Qasaul Ambiya Story of Hazart Nooh (A.S)
Hazrat Nooh (Alaihis Salam)
The First Messenger
After Nabi Adamؑ, comes the story of Nabi Noohؑ who is the first Nabi (Prophet) who has been honoured with being a Messenger (Rasul) of Allah. In Sahih Muslim under the chapter on Intercession there is a Hadith in which
is said:
"O Noohؑ you were the first on earth to be made a Rasul."
Call
and Disobedience
By the time of the advent of Nabi Noohؑ, the whole nation had become for removed from the worship of the One Allah and from the light of true religion. Various false idols had been introduced to take place of the true God, and man
had began to worship those idols. Thus in accordance with the general practice by Allah, He sent one from among themselves to be a guide and spiritual leader for them. Nabi Noohؑ was chosen and he proceeded to call them to the path of righteousness and invited them towards the true religion. However they refused to listen to his call and with stubborn resistance contempt rejected him. Both the leaders of the nation and the nobles rejected him and left no stone unturned to leap scorn on him. The followers among the people followed their leaders and they too went out of their way to humiliate him. They were surprised that one who had no superiority over them as for as worldly means were concerned and who had no other special Angelic qualities should now claim to be a spiritual guide to them that we should follow his lead.
By the time of the advent of Nabi Noohؑ, the whole nation had become for removed from the worship of the One Allah and from the light of true religion. Various false idols had been introduced to take place of the true God, and man
had began to worship those idols. Thus in accordance with the general practice by Allah, He sent one from among themselves to be a guide and spiritual leader for them. Nabi Noohؑ was chosen and he proceeded to call them to the path of righteousness and invited them towards the true religion. However they refused to listen to his call and with stubborn resistance contempt rejected him. Both the leaders of the nation and the nobles rejected him and left no stone unturned to leap scorn on him. The followers among the people followed their leaders and they too went out of their way to humiliate him. They were surprised that one who had no superiority over them as for as worldly means were concerned and who had no other special Angelic qualities should now claim to be a spiritual guide to them that we should follow his lead.
When these nobles saw some of the weak and poor people following Nabi Noohؑ they said in an arrogant manner. "Do you want us to follow
your leadership just like these ordinary people?" They considered those
followers of Noohؑ to be mere blind
followers, without any opinion of their own, unlike themselves who were the men
of opinion among the people. They looked upon these followers as being incapable
of understanding the reality of any situation. The reckoned that even if they were to listen to the words of Hazrat
Noohؑ They would first demand
that he should put those lowly and poor
folk away from him. Only after Noohؑ had put them away will
they be prepared to listen to him as they were disgusted at those people and
were unable to sit with them in one place.
Nabi Noohؑheard their demand and gave just one answer:
" What you demand will not come to pass because these people
are Allah’s sincere and righteous servants." If I should decide to do as
you wish, then I will not be able of saving myself from Allah’s punishment. I
fear His punishment. With Allah sincerity counts a lot. With Him there is no
'question as to who is rich and who is poor. He further said to them:
"I have come to you, bringing Allah's
message of guidance. I lay no claim to having knowledge of the unseen and
neither do I claim to be an angel. I am Allah's chosen messenger and apostle
and my aim in life is to invite towards Allah. I have no claim to being richly
endowed with worldly things; neither to being an Angel or a knower of the
unseen."
These followers of mine, have with sincerity of heart accepted faith in Allah, and are looked upon by you as being despicable, lowly folk just because they are not rich like yourselves. Therefore in your opinion they are unable to attain to good or to true happiness because goodness and happiness in your opinion is only connected with worldly riches and wealth.
He also told them:
"In my mission of inviting towards Allah and in conveying His
message to you, I do not need your wealth or any position of high rank, and
neither do I desire any payment from you. My true payment is with Allah and He
is the Best to appreciate my task."
Hazrat Noohؑ tried his atmost that his unfortunate people should understand and heed his call and attain the Mercy of Allah, but they refused to heed. And the more efforts were made in conveying Allah's commands to them, the more became their ؤpossible manner. The elders among them ordered the younger ones not to
discard the worship of the false gods Suwaa, Yaghooth, Ya'ooq and Nasr.Finally, becoming highly annoyed with Nabi Noohؑ they said:
"O Noohؑ you have argued with us very much, and you should stop it now. Being now that punishment which you have promised us."
To this Nabi Noohؑ replied:
" If Allah so wishes,
He will bring forth that
punishment and you will not be able to frustrate Him.” (11:33)
punishment and you will not be able to frustrate Him.” (11:33)
In this manners when Nabi Noohؑ had completely despaired
of them being recipients of Hidaayat and when their enmity and obstinacy
had become very clear, and after having conveyed the Message of truth to them
for ninehundred and fifty years without any visible salutary effects, Nabi Noohؑ became greatly distressed.
At that time by way of consolation, Allah said to him:
“Take those (of them) that have believed as no one else among them will now believe and do not sorrowful over their actions."
