The Story of Noah (part 2 of 3)
- Categories: Stories of the Prophets -
Noah Builds the
Ark
Noah continued to appeal to his people and they became
divided into two groups. His words spoke to the heart of the weak,
poor, and oppressed, but the wealthy influential people distrusted
those words and could think only of the possible erosion of their
power and status. A war of words began between Noah and the
disbelievers. They accused Noah of being nothing but any other
human, of being nothing special. Noah agreed with this observation
and said that, indeed, he was only a human being, but one who
brought a clear warning. And God, 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 God, surely, I fear for you the torment of a painful Day.' 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.'} [Quran 11:25-27]
{وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ
قَوْمِهِ إِنِّي لَكُمْ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ ﴿٢٥﴾
أَن لَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا اللَّهَ ۖ إِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ
عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ أَلِيمٍ ﴿٢٦﴾ فَقَالَ الْمَلَأُ
الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِن قَوْمِهِ مَا نَرَاكَ إِلَّا بَشَرًا
مِّثْلَنَا وَمَا نَرَاكَ اتَّبَعَكَ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ هُمْ
أَرَاذِلُنَا بَادِيَ الرَّأْيِ وَمَا نَرَىٰ لَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا مِن
فَضْلٍ بَلْ نَظُنُّكُمْ كَاذِبِينَ} [هود:25-٢٧]
Transliteration: Wa Laqad 'Arsalnā Nūĥāan
'Ilá Qawmihi 'Innī Lakum Nadhīrun Mubīnun
(25) 'An Lā Ta`budū 'Illā Allāha 'Innī 'Akhāfu `Alaykum `Adhāba
Yawmin 'Alīmin
(26)Faqāla Al-Mala'u Al-Ladhīna Kafarū Min Qawmihi Mā Narāka 'Illā
Basharāan Mithlanā Wa Mā Narāka Attaba`aka 'Illā Al-Ladhīna Hum
'Arādhilunā Bādiya Ar-Ra'yi Wa Mā Nará Lakum `Alaynā Min
Fađlin Bal Nažunnukum Kādhibīna
Noah explained to his rebellious people that they would receive
benefits by turning to God and begging His forgiveness. He (God)
would bestow rain on them, as well as children and wealth, He would
grant them bounteous gardens and flowing rivers. However, the
disbelievers rebuffed his words; they felt secure in their
arrogance and pride.
The Conflict Intensified
Those against Noah and his call began to bargain with him. They
told him, that these two diverse groups, the meek and poor and the
rich and powerful, could not exist together in the same faith.
Although continuously taunted and bullied by the disbelievers, Noah
reacted in a kind gentle manner. He explained that he would never
turn away the humble and weak believers who had heeded his call.
These people, he would inform them, were the guests of God. Noah
appealed to his people. He tried to reason with them and make them
see the reality of their situation. Without personal gain and with
a humble but heavy heart Noah refuted their arguments.
{O my people! I ask of you no wealth
for it; my reward is from none but God. 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 God if I drove them away? Will you
not then give a thought? And I do not say to you that the Treasures
of God are (only) with me or that I know the unseen, nor do I say I
am an angel; and I do not say that God will not bestow any good on
those whom your eyes look down upon. God knows what is in their
inner selves (in regard to Belief). In that case, I would indeed be
among the unjust.} [Quran 11:29-31]
{وَيَا قَوْمِ لَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ
عَلَيْهِ مَالًا ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ ۚ وَمَا أَنَا
بِطَارِدِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ۚ إِنَّهُم مُّلَاقُو رَبِّهِمْ
وَلَٰكِنِّي أَرَاكُمْ قَوْمًا تَجْهَلُونَ
﴿٢٩﴾ وَيَا قَوْمِ مَن يَنصُرُنِي مِنَ اللَّهِ
إِن طَرَدتُّهُمْ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٣٠﴾
وَلَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِندِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ
الْغَيْبَ وَلَا أَقُولُ إِنِّي مَلَكٌ وَلَا أَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ
تَزْدَرِي أَعْيُنُكُمْ لَن يُؤْتِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا ۖ اللَّهُ
