He was Noah Ibn Lamik, Ibn Mitoshilkh, Ibn Enoch, Ibn yard, Ibn
Mahlabeel, Ibn Qinan, Ibn Anoush, Ibn Seth, Ibn Adam the Father of Mankind
(PBUH).
According to the history of the People of the Book, (refers to
the Jews, and Christians, so called by Allah because they received Revealed
Books, Taurat, Zabur and Injeel. These names are translated 'Torah, Psalms, and
Gospels' respectively, but the books that are extent are corrupt. Of the
Revealed Books, ONLY the Quran remains exactly as it was revealed).
the period between the birth of Noah and the death of Adam was
146 years. (According to Genesis 5 (new Revised Standard Version), Noah was born
one hundred and twenty six years after the death of Adam. Ibn Abbas narrated
that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "The period between Adam and Noah was ten
centuries." (Sahih Bukhari, Noah was born 1056 years after Adam's creation (or
after he left the Garden of Eden). Thus, this hadith does not contradict the
previous statement from the People of the Book as it may first appear to do. The
reader should keep in mind, however that any statement or narratives taken from
the People of the Book are not necessarily credible. This was taken from Genesis
5).
For many generations Noah's people had been worshipping statues
that they called gods. They believed that these gods would bring them good,
protect them from evil and provide all their needs. They gave their idols names
such as Waddan, Suwa'an, Yaghutha, Ya'auga, and Nasran, (These idols
represented, respectively, manly power; mutability, beauty; brute strength,
swiftness, sharp sight, insight) according to the power they thought these gods
possessed.
Allah the Almighty revealed: "They (idolaters) have said:
"You shall not leave your gods nor shall you leave Wadd, nor Suwa, nor Yaghuth,
nor Ya uq nor Nasr (names of the idols)." (CH 71:23 Quran).
Originally these were the names of good people who had lived
among them. After their deaths, statues of them were erected to keep their
memories alive. After sometime, however, people began to worship these statues.
Later generations did not even know why they had been erected; they only knew
their parents had prayed to them. That is how idol worshipping developed. Since
they had no understanding of Allah the Almighty Who would punish them for their
evil deeds, they became cruel and immoral.
Ibn Abbas explained: "Following upon the death of those
righteous men, Satan inspired their people to erect statues in the places where
they used to sit. They did this, but these statues were not worshiped until the
coming generations deviated from the right way of life. Then they worshipped
them as their idols."
In his version, Ibn Jarir narrated: "There were righteous people
who lived in the period between Adam and Noah and who had followers who held
them as models. After their death, their friends who used to emulate them said:
'If we make statues of them, it will be more pleasing to us in our worship and
will remind us of them.' So they built statues of them, and , after they had
died and others came after them, Iblis crept into their minds saying:'Your
forefathers used to worship them, and through that worship they got rain.' So
they worshipped them."
Ibn Abi Hatim related this story: "Waddan was a righteous man
who was loved by his people. When he died, they withdrew to his grave in the
land of Babylonia and were overwhelmed by sadness. When Iblis saw their sorrow
caused by his death, he disguised himself in the form of a man saying: 'I have
seen your sorrow because of this man's death; can I make a statue like him which
could be put in your meeting place to make you remember him?' They said: 'Yes.'
So he made the statue like him. They put it in their meeting
place in order to be reminded of him. When Iblis saw their interest in
remembering him, he said: 'Can I build a statue of him in the home of each one
of you so that he would be in everyone's house and you could remember him?'
They agreed. Their children learned about and saw what they were
doing. They also learned about their remembrance of him instead of Allah. So the
first to be worshipped instead of Allah was Waddan, the idol which they named
thus."
The essence of this point is that every idol from those earlier
mentioned was worshipped by a certain group of people. It was mentioned that
people made picture sand as the ages passed they made these pictures into
statues, so that their forms could be fully recognized; afterwards they were
worshipped instead of Allah.
It was narrated that Umm Salmah and Umm Habibah told Allah's
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) about the church called "Maria" which they had seen in
the land of Abyssinia. They described its beauty and the pictures therein. He
said: "Those are the people who build places of worship on the grave of every
dead man who was righteous and then make therein those pictures. Those are the
worst of creation unto Allah." (Sahih al Bukhari).
Worshipping anything other than Allah is a tragedy that results
not only in the loss of freedom; its serious effect reaches man's mind and
destroys it as well. Almighty Allah created man and his mind with its purpose
set on achieving knowledge the most important of which is that Allah alone is
the Creator and all the rest are worshippers (slaves). Therefore, disbelief in
Allah, or polytheism, results in the loss of freedom, the destruction of the
mind, and the absence of a noble target in life. (By worshipping anything other
than Allah, man becomes enslaved to Satan, who is himself a creature and becomes
harnessed to his own baser qualities).
