There are two opinions on the
Prophetic timeline of Prophet Nuh (
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ )
The first is the opinion of many Historians like
Ibn Katheer, who wrote Prophet
Nuh as coming after Prophet Idris; may peace be upon them.
However, some scholars believe that
ayah 163 of Surah Nisa suggests he came first before Idrees,
“
“Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], as We
revealed to Noah and the prophets after him...”
We present both views so you, as a student of knowledge, are aware. There isn't enough evidence to conclude with absolute certainty, nor is there any benefit in investigating this matter further. This piece is written with the perspective that Nuh (as) came after Idris.
Life after Prophet Idris (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ):
The
Muslims were left stranded
following the death of
Prophet Idris (
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ). Since no other man from amongst them was chosen as a Prophet,
people began to look to the pious companions of Idris for
guidance.
They respected and followed these righteous men and consulted
them whenever they faced a problem. Eventually, as time passed by,
the pious men also passed,
leaving the Muslims again with no leader for guidance.
They feared and were worried that they would
stray from the path of
Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ)
Satan, who watched on with shrewd eyes, approached the wailing men and women disguised as a man and whispered into their ears: "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 men agreed as they perceived no harm in erecting statues of their most pious men; that would surely help them remember Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ and encourage them to do good.
Satan had successfully planted his corrupt seed. He was patient for he knew that getting man to worship another was a slow process.
“
When that generation had passed, and the new generation of people had forgotten the intention behind the erecting of statues, Satan whispered into the ears of the men:"Your forefathers used to worship these idols. These statues brought them goodness."
Thus, idolatry took root in the hearts of man.
Centuries passed, and Allah decided to send a Prophet to guide the
idolaters back to the truth. The Prophet chosen for this sacred task was
Nuh (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) (the judeo-Christian equivalent to the Prophet Noah).
Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ)
blessed his loyal disciple with
eloquent speech and immense patience so that
he may carry out his duty with success. So
Prophet Nuh (
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ )
began to preach to his people about the mysteries of the vast
universe—he informed them about the night and the day, the stars and
the moon, the plants and animals, and the heavens and the earth.
He explained to them that
man was created by Allah to glorify and worship Him. Nuh then
told them about the
oneness of Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) — that the mysteries of the world were only proof of the
existence of one true God, and that is none other than
Allah the Most High. He explained to them
that Satan had misled them into worshiping idols and warned
them of a
terrible punishment from Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ)
if they continued their idol worship.
The People of Prophet Nuh listened to him with great confusion
and patience.
The most miserable and desperate amongst Nuh's people began to find
hope and solace in the Prophet's words and gradually entered
into the fold of Islam,
whilst the affluent watched on with rage.
They said to Nuh: “We see you but a man like ourselves.”
Prophet Nuh (
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ )
explained to them that
he was certainly a human being, and Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) had explicitly chosen a human messenger
as the earth was predominantly occupied by humans after all.
And if angels occupied the earth,
Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ)
would have surely sent an angelic messenger to convey his message.
“
One day, the wealthy masters of the city approached Prophet Nuh and said to him: "Listen Nuh, if you want us to believe in you, then dismiss your believers. They are meek and poor, while we are elite and rich; no faith can include us both."
Nuh (
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ )
was well aware of the
ignorance of the wealthy 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 (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ), and it was what is within one's heart that really mattered to Him.
“
Prophet Nuh (
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ )
replied to them:
O my people! I ask for no wealth for it, my reward is from none
but Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ). 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 (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) , 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 (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) 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
(سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) will not bestow any good on them. Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) knows what is in their inner selves. In that case, I should,
indeed be one of the wrongdoers.”
— Surah Hud, Ayat 29-31
The idolaters were furious. They had
tolerated Nuh's
(
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ )
incessant preaching and arguments for far too long.
“
They angrily challenged
Nuh (
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ )
:
“O Nuh(
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ ) ! 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.” — Surah Hud Ayah 32
“
Nuh (
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ )
replied:
“Only Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) 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.”
— Surah Hud, Ayat 33-34
The disbelievers, who had lost all patience with Nuh (
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), resorted to hurl insults at the Messenger of Allah in
attempt to frighten him from preaching the religion of Islam.
