Prophet Idris, peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him, had passed away, leaving the people stranded and without guidance. The people then decided to follow the companions of the Prophet Idris, as there was no other Prophet yet. These companions were righteous men, and the people loved them for their piousness and wisdom. When faced with problems, they would consult these men. But they are still human, and eventually, the pious men died. This once again left the people without any guidance, and these people were afraid that they would be astray from the correct path.
Shaytaan was happy to see the people without a leader. He disguised himself as a man, and told the people, “If we make statues of these righteous men, it will be more pleasing to us in our worship and will remind us of them.” The unsuspecting people agreed to this request, believing that erecting idols of their pious predecessors would help them to remember Allah better and potentially encourage themselves to do good. Oh, how mistaken they were!
Shaytaan was even more happy, as his evil plot had succeeded. He was extremely patient, for he knew that getting someone to worship another being other than Allah was a slow and difficult process. When that generation had died out, and the new generation of people had forgotten the intentions behind why the statues had been built, Shaytaan then whispered to the people, saying, “Your forefathers used to worship these idols. These statues brought them goodness.” The people were convinced enough, and they began to worship the idols, which were named Waaz, Suwah, Yaghooth, Ya'uq and Nasr.
After several centuries had passed, Allah sent down Prophet Nuh, peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him, to guide the people away from idolatry. Allah blessed his great servant with a very eloquent speech and immense patience, so that he would be able to carry out his assigned task with success. Prophet Nuh preached to his people about the many universal wonders; he told them about the nights and the days, the stars, the sun and the moon, the plants and animals, and the heavens and what was on Earth. He explained to them that humankind was created by Allah to glorify and worship Him. He then told them about the oneness of Allah; that the wonders of this world were only proof of the existence of one true God, and that is none other than Allah, may He be Exalted. Prophet Nuh then explained to them that Shaytaan had misled them into worshipping statues, and warned them of a terrible punishment from Allah if they continued their polytheistic ways.
The people listened to him with great confusion, shock, and patience. Several amongst them , mostly the poor and needy, began to find hope and solace in the words of Prophet Nuh, and gradually entered into the fold of Islam, while the rich and snobbish people watched on with rage. They said to Prophet Nuh, “We see you as a man whom is no different to us.” The Prophet then explained to them that he was certainly a human being, and Allah had specifically chosen a human messenger as this world was predominantly occupied by humans after all. And if this world was occupied by angels, Allah would have surely sent an angelic messenger to convey His message.
One day, the affluent men of the people approached Prophet Nuh and said to him: “Listen Nuh, if you want us to believe in you, then dismiss your believers. They are poor and needy, but we are elite and rich; no faith can include us both.” Prophet Nuh was well-aware of the ignorance of these rich men. He knew that he had to remain calm in order to explain to them that materialistic possessions were worthless in the sight of Allah and it was what is within one’s heart that really mattered to Him. Prophet Nuh replied to them: “O my people! I ask for 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 ignorant people. 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 that 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. In that case, I should, indeed be one of the wrongdoers.”
The polytheists were extremely mad. They had tolerated the incessant preaching of Prophet Nuh for far too long. They angrily challenged Nuh, saying, “O Nuh! You have disputed with us and have prolonged the dispute with us, now bring upon us what you threaten us with, if you are of the truthful.” The Prophet replied, “Only Allah will bring the punishment on you, if He wills, and then you will not be able to escape. 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.”
For a hundred and fifty years, Prophet Nuh, peace be upon Him, preached to his people and any generation which came after them. But these people were stubborn, and each child that had reached an age of understanding was clearly warned against the teachings of Prophet Nuh. Whenever the Prophet approached them, they ran away from him. Before long, Prophet Nuh realized that the number of disbelievers was rapidly growing, whilst the number of believers was still the same as centuries before. He was very upset for his people, and he feared a terrible predicament for them. After a while, he was left with no choice. So Prophet Nuh prayed to Allah, “My Lord! They have disobeyed me, and followed one whose wealth and children give them no increase but only loss. They have plotted a mighty plot. They have said, ‘you shall not leave your gods, nor shall you leave Waaz, Suwah, Yaghooth, Ya'uq and Nasr’. Indeed they have led many of them astray. O Allah! Grant no increase to the disbelievers.”