Then it became clear to
Noohؑ that he had not failed in his duty of delivering the message and
that fault actually lay with those who refused to believe. This was all as a result
of their rebellious nature. Then being affected by
their actions, he lifted up his hands to Allah and prayed: "O Lord do not leave of the unbelievers a single one on earth. For if thou dost leave any of them, they will mislead thy devotees and they will breed none but wicked ungrateful ones." (11:27)
their actions, he lifted up his hands to Allah and prayed: "O Lord do not leave of the unbelievers a single one on earth. For if thou dost leave any of them, they will mislead thy devotees and they will breed none but wicked ungrateful ones." (11:27)
Building the Ark
Allah accepted Nooh ( Alaihis Salam)'s prayer and in accordance
with His law of deeds and rewards and announced the punishment for the
rebellious ones and the stubborn rejecters of truth and by way of saving the
obedient ones ordered
Nabi Noohؑ to build
a ship in order to save the lives of the believers from the coming punishment.
When Nabi Noohؑ started building the ship, the nonbelievers used to jeer and scoff at him. Whenever they used to pass by where he was building the ship they used to say:
When Nabi Noohؑ started building the ship, the nonbelievers used to jeer and scoff at him. Whenever they used to pass by where he was building the ship they used to say:
"very well, when we shall start drowning, you and your followers
will be able to be saved with this ship.
What a stupid idea!”
Nabi Noohؑ, noticing their unmindfullness of the results of their actions and their courage in the face of their disobedience towards Allah, used to answer them in similar vein while keeping busy with his task of shipbuilding. As he knew what Ailah had revealed to him of what is to take place:
Nabi Noohؑ, noticing their unmindfullness of the results of their actions and their courage in the face of their disobedience towards Allah, used to answer them in similar vein while keeping busy with his task of shipbuilding. As he knew what Ailah had revealed to him of what is to take place:
no Noohؑ, you
are in our protection. And in accordance with our revelation, build the ship and
do not ask us about them they will all
drown ’ (11:37)
drown ’ (11:37)
At last the ship was built and the time for the coming of the
punishment of Allah was near. Nabi Noohؑ saw the first signs of it as water started
gushing forth from the earth like fountains. Then came the revelation:
To let those of his family members take their places on the ship, and to load onto the ship a pair of each animals, one male and one female. In this manner a small group of about forty people boarded the ship, the sum total of those who believed in Nabi Noohؑ Then the order was given for the heavens to open up
, and rain started falling and the fountains of the earth were ordered to open up and gush forth. With the grace of Allah the ship started sailing until such time that all the rejecters of truth were drowned as a result of their evil deeds.
To let those of his family members take their places on the ship, and to load onto the ship a pair of each animals, one male and one female. In this manner a small group of about forty people boarded the ship, the sum total of those who believed in Nabi Noohؑ Then the order was given for the heavens to open up
, and rain started falling and the fountains of the earth were ordered to open up and gush forth. With the grace of Allah the ship started sailing until such time that all the rejecters of truth were drowned as a result of their evil deeds.
Mount Judy
When the punishment of Allah had been completed, the ship came to
a standstill on Mount Judy.
"And the matter was ended the Ark rested on Mount Judy and the word went forth: "Away with those who do wrong.”(11:44).
"And the matter was ended the Ark rested on Mount Judy and the word went forth: "Away with those who do wrong.”(11:44).
The water started receding and drying up. The inhabitants of the
ship once again put their feet ashore in safety. For this reason Nabi Noohؑ is
also know as the "second father of mankind’ or "the second Adam."
And it is
perhaps also because of this that in Hadith he is mentioned as being the "first of the Messengers (Rasuls).'
perhaps also because of this that in Hadith he is mentioned as being the "first of the Messengers (Rasuls).'
"
As for the where about of Mount Judy, the Qur'an only mentions the place where the ship came to a standstill. However according to some commentators on'the Towraat Judy is the name of -a mountain range which is found in ararat and the mountainous region of Georgia.
As for the where about of Mount Judy, the Qur'an only mentions the place where the ship came to a standstill. However according to some commentators on'the Towraat Judy is the name of -a mountain range which is found in ararat and the mountainous region of Georgia.
Important Conclusions
1. Every person is answerable for his every action. For this reason the righteous of a father cannot be hold responsible for the disobedience of a son and neither can the holiness of a son be a compensation for the evils of a father.
1. Every person is answerable for his every action. For this reason the righteous of a father cannot be hold responsible for the disobedience of a son and neither can the holiness of a son be a compensation for the evils of a father.
"Everyone acts according to his own disposition.”
(17:84)
2. The company of evil ones is more dangerous than poison. And its
result is nothing other than disgrace, loss and destruction. Just as
righteousness is necessary for a person, so important is the company of the
righteous. And just as it is necessary to avoid all evil, so also is it
necessary to save
yourself from the company of the bad ones.
yourself from the company of the bad ones.
