🌊 Nuh (Noah)

Nuh - The Patient Prophet

Nuh (Noah) is one of the five greatest prophets in Islam (ulul-azm, those of great resolve), sent to humanity to call them to the worship of Allah alone. He preached for 950 years, enduring constant rejection, mockery, and persecution from his people before Allah commanded him to build the Ark and saved only the believers from the Great Flood. His story, mentioned in multiple chapters of the Quran including an entire surah named after him (Surah Nuh), exemplifies patience, perseverance, and unwavering faith in the face of overwhelming opposition.

The Mission

Call to Monotheism

Nuh's people had fallen into idolatry, worshiping false gods including Wadd, Suwa, Yaghuth, Ya'uq, and Nasr. These were originally righteous men who died, but Shaytan (Satan) deceived subsequent generations into making images of them for remembrance, which eventually became objects of worship. Nuh was sent as a warner to call them back to tawhid (pure monotheism)—the worship of Allah alone.

950 Years of Preaching

The Quran describes Nuh calling his people day and night, publicly and privately, openly and in secret. He used every method of persuasion:

• He reminded them of Allah's blessings—rain, crops, children, gardens
• He warned them of punishment in the Hereafter
• He appealed to their reason, pointing out Allah's creation of the heavens, earth, and moon
• He promised them forgiveness and increase in wealth and children if they repented
• He never asked for payment, seeking only Allah's reward

Despite 950 years of tireless effort, only a few believed—according to tradition, perhaps 80 people total. The wealthy and powerful were the most hostile, mocking him as a madman and threatening to stone him. They accused him of being merely a human (how could a human be a prophet?) and of seeking worldly gain. The elders commanded their children never to abandon their idols, ensuring the perpetuation of disbelief.

The Divine Command

Building the Ark

When Nuh despaired of their repentance, he prayed: "My Lord, do not leave upon the earth any inhabitant from among the disbelievers. Indeed, if You leave them, they will mislead Your servants and not beget except [every] wicked one and [confirmed] disbeliever" (Quran 71:26-27). Allah answered his prayer and commanded him to build an ark under divine inspiration.

Nuh began constructing the massive ship far from any body of water. His people mocked him mercilessly: "You claim to be a prophet, yet you've become a carpenter!" He replied, "If you mock us, we will mock you as you mock. You will come to know who will receive a humiliating punishment and upon whom will descend an enduring punishment."

The Command to Board

When the Ark was complete, Allah commanded Nuh: "Embark in it, of each [creature] two mates, and your family, except those about whom the word has preceded, and [include] whoever has believed." The believers—few in number—boarded, along with a pair of every animal species to preserve life on earth.

The Great Flood

The Waters Rise

The Quran describes how the "oven burst forth" (water gushing from the earth) and torrential rain fell from the sky. Water came from above and below, covering the entire earth. The waves towered like mountains. Nuh's Ark sailed through the raging flood while those who rejected Allah's message drowned.

The Tragedy of Nuh's Son

One of Nuh's sons (name not mentioned in the Quran, but traditional sources call him Yam or Canaan) refused to board the Ark, believing he could escape to a mountain. Nuh called out to him: "O my son, come aboard with us and be not with the disbelievers!" The son replied arrogantly, "I will take refuge on a mountain to protect me from the water." Nuh warned, "There is no protector today from Allah's decree except for whom He gives mercy." A wave came between them, and the son was drowned.

Heartbroken, Nuh cried out to Allah, "My Lord, indeed my son is of my family!" Allah gently corrected him: "O Noah, indeed he is not of your family; indeed, he is [one whose] work was other than righteous." This teaches that true family in Islam is based on faith, not mere blood relation. Nuh immediately submitted: "My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking that of which I have no knowledge."

After the Flood

Landing on Mount Judi

When Allah's decree was fulfilled, He commanded: "O earth, swallow your water, and O sky, withhold [your rain]." The water receded, and the Ark settled on Mount Judi (identified with mountains in present-day Turkey or Kurdistan). Nuh and the believers disembarked, and Allah blessed them: "O Noah, disembark in security from Us and blessings upon you and upon nations [descending] from those with you."

Covenant and Promise

Islamic tradition teaches that all humanity descends from the believers who survived with Nuh—making him a second father of mankind after Adam. Allah established a covenant never to destroy the earth by flood again. Nuh lived many more years after the flood, continuing to worship Allah and teach the survivors.

Lessons from Nuh's Story

The story of Nuh teaches Muslims profound lessons:

• Patience in Da'wah: Nuh preached for 950 years without losing hope, exemplifying patient perseverance
• Sincerity: He never asked for payment or worldly benefit, seeking only Allah's pleasure
• Reliance on Allah: When people threatened him, he trusted Allah's protection
• Obedience: He built the Ark despite mockery, trusting Allah's wisdom
• Faith over Family: Blood relations mean nothing without shared faith
• Divine Justice: Allah gave the people 950 years to repent—His punishment comes only after ample warning and opportunity
• Futility of Worldly Power: Wealth, status, and mountains cannot save one from Allah's decree

Significance in Islam

Nuh is mentioned 43 times in the Quran and is considered one of the ulul-azm (prophets of great resolve), alongside Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Isa (Jesus), and Muhammad. He is the first messenger sent to warn humanity after the time of Adam. His steadfastness despite nearly a millennium of rejection makes him a model for Muslims facing opposition. The flood serves as a warning of Allah's power and the certainty of judgment for those who reject His message.

Prophet Muhammad said: "On the Day of Resurrection, the people will come to Noah and say, 'You are the first of the messengers to the people of the earth, and Allah named you a grateful servant.'" This title—"grateful servant" (abd shakur)—captures Nuh's essential character: despite trials, he remained thankful to Allah, patient, and obedient.