Into this environment Allah sent Noah with His message to his
people. Noah was the only intellectual not caught in the whirlpool of man's
destruction which was caused by polytheism.
Allah is His Mercy sent His messenger Noah to guide his people.
Noah was an excellent speaker and a very patient man. He pointed out to his
people the mysteries of life and the wonders of the universe. He pointed out how
the night is regularly followed by the day and that the balance between these
opposites were designed by Allah the Almighty for our good. The night gives
coolness and rest while the day gives warmth and awakens activity. The sun
encourages growth, keeping all plants and animals alive, while the moon and
stars assist in the reckoning of time, direction and seasons. He pointed out
that the ownership of the heavens and the earth belongs only to the Divine
Creator.
Therefore, he explained to this people, there cannot have been
more than one deity. He clarified to them how the devil had deceived them for so
long and that the time had come for this deceit to stop. Noah spoke to them of
Allah's glorification of man, how HE had created him and provided him with
sustenance and the blessings of a mind. He told them that idol worshipping was a
suffocating injustice to the mind. He warned them not to worship anyone but
Allah and described the terrible punishment Allah would mete out if they
continued in their evil ways.
The people listened to him in silence. His words were a shock to
their stagnating minds as it is a shock to a person who is asleep under a wall
which is about to fall and who is vigorously awakened. This person may be
alarmed and may even become angry although the aim was to save him.
Noah's people were divided into two groups after his warning.
His words touched the hearts of the weak, the poor, and the miserable and
soothed their wounds with its mercy. As for the rich, the strong, the mighty and
the rulers they looked upon the warning with cold distrust. They believed they
would be better off if things stayed as they were. Therefore they started their
war of words against Noah.
First they accused Noah of being only human like themselves.
'The chiefs of the disbeliveers among his people said: "We see you but a man
like ourselves."' (Ch 11:27 Quran) He, however, had never said anything
other than that. He asserted that, indeed, he was only a human being; Allah had
sent a human messenger because the earth winhabited by humans. If it had been
inhabited by angels Allah would have sent an angelic messenger.
The contest between the polytheists and Noah continued. the
rulers had thought at first that Noah's call would soon fade on its own. When
they found that his call attracted the poor, the helpless and common laborers,
they started to verbally attack and taunt him: 'You are only followed by the
poor, the meek and the worthless.'
Allah the Almighty told us: "Indeed We sent Noah to his
people (he said): "I have come to you as a plain Warner that you worship none
but Allah, surely, I fear for you the torment of a painful Day." the chiefs of
the disbeliveers among his people said: "We see you but a man like ourselves,
nor do we see any follow you but the meanest among us and they too followed you
without thinking. And we do not see in you any merit above us in fact we think
you are liars." (CH 11:25-27).
Thus the conflict between Noah and the heads of his people
intensified. The disbeliveers tried to bargain: "Listen Noah, if you want us to
believe in you, then dismiss your believers. They are meek and poor, while are
elite and rich; no faith c an include us both." Noah listened to the heathens of
his community and realized they were being obstinate. However, he was gentle in
his response. He explained to his people that he could not dismiss the believers
as they were not his guests but Allah's.
Noah appealed to them: "O my people! I ask of you no wealth
for it, my reward is from none but Allah. I am not going to drive away those who
have believed. Surely, they are going to meet their Lord, but I see that you are
a people that are ignorant. O my people! Who will help me against Allah, if I
drove them away? Will you not then give a thought? And I do not say to you that
with me are the Treasures of Allah nor that I know the unseen, nor do I say I am
an angel, and I do not say of those whom your eyes look down upon that Allah
will not bestow any good on them. Allah knows what is in their inner selves
(regards to Belief). In that case, I should, indeed be one of the Zalimeen
(wrongdoers, oppressors etc)." (Ch 11:29-31 Quran)
Noah refuted the arguments of the disbeliveers with the noble
knowledge of the prophets. It is the logic of intellect that rids itself of
personal pride and interests.
The rulers were tired of Noah's arguments. Allah the Exalted
related their attitude: They said: "O Noah! You have disputed with us and
much have you prolonged the dispute with us, now bring upon us what you threaten
us with, if you are of the truthful." He said: "Only Allah will bring it (the
punishment)on you, if He will, and then you will escape not. And my advice will
not profit you, even if I wish to give you counsel, if Allah's Will is to keep
you astray. He is your Lord! And to Him you shall return." (Ch 11:32-34
Quran)
The battle continued; the arguments between the disbeliveers and
Noah became prolonged. When all the refutations of the disbeliveers collapsed
and they had no more to say, they began to be rude and insulted Allah's prophet:
'The leaders of his people said: "Verily, we see you in plain error." (Ch
7:60 Quran)
Noah responded in the manner of the prophets: "O my people!
