mind and destroys it as well. Almighty Allah created man and his
mind with its purpose set on achieving knowledge the most important of which is that Allah alone
is the Creator and all the rest are worshippers (slaves). Therefore, disbelief in Allah, or
polytheism, results in the loss of freedom, the destruction of the mind, and the absence of a noble
target in life. (By worshipping anything other than Allah, man becomes enslaved to Satan, who is
himself a creature and becomes harnessed to his own baser qualities).
Into this environment Allah sent Noah with His message to his people. Noah was the only
intellectual not caught in the whirlpool of man's destruction which was caused by polytheism.
Noah's Reasoning with his People
Allah in His Mercy sent His messenger Noah to guide his people. Noah was an excellent speaker
and a very patient man. He pointed out to his people the mysteries of life and the wonders of the
universe. He pointed out how the night is regularly followed by the day and that the balance
between these opposites were designed by Allah the Almighty for our good. The night gives
coolness and rest while the day gives warmth and awakens activity. The sun encourages growth,
keeping all plants and animals alive, while the moon and stars assist in the reckoning of time,
direction and seasons. He pointed out that the ownership of the heavens and the earth belongs
only to the Divine Creator. Therefore, he explained to this people, there cannot have been more
than one deity. He clarified to them how the devil had deceived them for so long and that the time
had come for this deceit to stop. Noah spoke to them of Allah's glorification of man, how HE had
created him and provided him with sustenance and the blessings of a mind. He told them that idol
worshipping was a suffocating injustice to the mind. He warned them not to worship anyone but
Allah and described the terrible punishment Allah would mete out if they continued in their evil ways.
Division Among Noah's People
The people listened to him in silence. His words were a shock to their stagnating minds as it is a
shock to a person who is asleep under a wall which is about to fall and who is vigorously
awakened. This person may be alarmed and may even become angry although the aim was to save
him.
Noah's people were divided into two groups after his warning. His words touched the hearts of
the weak, the poor, and the miserable and soothed their wounds with its mercy. As for the rich,
the strong, the mighty and the rulers they looked upon the warning with cold distrust. They
believed they would be better off if things stayed as they were. Therefore they started their war of
words against Noah.
The Disbelievers' Arguments
First they accused Noah of being only human like themselves.
“The chiefs of the disbelievers among his people said: "We see you but a man like ourselves."'
(Ch 11:27 Quran)
He, however, had never said anything other than that. He asserted that, indeed, he was only a
human being; Allah had sent a human messenger because the earth was inhabited by humans. If it
had been inhabited by angels Allah would have sent an angelic messenger. The contest between
the polytheists and Noah continued. the rulers had thought at first that Noah's call would soon
fade on its own. When they found that his call attracted the poor, the helpless and common
laborers, they started to verbally attack and taunt him: 'You are only followed by the poor, the
meek and the worthless.'
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
disbeliveers 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." (CH 11:25-27).
The Disbelievers Attempt to Bargain
Thus the conflict between Noah and the heads of his people intensified. The disbeliveers tried to
bargain: "Listen Noah, if you want us to believe in you, then dismiss your believers. They are
meek and poor, while are elite and rich; no faith c an include us both." Noah listened to the
heathens of his community and realized they were being obstinate. However, he was gentle in his
response. He explained to his people that he could not dismiss the believers as they were not his
guests but Allah's. Noah appealed to them:
"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 with me are the Treasures
of Allah nor that I know the unseen, nor do I say I am an angel, and I do not say of those whom
your eyes look down upon that Allah will not bestow any good on them. Allah knows what is in
their inner selves (regards to Belief). In that case, I should, indeed be one of the Zalimeen
(wrongdoers, oppressors etc)." (Ch 11:29-31 Quran)
Noah refuted the arguments of the disbelievers with the noble knowledge of the prophets. It is the
logic of intellect that rids itself of personal pride and interests.
