PROPHET NUH (A)

CLASS 5 - LESSON 18
PROPHET NUH (A)
A long time ago there was a group of people who worshipped idols. Allah
sent Prophet Nuh (A) to guide these people to the right path. Prophet Nuh
(A) was a wise and patient man and he tried to teach the people about
Allah and His blessings and told them not to worship pieces of clay or
wood as their god. In spite of his efforts the people did not listen to him and
turned away from him. When he warned them to be afraid of Allah's
punishment, they laughed at him.
Prophet Nuh (A) did not give up preaching and continued to try and guide
his people. However, only a few accepted his teachings, while the rest
used to say thing like,
"You are just a human being like us. If your God wanted to send us a
Prophet, He should have sent an angel, then we would have listened to
him."
Others said,
"O Nuh, if you want us to believe in you, you should get rid of your present
followers, many of whom are poor. How can we believe in a religion that
treats rich people and beggars with the same respect?"
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QUESTION BOX
Would you have been as patient as Prophet Nuh (A) if someone
insulted or abused you? Would you have the strength to ignore
them?
Prophet Nuh (A) replied to them,
"My religion is for everyone, the wise and the foolish, the famous and the
unknown and the rich and the poor. How can I leave the people who
supported me when I was alone? These people are true believers in Allah."
The people did not like the words of Prophet Nuh (A) and they proudly
said,
"O Nuh, ask your God to punish us if you like."
But Prophet Nuh (A) said,
"I am just a human being. I cannot bring down the punishment on you or
stop the punishment from you if Allah wills. Remember that you have to
return to Him one day and be sorry for your wrong ways before it is too
late."
Although the people at the time of Prophet Nuh (A) were stubborn, he
remained patient and continued to preach the message of Allah to them
for 950 years. He ignored their insults and abuses in the hope that one day
the light of faith would enter their hearts. But as time passed, they grew
worse, and began to attack him with
Finally his patience was exhausted and he complained to Allah about the
people and asked Him to provide a solution to the problem. Allah accepted
the prayer of Prophet Nuh (A) and ordered him to build a large boat, an
ark, and also told him that there would be a great flood in which all the
sinners would be drowned. The Holy Qur'an says:
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“In the Name of Allah, the Most Kind, the Most Merciful. We sent
Nuh to his people to warn them before the painful punishment came
upon them. He said, "O my people, I warn you clearly that you
should worship only Allah and fear Him, and follow me.”
Suratu Nuh, 71 : 1-3
In response to the command of Allah, Prophet
Nuh (A) planted saplings and waited for them to
grow up into strong trees. Then he cut them
down and began to make the ark. It took 80
years to complete the construction of the ark,
and during this time the people began teasing
him saying that he had given up being a Prophet
and become a carpenter.
When the ark was ready, Allah commanded
Prophet Nuh (A) to instruct his followers to go
inside the ark and also to take one pair of each type of animal. Suddenly, it
began to rain heavily and streams of water erupted from the ground. Soon
the land was covered with water and the ark began to float.
Three sons of Prophet Nuh (A), Aam, Sam and Yafas, and their wives
were safely on board the ark, but his son Kanaan, who was an unbeliever,
had refused to come with them.
Prophet Nuh (A) saw his son Kanaan struggling in the water and tried once
more to convince him to have faith and come into the ark. But Kanaan
replied that he would go to top of a mountain and be safe there. Prophet
Nuh (A) warned him that there was no shelter from Allah's Curse, except in
the ark.
In the meantime, a huge wave came and swept Kanaan off forever. Allah
had promised Prophet Nuh (A) that his family and followers would be safe
and now Prophet Nuh (A) begged Allah to keep His promise and save his
son.
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The Holy Qur'an says:
“And Nuh cried to his Lord and said, ‘My Lord! Verily my son is of my
family, and verily Your promise is true and You are the most just of
the judges.’ (God) said, ‘O Nuh, verily he is not of your family, his
conduct is not righteous…’”
Suratul Hud, 11 : 45,46(Part)
Allah told Prophet Nuh (A) that Kanaan was not really his son because he
did not show it by his deeds and did not deserve to be saved. Prophet Nuh
(A) realised his mistake and asked Allah for his forgiveness.
The ark floated for a long time while the whole land was flooded so that
nobody was left alive on it. Finally, the punishment of Allah was over and it
stopped raining. The water level began to decrease and the ark came
down onto solid ground on Mount Judi.
Prophet Nuh (A) was commanded to come out of the ark with his followers
and the animals. In this new land they began their lives afresh under the
blessings of Allah.
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Now you know…
♦ Allah sent Prophet Nuh (A) to a group of people who worshipped idols. For 950
years Prophet Nuh (A) taught the people to worship One God, Allah, but most of
them laughed at him and challenged him to ask Allah to punish them. Prophet
Nuh (A) was a patient man and he tried to convince them of their errors.
♦ But the people of Prophet Nuh (A) were stubborn, and they ignored him. When
the people began to attack him with stones he prayed to Allah to provide a
solution to the problem.
♦ Allah responded to Prophet Nuh (A)’s plea and ordered him to build an ark. It
took him 80 years to complete the construction of the ark.
♦ When the ark was complete, Allah ordered Prophet Nuh (A) to take his followers
and one pair of each type of animal to go inside the ark. Three of his sons also
boarded the ark, but his fourth son, Kanaan, an unbeliever, refused to come with
them.
♦ Suddenly it began to rain heavily and the land began to flood. Prophet Nuh (A)
begged Allah to save his son. But Allah said no, since Kanaan was not really his
son because his deeds showed that he did not deserve to live.
♦ The ark floated for a long time; none of the unbelievers were left alive. The
punishment of Allah was over and it stopped raining. Soon the water level began
to decrease and the ark came down on Mount Judi.
♦ Prophet Nuh (A) and his followers began their lives afresh under the blessings of
Allah.