Allah revealed to Prophet Nuh that no other man from the people would enter Islam thereafter. Sad and frustrated, Prophet Nuh replied to Allah: “My Lord! Leave not one of the disbelievers on the earth. If you leave them, they will mislead Your slaves and they will beget none but wicked disbelievers.” Prophet Nuh’s prayer was accepted by his Lord. He instructed to Prophet Nuh, “Construct the ark under Our Eyes and with Our Inspiration and address Me not on behalf of those who did wrong.”
Outside the city limits, away from the sea, Prophet Nuh began to build the ark through day and night, with the support and guidance of the Allah's great Angels. The construction of the ark continued, but it was met wit constant mockery from the people. They jeered at Prophet Nuh, saying, “O Nuh! Does being a carpenter appeal to you more than being a Prophet? 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?” Prophet Nuh answered them, “You will come to know, who, will be put to shame and suffering.”
Allah then instructed to Prophet Nuh that when the oven at his home begins to gush forth water, collect the believers and board the ark for it was the first sign of the beginning of the floods that would destroy the disbelievers. Not long after, the terrible day dawned as water began gushing forth from the oven at Prophet Nuh's house. Nuh knew it was time to board the ark. Along with the believers and three of his sons, Prophet Nuh also took with him pairs of animals, birds and insects. The people who witnessed Nuh's peculiar behaviour laughed at him again saying, “Nuh must have gone out of his head! What is he going to do with the animals?”
Soon after, heavy rains emerged, descending from the angry skies, and water began to rise through every crack on the ground. The water levels gradually began to rise, and soon, the oceans engulfed the land. The once dry land was now completely submerged in water for the first time. Prophet Nuh witnessed the terrible calamity that had befallen his people. He knew the disbelievers had no escape from the wrath of Allah. Amongst the disbelievers was Prophet Nuh's wife and one of his sons who refused to board the ark. Nuh desperately called out to his son: “O my son! Embark with us and be not among the disbelievers.” The ignorant son of Nuh replied, “I will get to the mountain, for it will save me from the water.” Nuh answered, “This day there is no saviour from the Decree of Allah except him on whom He has mercy.” The disobedient young man went and climbed up the tallest mountain, but it was engulfed by angry waves, and he was never to be seen again.
When all of the disbelievers had ultimately been destroyed, Allah ordered the skies and the earth, “O Earth! Swallow up your water, and O sky! Withhold your rain.” The skies then cleared, and out rose the sun, which shone brightly on the land. Meanwhile, the ark landed on Mount Judi in a calm manner. Allah then instructed His Prophet: “O Nuh! Come down (from the ship) with peace from Us and blessings on you and on the people who are with you.” As instructed, Prophet Nuh along with the believers got off the ark, releasing the rescued animals, birds and insects across the green land.
Prophet Nuh then placed his forehead on the ground to prostrate to his Lord. Prophet Nuh then thanked Allah immensely for His mercy and blessings. The believers were grateful to Allah for safeguarding them from the terrible ordeal and observed a day of fasting as an act of gratitude to Allah. As for the sons of Prophet Nuh, three out of four remained, they were Shaam, Haam, and Yafith. These three were the only people out of Nuh's family who were believers. After Prophet Nuh had passed away at the age of at least a thousand, the sons spread Islam and they also became the ancestors of a new generation of humans. We humans, you and me, are essentially the descendants of these three, great, righteous men, whom themselves are descended from Prophet Nuh, peace be upon Him.
Source:
Qassas al-Anbiya by Imam Ibn Kathir, chapter on Prophet Nuh alayhis salaam
Qur'an verses featuring the Prophet Nuh alayhis salaam
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