3. It is not contrary to the rules of Tawakkul that
a person should make provision for eventualities, but in fact it is the correct
way to rely on Allah. For this reason the ship was built as a provision. For
Man it is necessary at first to make effort And them if he wishes he may make Du'a.
As long as no effort was made by hand and might Noohؑ would not have found safely from the flood.
4. The Messengers of Allah although being Ma'sum (sinless)
and innocent, they are still through their humanity capable of human faults. However,
they do not continue on it but from Allah's side they are quickly made aware there
of and made to stop. Further, those Messengers are not knowers
of the unseen as can clearly be seen from the story of Nabi Noohؑ
of the unseen as can clearly be seen from the story of Nabi Noohؑ
5. Although the law of retribution for deeds committed is a law that is prevalent in every comer of the universe, it is not necessary that every crime or every deed of righteousness should be rewarded or punished this world. This is so because this world has been established as a world for deeds whereas the hereafter has been especially fixed for the reward and punishment. However, the punishment for injustice and arrogance is given in some form or other in this world also.
Saying:
It is reported that Imam Abu Hanifah said that the unjust one and the proud arrogant one will meet his punishment in some form or other in this world before his death. Hence the stories of the people who opposed Allah's Messengers
It is reported that Imam Abu Hanifah said that the unjust one and the proud arrogant one will meet his punishment in some form or other in this world before his death. Hence the stories of the people who opposed Allah's Messengers
( Alaihimus Salam ) and the greatly unjust ones
in history are eloquent
proof of this.
The Deluge of Nabi Noohؑ
The historians have mentioned the name of Nabi Nooh ( Alaihis Salam)'s
son as being Kan'aan. This is in accordance with the Towraat. The Qur'an,
however, is silent on this issue. But being silent on the name does not detract
from the importance of the story. The conversation between Nabi Noohؑ . and his
son is mentioned:
The son said (in reply to his father's offer to believe and board the ship):
"I shall seek refuge on a mountain which will save me from the water.”
The son said (in reply to his father's offer to believe and board the ship):
"I shall seek refuge on a mountain which will save me from the water.”
(Hood:43)
Some Ulama are of the opinion that this was not a true son of
Nabi Noohؑ and they
then made two further claims:
(a) Some say he was the son of Nooh (Alaihis Salam)'s wife from
a previous marriage who was reared by him
(b) Some claim that the non-believing wife of Nabi Noohؑ had deceived
him and he was born.
The reason why these Ulama had resorted to these, unsubstantiated
interpretations is the fact how can it be that the son of Nabi can be non-believer?
What should be remembered is that to bring the message of guidance to mankind. He is not required to use force to cause
his children, his wife, family-members or members of his tribe to believe and submit
to the message.
The Qur’an says to Rasulullah ﷺ:
The Qur’an says to Rasulullah ﷺ:
"You have not been a forceful ruler over them (the
unbelievers)."
"You are not one to overance them by force. (50:45)
The truth of the matter is that Kan'aan was the son of Nabi
Noohؑ but of
due the to unbelieving mother who reared him and the effectof the family and
the general environment there was a bad influence on him and he remained a
nonbeliever in spite of being the son of messenger of Allah.
The Flood was it Universal or
Local?
Did this flood come over the whole earth or was it merely a
specific region that was flooded? Among the ancient Ulama as well as the
modem Ulama there have always been two opinions on this issue. This is also
the case with the Ulama of the Jews and the Christians. According to some
experts in astronomy and geologists the flood was only limited to that area
where the people of Nabi Noohؑ
resided. This region consists of an area 140.000 square kilometer.
However, the correct version is this that the deluge was confined
to a specific area and was not universal. The Qur’an only focused on those details
which were of importance as admonition or warning. It only wishes to point out
to men of understanding that this incident in history should be noted
and never forgotten, that so many years ago a specific nation persisted with disobedience
to Allah and rejected the guidance brought by Allah's chosen Messenger who was sent
to them and in response Allah showed His power and caused the disobedient ones to
be drowned while only a small group of believers were saved, with Nabi
Nooh ؑ
"Verily in that there is a warning for men of understanding
’
The Age of Nabi Nooh
The
Quran clearly states that Nabi Noohؑ
continuous to preach to his people for nine hundred and fifty years.
“We sent Noohؑ to
his people and he turned among them a thousand years excepts fifty.”
This life span of 950 years from a natural point of view seems quite
illogical. It is however not impossible because at the beginning of this Universe there was not such an
abundance of sorrows and worries or illnesses as we have today. Furthermore
ancient history also admits that a few thousand years ago the natural life-span
of man was much more than now. Hazrat Nooh ( Alaihis Salami)'s lifespan
of so many years should be understand to be one of those special gifts from
Allah's side towards His messengers. In this regard the correct version is that
was his life-span and there is no need to try to shorten his life
by various interpretations.
by various interpretations.
In the Quran Nabi Noohؑ is
mentioned in 28 chapters and he is mentioned 43 times.
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