There is no error in me, but I am a Messenger from the Lord of the Alamin
(mankind, jinn and all that exists)! I convey unto you the Messages of my Lord
and give sincere advice to you. And I know from Allah what you know not."
(CH 7:61-62 Quran)
Noah continued appealing to his people to believe in Allah hour
after hour, day after day year after year. He admonished his people and called
them to Allah day and night, in secret and openly. HE gave them examples,
explained Allah's signs and illustrated Allah's ability in the formation of His
creatures. But whenever he called them to Allah, they ran away from him.
Whenever he urged them to ask Allah to forgive them, they put their fingers in
their ears and became too proud to listen to the truth.
Allah the Almighty related what Noah faced: Verily, We sent
Noah to his people saying: "Warn your people before there comes to them a
painful torment."
He said: "O my people! Verily, I am a plain Warner to you, that
you should worship Allah alone, be dutiful to Him and obey me, He (Allah) will
forgive you of your sins and respite you to an appointed term. Verily, the term
of Allah when it comes, cannot be delayed, if you but knew."
He said: "O my Lord! Verily, I have called my people night and
day (secretly and openly to accept the doctrine of Islamic Monotheism), but all
my calling added nothing but to their flight from the truth. Verily! Everytime I
called unto them that You might forgive them, they thrust their fingers into
their ears, covered themselves up with their garments, and persisted (in their
refusal), and magnified themselves in pride. Then verily, I called to them
openly (aloud); then verily, I proclaimed to them in public, and I have appealed
to them in private, I said to them: 'Ask forgiveness from your Lord, Verily, He
is Oft Forgiving; He will send rain to you in abundance, and give you increase
in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers."
What is the matter with you, that you fear not Allah (His
Punishment), and you hope not for reward from Allah or you believe not in His
Oneness. While He has created you in different stages. (Ch 23:13-14 Quran)
See you not how Allah has created the seven heavens one above
another, and has made the moon a light therein and made the sun a lamp? And
Allah has brought you forth from the dust of earth. Afterwards He will return
you into it (the earth), and bring you forth (again on the Day of Resurrection)
Allah has made for you the earth wide spread (an expanse) that you may go about
therein broad roads.
Noah said: "My Lord! They have disobeyed me, and followed one
whose wealth and children give him no increase but only loss. They have plotted
a mighty plot. They have said: 'you shall not leave your gods, nor shall you
leave wadd, nor Suwa, nor Yaghuth, nor ya'uq nor Nasr (names of the idols).
Indeed they have led many astray. O Allah! Grant no increase to the Zalimeen
(polytheists, wrongdoers, and disbeliveers etc) save error."
Because of their sins they were drowned, then were made to enter
the Fire and they found none to help them instead of Allah. (Ch 71:1-25
Quran).
Noah continued to call his people to believe in Allah for nine
hundred fifty years. Allah the Almighty said: Indeed We sent Noah to his
people and he stayed among them a thousand years less fifty years (inviting them
to believe in the Oneness of Allah (Monotheism) and discard the false gods and
other deities). (Ch 29:14 Quran)
It happened that every passing generation admonished the
succeeding one not to believe Noah and to wage war against him. the father used
to teach his child about the matter that was between himself and Noah and
counsel him to reject his call when he reached adulthood. Their natural
disposition rejected believing and following the truth.
Noah saw that the number of believers was not increasing, while
that of the disbeliveers was. He was sad for his people, but he never reached
the point of despair.
There came a day when Allah revealed to Noah that no others
would believe. Allah inspired him not to grieve for them at which point Noah
prayed that the disbeliveers be destroyed. He said: "My Lord! Leave not one
of the disbeliveers on the earth. If you leave them, they will mislead Your
slaves and they will beget none but wicked disbeliveers." (Ch 71:27 Quran)
Allah accepted Noah's prayer. The case was closed, and He passed
His judgment on the disbeliveers in the form of a flood. Allah the Exalted
ordered His worshipper Noah to build an ark with His knowledge and instructions
and with the help of angels. Almighty Allah commanded: "And construct the
ship under Our Eyes and with Our Inspiration and address Me not on behalf of
those who did wrong; they are surely to be drowned." (Ch 11:37 Quran)
Noah chose a place outside the city, far from the sea. HE
collected wood and tools and began to day and night to build the ark. The
people's mockery continued: "O Noah! Does carpentry appeal to you more than
prophethood? Why are you building an ark so far from the sea? Are you going to
drag it to the water or is the wind going to carry it for you?" Noah replied:
"You will come to know who will be put to shame and suffer."