أَعْلَمُ بِمَا فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ إِنِّي إِذًا لَّمِنَ
الظَّالِمِينَ} [هود:29-٣١]
Transliteration: Wa Yāqawmi Lā 'As'alukum `Alayhi
Mālāan 'In 'Ajriya 'Illā `Alá Allāhi Wa Mā 'Anā Biţāridi
Al-Ladhīna 'Āmanū 'Innahum Mulāqū Rabbihim Wa Lakinnī 'Arākum
Qawmāan Tajhalūna (29) Wa Yāqawmi Man Yanşurunī Mina Allāhi 'In
Ţaradtuhum 'Afalā Tadhakkarūna (30)Wa Lā 'Aqūlu Lakum `Indī
Khazā'inu Allāhi Wa Lā 'A`lamu Al-Ghayba Wa Lā 'Aqūlu 'Innī Malakun
Wa Lā 'Aqūlu Lilladhīna Tazdarī 'A`yunukum Lan Yu'utiyahumu Allāhu
Khayrāan Allāhu 'A`lamu Bimā Fī 'Anfusihim 'Innī 'Idhāan Lamina
Až-Žālimīna
The disagreements continued until the disbelievers had run out of
arguments. They mocked Noah and the believers, but Noah continued
to deliver his message. Finally, he could bear no more and turned
to God with heartfelt supplication. Noah did not run out of
patience; he remained a patient, kind and gentle man. But he had
come to realise that the disbelievers would do nothing but spread
corruption and disbelief throughout the land. They would mislead
and corrupt the believers and deliver a legacy of disbelief to
their children. Noah prayed to God. He said:
{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.} [Quran 71:27]
إ{ِنَّكَ إِن تَذَرْهُمْ يُضِلُّوا
عِبَادَكَ وَلَا يَلِدُوا إِلَّا فَاجِرًا كَفَّارًا}
[نوح:٢٧]
Transliteration: 'Innaka 'In Tadharhum Yuđillū
`Ibādaka Wa Lā Yalidū 'Illā Fājirāan Kaffārāan
So God accepted Noah's prayer.
The Ark
God instructed Noah to build the ark and passed judgement on the
disbelievers in the form of a flood.
{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.}
[Quran11:37]
{وَاصْنَعِ الْفُلْكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا
وَوَحْيِنَا وَلَا تُخَاطِبْنِي فِي الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا ۚ إِنَّهُم
مُّغْرَقُونَ} [هود:٣٧]
Transliteration: Wa Aşna`i Al-Fulka Bi'a`yuninā Wa
Waĥyinā Wa Lā Tukhāţibnī Fī Al-Ladhīna Žalamū 'Innahum
Mughraqūna
Noah chose a place outside the city and far away from the sea to
build his ark. The disbelievers mocked and laughed, making comments
about the ship's location, far from any water source. The
disbelievers had no comprehension of the power and magnificence of
God, so they could not understand why Noah would build a ship, on
the top of a hill, far away from the ocean. They called him crazy
and laughed out loud. The ship began to take shape and when it was
finished, Noah patiently waited for the command from God.
{Until when Our Command came and the
lowlands gushed forth, overflowing, We said: 'Load it with two of
each kind of animal (male and female), and embark your family,
except against whom the Word has already gone forth, and those who
believe.' And none believed him except a few.} [Quran
11:40]
{حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَ أَمْرُنَا وَفَارَ
التَّنُّورُ قُلْنَا احْمِلْ فِيهَا مِن كُلٍّ زَوْجَيْنِ اثْنَيْنِ
وَأَهْلَكَ إِلَّا مَن سَبَقَ عَلَيْهِ الْقَوْلُ وَمَنْ آمَنَ ۚ
وَمَا آمَنَ مَعَهُ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ} [هود:٤٠]
Transliteration: Ĥattá 'Idhā Jā'a 'Amrunā
Wa Fāra At-Tannūru Qulnā Aĥmil Fīhā Min Kullin Zawjayni Athnayni Wa
'Ahlaka 'Illā Man Sabaqa `Alayhi Al-Qawlu Wa Man 'Āmana Wa Mā
'Āmana Ma`ahu 'Illā Qalīlun
When the water started to gush from the earth and fall from the
sky, God instructed Noah to enter the ark with his family and the
believers. God also commanded Noah to take a pair (male and female)
of every animal, bird and insect with him. The disbelievers watched
him incredulously, asking what he intended to do with all the
animals.
Noah's wife did not join him, for she had never believed in the
message that Noah had been preaching; nor did his oldest son, who
preferred to flee to a high mountain. The scholars of Islam hold
different opinions about the number of people on the ark, but the
highest estimate is 80. As the believers and animals entered the
ark, the water gushed from every crack in the earth, and the rain
fell from the sky in quantities never seen before. Hour after hour
the water levels rose, and the seas and rivers invaded the
land.
By Aisha Stacey
IslamReligion.com