Who was Nuh?
Nuh (peace be upon him), a prophet sent by God is honored in the Quran with an entire surah dedicated to him (surah Nuh). The Almighty has praised Nuh (pbuh) as a “Grateful Servant of Allah” and a “True Messenger of Allah”.
Period of Idolatry
In this period of time, the people of Earth started to engage in idol worship. The tradition involved creating statues in memory of deceased individuals who were considered virtuous. As generations passed, these statues began to be revered as gods, with people believing that they would provide blessings, ward off evil, and fulfill their desires. The idols were given names like Waadan and Nasran, which were originally the names of honorable individuals who had once lived among them.
God chose Nuh (pbuh) to lead his people towards the correct path. Nuh (pbuh) was a great speaker and had immense patience. He would enlighten his people about the enigmas of life and the wonders of the universe. Continuously, he emphasized the importance of worshipping only Allah and exposed the deception of the devil, urging his people to abandon it. He explained that the time had arrived to put an end to this deceitful manipulation. For more than 900 years, he persistently preached about the consequences of Hellfire for those who disobeyed.
Did Nuh (pbuh) succeed?
Surprisingly, only the poor and underprivileged, such as laborers, embraced his message while the wealthy remained skeptical. Driven by their mistrust, they told Nuh (pbuh) to abandon his mission. The disbelievers refused to accept his message. Despite facing criticisms, Nuh (pbuh) stayed committed to his purpose. He provided valid arguments and consistently tried to persuade his community to have faith in Allah, tirelessly advocating for hours, days, and years. However, whenever he invited them to embrace Allah, they either avoided him or arrogantly refused to listen by covering their ears. The disbelievers persisted in their arguments and countered with their own points.
What Led to the Ark and the Great Flood?
Ultimately, Nuh (pbuh) gradually came to the realize that his attempts were indeed fruitless. As a result, exhaustion and sorrow overcame Nuh (pbuh), leading him to request Allah to destroy the non-believers. Allah (SWT) granted his request and instructed Nuh (pbuh) to construct an Ark using wood and tools, away from the sea. Upon witnessing these preparations, the disbelievers ridiculed him, believing he had lost his sanity.
Then, Nuh (pbuh) responded to the mockery of the disbelievers by stating that they would soon witness the punishment that would bring disgrace upon them in this world, as well as the eternal punishment that would descend upon them in the Hereafter. After the completion of the Ark, Noah (pbuh) and his followers patiently awaited Allah’s (SWT) command. Allah then informed him that the flood would start when water miraculously gushed forth from the oven in Nuh’s (pbuh) house. This would be the sign for Nuh (pbuh) to take action.
The Day of the Flood
When the day arrived, heavy rain poured down as water miraculously rained over the people. Nuh (pbuh) opened the Ark, allowing approximately 80 people, along with pairs of animals, to seek refuge inside. This ensured the survival and continuity of their generations. However, despite Nuh’s (pbuh) call, his wife and one of his sons, among others, chose not to enter the Ark. They were among the disbelievers; therefore, they drowned as well.
Aftermath of the Flood
Following his son and wife’s disobedience to the words of the Almighty, Nuh (pbuh) felt a deep sadness and cried for them once the water had been absorbed. Afterwards, he releases everyone from the Ark, allowing life to return to its usual course on Earth. Eventually, when Nuh (pbuh) passed away, leaving his son with his final advice to worship Allah (SWT) alone.