Apr 7, 2009

Lives of the Prophets: Nuh (Noah)

Assalamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu!

Insha'Allah this reaches you all in a good state of Iman and Ehsan.

I apologize for the delay in posting the parts of this series. It's crunch time for me with respect to school work so I'll be really busy for the next couple of months. But I will try my hardest to update as much as possible. Please keep me in your du'as :}.

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...a new messenger

Nuh was the first "messenger" of Allah. Nuh is also one of the five greatest prophets mentioned in the Quran including: Mohammad, Moosa (Moses), Isa (Jesus), and Ibrahim (Abraham).

Very much like all the other prophets and messengers, Nuh came with the same message.

"And indeed we sent Noah to his people, and he said I have come as a plain warner that you worship none but Allah."


He came with the message of monotheism; to guide people out of the darkness, and to worship one god, the god.

...unwanted

"Oh my Lord, verily I have called my people night and day. Then verily, I called them openly. Then I called to them in public and in private. But all my calling added nothing, but to their flight from the truth.

Noah tried all methods of preaching and bringing people to their Lord, night and day. He tried every way possible. But the more he tried the more his people ran away from Allah.
"And verily, every time I call unto them that you might forgive them. They press their ears and cover themselves in garments. And persistent in their refusal, magnify themselves in pride."


Whenever he would speak to them about Allah and call them to the right path, they would ignore him, and mock him and be rude and arrogant to him. Yet he did not give up. He was patient with them for 950 years.

...virtues of forgiveness

"So I said to them, 'ask forgiveness from your Lord, verily, he's all forgiving.'"

Noah is telling them about the benefits of forgiveness.
"And he would send rain to you in abundance. And give you increase in your wealth and children. And bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers."


This is the result of repentance. Not only will Allah forgive us but he will reward us with his blessings. So we must keep that in mind to never give up hope, if you commit a sin, and we all commit sins, it's never too late to repent. And be sure that Allah will forgive you if you're sincere in your repentance. Even if we feel that we have not committed any sins, we must ask Allah for forgiveness for the sins we committed unknowingly. Even the greatest of the people, Mohammad, peace and blessings be upon him, used to ask Allah for forgiveness night and day. So who are we to not worry about our sins?

...the end of dispute

Nuh had been preaching for 950 years, and he did not give up. He persisted even though he was alone. The people of Nuh, though, gave up.
"Oh Noah,you have disputed with us and you prolonged this dispute with us. Now bring upon us what you threaten us with, if you are truthful."

They want it to end. They say to Noah that he's been trying to argue with them for too long, and they want proof that what he is saying is correct. They want him to bring them the punishment of Allah for being disbelievers as a proof.
"If you seize not, you will surely be among those stoned to death."

Now they are threatening him. They want him to stop or they will throw stones at him till he dies. So Nuh starts to make a prayer against them.
"My Lord, they have disobeyed me, and followed the ones whose wealth and children gave them no increase or loss."

"And it was inspired to Nuh, 'none of your people will believe except those who have already believed"


Nuh continues his prayer,
"O Allah, leave none of the non believers on the face of the earth. If you leave them, they will mislead your servants and they will beget none but wicked disbelievers."


Nuh is praying to Allah to destroy all non believers because if they survive they will lure the believers back into being non believers, and cause a great deal of trouble.

Allah's commandment came,
"And construct a 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."


...Noah's ark

Noah started building the ark, then and there. The people would mock him for building a ship where there is no water, on top of a hill.
"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 come a lasting torment."


They would mock him day by day as he constructed the ship that Allah had commanded him to construct. He was patient, and he told them, you can mock at me but the punishment of Allah will fall upon you soon.

"And it was till then came our command. The springs of earth started gushing water. And rain started falling from the sky."

Allah commanded Nuh to take his family and the believers, and take with him a pair of all animals. Nuh hopped on board.

Muslim scholars say that the number of Nuh's followers ranges between 7 and 80. The maximum number of people who believed in Islam over the 950 years that Nuh's had been preaching was 80. Nuh had tremendous amount of patience, he kept on going until they gave up.

...the flood

"The ship sailed with him, amidst waves like mountains."


Imagine waves high as mountains. Tsunami would not be the appropriate term to describe these waves because tsunamis are much smaller. We're talking waves as high as 1000 or 2000 feet. How did Noah's ship survive these large waves? Even the biggest U.S. aircraft carier cannot sustain these waves. It was not the ship that saved Noah and his people from the flood. It was the mercy of Allah. Noah just built the ark to fulfill Allah's command. It is the will of Allah that saves us from tragedies.

Nuh is on his ark and he sees his son trying to survive.
"Oh my son, embark with us and don't be with the non believers."
"I will seek refuge in a mountain that will save me from this water."
"There's nothing that can save you on this day except the mercy of Allah."

"...And waves separated them and he drowned."


Nuh's son drowned, right in front of his own eyes, because he chose to disbelieve. It was a very tragic scene. But again, it was the tremendous patience and faith in Allah that kept Nuh firm on the commandment of Allah.

...a new beginning for the family
"Rain stopped from the sky and Allah commanded the earth to swallow the water."


The ark landed on a mountain called Judi. When everything settled. Nuh asked Allah, inquiring about his son, because Allah said 'your family will be saved'.
"Oh my Lord, verily my son is of my family, and certainly your promise is true and you are the most just."


Often times we give words certain meanings but Islam gives it a new definition. For example "family". Allah says, "Oh Nuh, surely he is not of your family. Verily, his work is unrighteous." Upon hearing that, Nuh realizes that by family Allah meant the believers. Us believers are like a one big family. We must look out for each other and take care of them when they are in need. It is an essential part of Islam to care about the well being of others.

Nuh asked Allah for forgiveness due to his ignorance,
"Oh my Lord, I seek refuge in your from asking you that of which I have no knowledge. And unless you forgive me and have mercy on me, I will indeed be of the losers."


And in the next verse Allah says to Mohammad, peace and blessings be with him.
"This is the news of the unseen which we reveal to you. Niether you not your people knew it before. Be patient! Verily, those who fear Allah will be successful."


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Nuh won. After 950 years! And he wouldn't have won if he didn't have patience.

I pray to Allah to give us all patience to deal with our problems and issues. And make us among the best of people; the people of heaven.

Surely all that's good in this essay is from Allah, and all error is from my own self.

I apologize to you if I have said anything to offend you. And I ask Allah for forgiveness if I have said anything incorrect.

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