The Disbelievers Remain Ignorant
The rulers were tired of Noah's arguments. Allah the Exalted related their attitude:
They said: "O Noah! You have disputed with us and much have you prolonged the dispute with
us, now bring upon us what you threaten us with, if you are of the truthful." He said: "Only Allah
will bring it (the punishment)on you, if He will, and then you will escape not. And my advice will
not profit you, even if I wish to give you counsel, if Allah's Will is to keep you astray. He is your
Lord! And to Him you shall return." (Ch 11:32-34 Quran)
The battle continued; the arguments between the disbeliveers and Noah became prolonged. When
all the refutations of the disbeliveers collapsed and they had no more to say, they began to be rude
and insulted Allah's prophet:
“The leaders of his people said: "Verily, we see you in plain error." (Ch 7:60 Quran)
Noah responded in the manner of the prophets:
"O my people! There is no error in me, but I am a Messenger from the Lord of the Alamin
(mankind, jinn and all that exists)! I convey unto you the Messages of my Lord and give sincere
advice to you. And I know from Allah what you know not." (CH 7:61-62 Quran)
Noah continued appealing to his people to believe in Allah hour after hour, day after day year
after year. He admonished his people and called them to Allah day and night, in secret and openly.
HE gave them examples, explained Allah's signs and illustrated Allah's ability in the formation of
His creatures. But whenever he called them to Allah, they ran away from him. Whenever he urged
them to ask Allah to forgive them, they put their fingers in their ears and became too proud to
listen to the truth.
Noah's Appeal to His People
Allah the Almighty related what Noah faced:
"Verily, We sent Noah to his people saying: "Warn your people before there comes to them a
painful torment." He said: "O my people! Verily, I am a plain Warner to you, that you should
worship Allah alone, be dutiful to Him and obey me, He (Allah) will forgive you of your sins and
respite you to an appointed term. Verily, the term of Allah when it comes, cannot be delayed, if
you but knew."
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! Everytime 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. Then verily, I called to them openly (aloud); then
verily, I proclaimed to them in public, and I have appealed to them in private, I said to them:
'Ask forgiveness from your Lord, Verily, He is Oft Forgiving; He will send rain to you in
abundance, and give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and
bestow on you rivers."
What is the matter with you, that you fear not Allah (His Punishment), and you hope not for
reward from Allah or you believe not in His Oneness. While He has created you in different
stages. (Ch 23:13-14 Quran)
See you not how Allah has created the seven heavens one above another, and has made the moon
a light therein and made the sun a lamp? And Allah has brought you forth from the dust of
earth. Afterwards He will return you into it (the earth), and bring you forth (again on the Day of
Resurrection) Allah has made for you the earth wide spread (an expanse) that you may go about
therein broad roads.
Noah said: "My Lord! They have disobeyed me, and followed one whose wealth and children
give him no increase but only loss. They have plotted a mighty plot. They have said: 'you shall
not leave your gods, nor shall you leave wadd, nor Suwa, nor Yaghuth, nor ya'uq nor Nasr
(names of the idols). Indeed they have led many astray. O Allah! Grant no increase to the
Zalimeen (polytheists, wrongdoers, and disbeliveers etc) save error."
Because of their sins they were drowned, then were made to enter the Fire and they found none
to help them instead of Allah. (Ch 71:1-25 Quran).
The Length of Noah's Preaching
Noah continued to call his people to believe in Allah for nine hundred fifty years. Allah the
Almighty said: Indeed We sent Noah to his people and he stayed among them a thousand years
less fifty years (inviting them to believe in the Oneness of Allah (Monotheism) and discard the
false gods and other deities). (Ch 29:14 Quran)
It happened that every passing generation admonished the succeeding one not to believe Noah
and to wage war against him. the father used to teach his child about the matter that was between
himself and Noah and counsel him to reject his call when he reached adulthood. Their natural
disposition rejected believing and following the truth.
Noah saw that the number of believers was not increasing, while that of the disbeliveers was. He
was sad for his people, but he never reached the point of despair.
