Nuh > Lesson 2

Lesson 2: Allah sent Prophet Nuh AS as a warner and adviser to his people

Verily, We sent Nuh AS (Noah) to his people (Saying): "Warn your people before there comes to them a painful torment."

Al-Qur’an 71:1

A warner and an adviser -The first messenger

Prophet Nuh AS was the FIRST MESSENGER sent to mankind by Allah.

His lifespan extended over 950 years.

Nuh AS dedicated himself to calling his people to the worship of Allah alone, emphasising Tawheed for 950 years.

Nuh AS employed various methods to CONVEY his message, publicly and privately, during both day and night. He continuously exerted his efforts to guide his people towards monotheism and righteousness, striving tirelessly to make them understand the importance of worshipping Allah alone and abandoning their false deities.

He utilised a combination of encouragement and warning, seeking to guide his people towards righteousness and away from polytheism and making all matters clear and apparent. He called them to obey Allah’s commands, to be dutiful to him and reminded them that Allah will forgive them of their sins and grant them respite until the day of judgement. He reminded them of the countless blessings of Allah- rain in abundance, increase in wealth and children, livestock and beautiful gardens and rivers.

Despite his sincere efforts, Nuh AS faced SEVERE OPPOSITION from his people, who MOCKED and THREATENED him both physically and verbally. They had thrust their fingers in their ears, covered their faces with their garments and magnified themselves in pride to not hear or accept the truth.

They ACCUSED Nuh AS for being in great error for not following what their forefathers did. They criticised him implying that his followers were not of the intellect and the lowliest from among them. No one from nobility or rulers followed him. He was only human like them and not an angel so they questioned how revelation came to him instead of them.

It has been mentioned that his wife used to expose his secrets and would tell the people whenever anyone would embrace.

The people of Nuh AS SOUGHT TO HASTEN Allah’s anger and punishment, enticing Nuh AS to supplicate against them as he wished and let whatever he asked for to come upon them. No matter how long Nuh AS tried to convince them, the disbelievers said they will remain steadfast in their REFUSAL to follow him.

However, Nuh AS remained STEADFAST AND BRAVE in the face of these threats, unwavering in his commitment to his mission and his faith in Allah. He confirmed to them that only Allah can punish them and hasten their punishment which no one from them will escape.

Despite the WIDESPREAD REJECTION of his message, Nuh AS found followers among his people who believed in him and embraced his teachings. These believers demonstrated COURAGE AND RESILIENCE, standing firm in their faith despite the persecution and ridicule they endured alongside Nuh AS.

  1. Narrated Abu Huraira: We were in the company of the Prophet ﷺ at a banquet and a cooked (mutton) forearm was set before him, and he used to like it. He ate a morsel of it and said, "I will be the chief of all the people on the Day of Resurrection. Do you know how Allah will gather all the first and the last (people) in one level place where an observer will be able to see (all) of them and they will be able to hear the announcer, and the sun will come near to them. Some People will say: Don't you see, in what condition you are and the state to which you have reached? Why don't you look for a person who can intercede for you with your Lord? Some people will say: Appeal to your father, Adam.' They will go to him and say: 'O Adam! You are the father of all mankind, and Allah created you with His Own Hands, and ordered the angels to prostrate for you, and made you live in Paradise. Will you not intercede for us with your Lord? Don't you see in what (miserable) state we are, and to what condition we have reached?' On that Adam will reply, 'My Lord is so angry as He has never been before and will never be in the future; (besides), He forbade me (to eat from) the tree, but I disobeyed (Him), (I am worried about) myself! Myself! Go to somebody else; go to Noah.' They will go to Noah and say; 'O Noah! You are the first amongst the messengers of Allah to the people of the earth, and Allah named you a thankful slave. Don't you see in what a (miserable) state we are and to what condition we have reached? Will you not intercede for us with your Lord? Noah will reply: 'Today my Lord has become so angry as he had never been before and will never be in the future Myself! Myself! Go to the Prophet (Muhammad). The people will come to me, and I will prostrate myself underneath Allah's Throne. Then I will be addressed: 'O Muhammad! Raise your head; intercede, for your intercession will be accepted, and ask (for anything). for you will be given. " [Sahih al-Bukhari 3340] [In-book reference : Book 60, Hadith 15]
  2. And indeed We sent Nuh AS (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], and the Deluge overtook them while they were Zalimun (wrong-doers, polytheists, disbelievers, etc.). [Al-Qur’an 29:14]
  3. Verily, We sent Nuh AS (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 (i.e. secretly and openly to accept the doctrine of Islamic Monotheism)."But all my calling added nothing but to (their) flight (from the truth). "And verily! Every time 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. [Al-Qur’an 71: 1-14]
  4. Indeed, We sent Nuh AS (Noah) to his people and he said: "O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Him. (La ilaha ill-Allah: none has the right to be worshiped but Allah). Certainly, I fear for you the torment of a Great Day!" The leaders of his people said: "Verily, we see you in plain error."[Nuh AS (Noah)] said: "O my people! There is no error in me, but I am a Messenger from the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns 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. "Do you wonder that there has come to you a Reminder from your Lord through a man from amongst you, that he may warn you, so that you may fear Allah and that you may receive (His) Mercy?" [Al-Qur’an 7:59-63]
  5. And recite to them the news of Nuh AS (Noah). When he said to his people: "O my people, if my stay (with you), and my reminding (you) of the Signs of Allah is hard on you, then I put my trust in Allah. So devise your plot, you and your partners, and let not your plot be in doubt for you. Then pass your sentence on me and give me no respite. "But if you turn away [from accepting my doctrine of Islamic Monotheism, i.e. to worship none but Allah], then no reward have I asked of you, my reward is only from Allah, and I have been commanded to be one of the Muslims (those who submit to Allah's Will)." [Al-Qur’an 10: 71-72]
  6. The chiefs of the disbelievers 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." [Al-Qur’an 11: 27]
  7. Allah sets forth an example for those who disbelieve, the wife of Nuh AS (Noah) and the wife of Lout (Lot). They were under two of our righteous slaves, but they both betrayed their (husbands by rejecting their doctrine) so they [Nuh AS (Noah) and Lout (Lot)] benefited them (their respective wives) not, against Allah, and it was said: "Enter the Fire along with those who enter!" [Al-Qur’an 66:10]
  8. They said: "O Nuh AS (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. [Al-Qur’an 11: 32-33]
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