Allah the Almighty narrated: As he was constructing the ship,
whenever the chiefs of his people passed by him, they made a mockery of him. He
said : "If you mock at us, so do we mock at you likewise for your mocking. And
you will know who it is on whom will come a torment that will cover him with
disgrace and on whom will fall a lasting torment." (Ch 11:38-39 Quran)
The ship was constructed, and Noah sat waiting Allah's command.
Allah revealed to him that when water miraculously gushed forth from the oven at
Noah's house, that would be the sign of the start of the flood, and the sign for
Noah to act.
The terrible day arrived when the oven at Noah's house
overflowed. Noah hurried to open the ark and summon the believers. He also took
with him a pair, male and female, of every type of animal, bird and insect.
Seeing him taking these creatures to the ark, the people laughed loudly: "Noah
must have gone out of his head! What is he going to do with the animals?"
Almighty Allah narrated: So it was till then there came Our
Command and the oven gushed forth (water like fountains from the earth). We
said: "Embark therein, of each kind two (male and female), and your family,
except him against whom the Word has already gone forth, and those who believe."
And none believed him except a few. (Ch 11:40 Quran)
Noah's wife was not a believer with him so she did not join him;
neither did one of Noah's sons, who was secretly a disbeliever but had pretended
faith in front of Noah. Likewise most of the people were disbeliveers and did
not go on board.
The scholars hold different opinions on the number of those who
were with Noah on the ship. Ibn Abbas stated that there were 80 believers while
Ka ab al Ahbar held that there were 72 believers. Others claimed that there were
10 believers with Noah.
Water rose from the cracks in the earth; there was not a crack
from which water did not rise. rain poured from the sky in quantities never seen
before on earth. Water continued pouring from the sky rising from the cracks;
hour after hour the level rose. The seas and waves invaded the land. The
interior of the earth moved in a strange way, and the ocean floors lifted
suddenly, flooding the dry land. The earth, for the first time was submerged.
Allah told the story thus: He (Noah) said: "Embark therein in
the Name of Allah will be its moving course and its resting anchorage. Surely,
my Lord is Oft Forgiving, most Merciful." so it (the ship) sailed with them
amidst the waves like mountains, and Noah called out to his son, who had
separated himself (apart), "O my son! Embark with us and be not with the
disbeliveers." The son replied, "I will betake myself to a mountain, it will
save me from the water." Noah said: "This day there is no savior from the Decree
of Allah except him on whom He has mercy." And a wave came in between them so he
(the son) was among the drowned.
It was said: "O Earth! Swallow up your water, and O sky!
Withhold (your rain)." The water was diminished (made to subside) and the Decree
(of Allah) was fulfilled (the destruction of the people of Noah). And it (the
ship) rested on Mount Judi, and it was said: "Away with the people who are
Zalimeen (polytheists, and wrongdoing)!"
Noah called upon his Lord and said, "O my Lord! Verily, my son
is of my family! Certainly, Your Promise is true, and You are the Most Just of
the judges." HE said: "O Noah! Surely, he is not of your family; verily, his
work is unrighteous, so ask not of Me that of which you have no knowledge! I
admonish you, lest you be one of the ignorants."
Noah said: "O my Lord! I seek refuge with You from asking You
that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have Mercy on
me, I would indeed be one of the losers."
It was said: "O Noah! Come down (from the ship) with peace from
Us and blessings on you and on the people owho are with you(and on some of
their offspring), but (there will be other) people to whom We shall grant their
pleasures (for a time), but in the end a painful torment will reach them from
Us." (Ch 11:41-48 Quran)
With the issue of the divine command, calm returned to earth,
the water retreated, and the dry land shone once again in the rays of the sun.
The flood had cleansed the earth of the disbeliveers and polytheists.
Noah released the birds, and the beats which scattered over the
earth. After that the believers disembarked. Noah put his forehead to the ground
in prostration. The survivors kindled a fire and sat around it. Lighting a fire
had been prohibited on board so as not to ignite the ship's wood and burn it up.
None of them had eaten hot food during the entire period of the floor. Following
the disembarkation there was a day of fasting in thanks to Allah.
The Quran draws the curtain on Noah's story. We do not know how
his affairs with his people continued. All we know or can ascertain is that on
his deathbed he requested his son to worship Allah alone, Noah then passed away.
Abdullah Ibn Amru Ibn Al as narrated that the Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH) said: "When the death of the Messenger of Allah Noah approached, the
admonished his sons: 'Indeed I would give you far reaching advice, commanding
you to do 2 things, and warning you against doing 2 things as well. I charge you
to believe that there is no god but Allah and that if the seven heavens and the
seven earths were put on one side of a scale and the words "there is no god but
Allah" were put on the other, the latter would outweigh the former. I warn you
against associating partners with Allah and against pride." (Sahih al Bukhari)
Some traditions said that his grave is in the Scared Mosque in
Mecca, while others said that he was buried in Baalabak, a city in Iraq.
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