The story of Noah, peace be upon him: The Great Flood and the Deliverance of the Ark of Faith
In the long history of mankind, the stories of the prophets appear as beacons of guidance, carrying with them great lessons in patience, fortitude, and certainty of God’s promise. The story of Noah, peace be uponhim, the prophet who called his people for a thousand years but fifty years, and faced their disbelief and stubbornness, and their end was the great flood, and the survival of those who believed with him in the ship of faith.
Noah’s call: A Thousand Years but Fifty
God sent Noah (peace be upon him) to his people, who were worshipping idols and calling people to polytheism. Noah began his call with kindness and wisdom, calling them to worship God alone and warning them of His punishment. He called them day and night, secretly and openly, and did not despair despite their reluctance and disbelief. His call lasted for centuries, a thousand years but fifty, as he faced ridicule, mockery, and stubbornness from his people.
Evidence: The Holy Qur’an describes Noah’s patience and his constant calling in the words of Almighty Allah:
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي دَعَوْتُ قَوْمِي لَيْلًا وَنَهَارًا (5) فَلَمْ يَزِدْهُمْ دُعَائِي إِلَّا فِرَارًا (6) وَإِنِّي كُلَّمَا دَعَوْتُهُمْ لِتَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ جَعَلُوا أَصَابِعَهُمْ فِي آذَانِهِمْ وَاسْتَغْشَوْا ثِيَابَهُمْ وَأَصَرُّوا وَاسْتَكْبَرُوا اسْتِكْبَارًا (7)
(Surah Noah: 5-7).
They were so stubborn that they said to him, “If you do not finish, O Noah, you will be one of the stoned people.” (The Poets: 116).
God’s command to build a ship: Preparation for survival
After all these years of preaching, and Noah despaired of his people’s faith, God revealed to him that none of his people would believe except those who believed, and ordered him to build a great ship. This was surprising, as Noah lived in a desert region with no rivers or seas nearby, and building a ship of this size would require a great deal of effort.
Noah (peace be upon him) began to build the ark, and his people passed by and mocked him, saying: “Do you build a ship in the desert?” But Noah knew that this was God’s command, and that there was a great wisdom behind it. The building of the ark was a test for Noah and those who believed with him, emphasizing the certainty of God’s promise, even if it seems impossible on the surface.
Evidence: The Almighty said:
وَاصْنَعِ الْفُلْكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَوَحْيِنَا وَلَا تُخَاطِبْنِي فِي الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا ۖ إِنَّهُم مُّغْرَقُونَ
(Surah Hud: 37).
The Great Flood: The destruction of the oppressors and the survival of the faithful
When the construction of the ark was complete, God’s command to begin the flood came. The sky began to rain with unprecedented intensity, and the earth burst into springs of water. The water was rising at a tremendous speed, submerging everything. God commanded Noah to carry in the ark each of two pairs, and to carry his family except those who had already been told, and those who believed with him.
The flood was a devastating punishment for the unjust, who lied and were arrogant about God’s revelations. Even Noah’s son, who refused to board the ship, thinking that he would take refuge in a mountain that would protect him from the water, drowned with those who drowned.
Evidence: The Qur’an describes the scene of the flood and the drowning of Noah’s son:
وَهِيَ تَجْرِي بِهِمْ فِي مَوْجٍ كَالْجِبَالِ وَنَادَىٰ نُوحٌ ابْنَهُ وَكَانَ فِي مَعْزِلٍ يَا بُنَيَّ ارْكَب مَّعَنَا وَلَا تَكُن مَّعَ الْكَافِرِينَ (42) قَالَ سَآوِي إِلَىٰ جَبَلٍ يَعْصِمُنِي مِنَ الْمَاءِ ۚ قَالَ لَا عَاصِمَ الْيَوْمَ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ ۚ وَحَالَ بَيْنَهُمَا الْمَوْجُ فَكَانَ مِنَ الْمُغْرَقِينَ (43)
(Surah Hud: 42-43).
Noah’s ship and those on it survived, traveling in waves like mountains, by God’s command and care, until it came to rest on Mount Joudi.
The end of the flood: Stabilization and a new beginning
After the oppressors perished, God commanded the sky to hold its water and the earth to swallow its water, so the ark settled on Mount Judi. Noah and his companions disembarked from the ship, to start a new life on a pure land, free from polytheism and injustice. This was the beginning of a new world, a world that believes in God alone and appreciates His blessings.
Conclusion: Timeless lessons from the story of Noah
The story of Noah (peace be upon him) is one of the great stories with unforgettable lessons:
- Patience and persistence: Noah (peace be upon him) was patient with his call for more than nine centuries, and this is a great lesson in persevering with principles, no matter how long it takes and how stubborn it is.
- The certainty of God’s promise: Building the ark in the desert, and then surviving the flood, emphasizes the complete certainty of God’s promise and His power that surpasses all imagination.
- The consequences of disbelief and stubbornness: The story is a clear warning about the consequences of disbelieving the messengers and persisting in falsehood, as divine punishment may come suddenly.
- The importance of obedience to God’s command: Even if it seems illogical on the surface (building a ship in the desert), obeying God’s command is the way to survive.
- God’s mercy for the believers: Despite the severity of the torment that befell the unjust, God spared Noah and those who believed with him with His great mercy.
The story of Noah (peace be upon him) is a constant reminder that true faith, patience, and reliance on God are the keys to survival in this world and the next, and that God does not fail His righteous servants.
What is the most impactful lesson you took away from the story of Noah?