Noah Prays for the Disbeliever's End
There came a day when Allah revealed to Noah that no others would believe. Allah inspired him
not to grieve for them at which point Noah prayed that the disbeliveers be destroyed. He said:
"My Lord! Leave not one of the disbeliveers on the earth. If you leave them, they will mislead
Your slaves and they will beget none but wicked disbeliveers." (Ch 71:27 Quran)
Allah accepted Noah's prayer. The case was closed, and He passed His judgment on the
disbeliveers in the form of a flood. Allah the Exalted ordered His worshipper Noah to build an ark
with His knowledge and instructions and with the help of angels. Almighty Allah commanded:
"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." (Ch 11:37 Quran)
Noah Builds the Ark
Noah chose a place outside the city, far from the sea. HE collected wood and tools and began to
day and night to build the ark. The people's mockery continued: "O Noah! 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?" Noah replied: "You will come to
know who will be put to shame and suffer."
Allah the Almighty narrated:
"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 at us, so do we mock at 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." (Ch 11:38-39 Quran)
The Flood begins
The ship was constructed, and Noah sat waiting Allah's command. Allah revealed to him that
when water miraculously gushed forth from the oven at Noah's house, that would be the sign of
the start of the flood, and the sign for Noah to act.
The terrible day arrived when the oven at Noah's house overflowed. Noah hurried to open the ark
and summon the believers. He also took with him a pair, male and female, of every type of animal,
bird and insect. Seeing him taking these creatures to the ark, the people laughed loudly: "Noah
must have gone out of his head! What is he going to do with the animals?" Almighty Allah
narrated:
“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.(Ch 11:40 Quran)
The Number of Believers
Noah's wife was not a believer with him so she did not join him; neither did one of Noah's sons,
who was secretly a disbeliever but had pretended faith in front of Noah. Likewise most of the
people were disbeliveers and did not go on board.
The scholars hold different opinions on the number of those who were with Noah on the ship. Ibn
Abbas stated that there were 80 believers while Ka ab al Ahbar held that there were 72 believers.
Others claimed that there were 10 believers with Noah.
Description of the Flood
Water rose from the cracks in the earth; there was not a crack from which water did not rise. rain
poured from the sky in quantities never seen before on earth. Water continued pouring from the
sky rising from the cracks; hour after hour the level rose. The seas and waves invaded the land.
The interior of the earth moved in a strange way, and the ocean floors lifted suddenly, flooding
the dry land. The earth, for the first time was submerged.
Noah Appeals to his Son
Allah told the story thus: He (Noah) said:
"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 disbeliveers."
The son replied, "I will betake myself to a mountain, it will save me from the water." Noah said:
"This day there is no savior 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." (Ch. 11: 41-43)
The Flood Ends
It was said:
"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)!"
And it was said:
"O Noah! Come down (from the ship) with peace from Us and blessings on you and on the
people o\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." (Ch 11:41-48 Quran)
With the issue of the divine command, calm returned to earth, the water retreated, and the dry
land shone once again in the rays of the sun. The flood had cleansed the earth of the disbeliveers
and polytheists.
The Believers Disembark
Noah released the birds, and the beats which scattered over the earth. After that the believers
disembarked. Noah put his forehead to the ground in prostration. The survivors kindled a fire and
sat around it. Lighting a fire had been prohibited on board so as not to ignite the ship's wood and
burn it up. None of them had eaten hot food during the entire period of the floor. Following the
disembarkation there was a day of fasting in thanks to Allah.
Noah's Death
The Quran draws the curtain on Noah's story. We do not know how his affairs with his people
continued. All we know or can ascertain is that on his deathbed he requested his son to worship
Allah alone, Noah then passed away. Abdullah Ibn Amr Ibn Al as narrated that the Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) 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
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. I warn you against associating partners with Allah and against pride." (Sahih al Bukhari)
Some traditions said that his grave is in the Scared Mosque in Mecca, while others said that he
was buried in Baalabak, a city in Iraq.
Visit us: That's Why I Love ISLAM
#thatswhyiloveislam
Please share and follow us on Facebook:
Follow on Facebook
No comments:
Post a Comment