“
They said: “Verily, we see you in plain error”
“
Nuh (
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ ) patiently replied:
“O my people! There is no error in me, but I am a Messenger
from the Lord of the worlds! I convey unto you the Messages of
my Lord and give sincere advice to you. And I know from Allah
(سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) what you know not.”
Despite the continuous mockery and rejection, Prophet Nuh (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) was persistent in calling his people to Islam for nine hundred and fifty years. But every generation that came into existence rejected Nuh as their fathers did.
Prophet Nuh (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) makes supplication:
Each child that reached an age of understanding was clearly warned
against the teachings of Prophet Nuh (
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ ). Whenever the Prophet approached them, they ran away from him.
They found every excuse to escape from the presence of Nuh (
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ ).
Before long,
Prophet Nuh (
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ ) realized that the number of disbelievers was rapidly rising
while the number of believers remained unchanged. He was very upset
for his people and
feared a terrible predicament for them,
but he was left with no choice.
“
So Prophet Nuh (
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ ) prayed to Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ):
“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 Wadd, Suwa, Yaghuth, Ya'uq, nor Nasr
(names of the idols)'. Indeed they have led many astray. O
Allah! Grant no increase to the disbelievers.”
Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ soon revealed to Prophet Nuh that no other man from his 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 Prophet Nuh: "And 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 (
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ ) began to build the ark through day and night with the support
and guidance of the Angels.The construction of the ark continued amidst the constant
mockery of the people.
“
They jeered at Prophet Nuh (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), saying:
“O Nuh! 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?”
Prophet Nuh (
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ ) answered:
“You will come to know who will be put to shame and
suffering.”
Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) then instructed to Nuh (
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ )
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, Nuh also took with him pairs of animals,
birds, and insects.
“
The people who witnessed Nuh's peculiar behavior laughed at him
again, saying:
“Nuh must have gone out of his head! What is he going to do with
the animals?”
The flood
Soon after, heavy rains began to pour down from the angry skies,
and water began to rise through every crack on earth. It didn't take long before the oceans completely conquered the
once-dry land.
Prophet Nuh (
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ ) witnessed the terrible calamity that had befallen his
people.
He knew the disbelievers had no escape from the wrath of Allah
(سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ).
Amongst the disbelievers was Prophet Nuh's wife and son, who
refused to board his ark.
“
Nuh (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) desperately called out to his son:
“O my son! Embark with us and be not among the disbelievers.”
The ignorant son of Nuh (
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ ) replied,
“I will get to the mountain; it will save me from the water.”
Nuh (
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ ) answered: “This day there is no saviour from the Decree of Allah except
him on whom He has mercy.”
Before long,
Nuh's son was engulfed by the angry waves,
never to be seen again.
When every single disbeliever had perished, Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ ordered the skies and the earth:
"O Earth! Swallow up your water, and O sky! Withhold your rain."
The skies immediately cleared, and the sun shined brightly on the land. Meanwhile, Nuh's ark peacefully landed on Mount Judi. Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ 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 (
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ ), along with the believers, got off the ark,
releasing the rescued animals, birds and insects across the green
land.
Prophet Nuh (
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ ) placed his forehead on the ground, prostrated to his Lord, and
thanked Him immensely for His mercy and blessings. The believers
were grateful to Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) for safeguarding them from the terrible ordeal and observed a day
of fasting as an act of gratitude to Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) .
VERSES FROM THE QUR'AN THAT MENTION THE PROPHET NOAH: (
عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)
There are a total of 47 different instances where Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) directly refers to Prophet Noah (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) in the Qur'an. Here we provide reference to all for you to explore. We've also created a dedicated page on all the verses of Prophet Nuh (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) to be read on a single page.
*In the Qur'an it says, "We sent Noah to his people, and he remained among them for a thousand years, less fifty." (Qur'an 29:14)
**Wife of Nuh (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) is not stated by name in the Qur'an nor Hadith. However, some historians like Al-Tabari have suggested the name.
***It is stated in the Qur'an where Nuh (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Ark settled, "And it was said, “O earth, swallow your water, and O sky, withhold [your rain].” And the water subsided, and the matter was accomplished, and the ship came to rest on the [mountain of] Judiyy." (Qur'an 11:44)
Commonly Asked Questions:
Here we will be answering commonly asked questions regarding Prophet Nuh (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ).
No questions answered as of yet, soon Insha'Allah.
