PROPHET NUH (‘a)

Prophets of Allah

Thousands of years ago, there lived a people who used to worship idols. Their idols had been carved out from stone and wood and kept together in what they considered a holy place. Here, the people would gather regularly and present offerings to their idols.

Nuh (‘a) was a Prophet sent by Allah to guide these people to the right path. He would tell the people that there is only One True God who deserves to be worshipped.

A few people among the downtrodden and poor listened to him and followed him. But the majority continued their pagan ways and were not ready to believe in him.

The disbelievers would call Nuh (‘a) a liar and spread all sorts of rumors about him. Even one of his own sons named Kan’aan left his father’s side and joined the disbelievers.

When the people saw that Prophet Nuh (‘a) was still preaching the message of Allah, they began threatening and beating him. They would say: If your message is true, tell your God to send His wrath upon us!

Prophet Nuh (‘a) prayed to Allah and complained to Him about the disbelievers. Allah commanded him to build a large ark on a hillside. When the disbelievers saw this, they started making fun of him: Look! Nuh is building a ship on dry land! He has surely lost his senses! they said.

But soon after the ark was ready, dark clouds covered the sky and strong But soon after the ark was ready, dark clouds covered the sky and strong winds started blowing. Then, it started raining. But this was no ordinary rain, winds started blowing. Then, it started raining. But this was no ordinary rain, this was the rain of punishment that had come to wipe out the disbelievers this was the rain of punishment that had come to wipe out the disbelievers from this earth.from this earth.

Nuh (‘a) and his followers embarked on the ark. Nuh (‘a) and his followers embarked on the ark. They took with themselves one pair of every They took with themselves one pair of every type of animal in accordance with the command type of animal in accordance with the command of Allah.of Allah.

The disbelievers, who had initially thought that the rain would soon stop, became The disbelievers, who had initially thought that the rain would soon stop, became worried when they saw the water rising. They realized that this was a punishment worried when they saw the water rising. They realized that this was a punishment from Allah for their disbelief. But their stubbornness had led them to stick to their from Allah for their disbelief. But their stubbornness had led them to stick to their pagan ways and they were still not ready to accept the truth.pagan ways and they were still not ready to accept the truth.

Nuh (‘a) called out to his son: Nuh (‘a) called out to his son: My son! Come on the ark My son! Come on the ark with us and you will be safe!with us and you will be safe! But his son replied: But his son replied: No. I No. I will climb this high mountain it will save me from the will climb this high mountain it will save me from the rising water.rising water. And thus he was drowned along with the And thus he was drowned along with the other disbelievers.other disbelievers.

After forty days, the rain stopped and the waters began to recede. The ark came to rest After forty days, the rain stopped and the waters began to recede. The ark came to rest on the peak of Mount Judi . Nuh (‘a) and his family and companions disembarked and on the peak of Mount Judi . Nuh (‘a) and his family and companions disembarked and brought the animals out of the ark onto the land. They began rebuilding their homes and brought the animals out of the ark onto the land. They began rebuilding their homes and their lives.their lives. F.T. Jaffer