Click one of the following topics:
|
NOOH (NOAH) Thousands of years passed since the time of Adam and numerous people lived throughout the land. These people forgot Adam's teachings of righteousness and maintaining piety. Many of them followed the temptations of Iblees (Satan) through stealing, cheating, deceiving, being mean, and greedy among other things. Having forgotten Adam's beautiful teachings, the people began to make idols from stones or wood. The idols looked like statues of man in various moods. The people prayed to these idols and worshiped them instead of praying to Allah and following His Guidance. They even offered sacrifices to them. The priests became powerful and mighty and they dominated the people, making them miserable by setting numerous rules, many of which were unfair. Because of His mercy and love for the people Allah (swt) chose a new Prophet to help and direct them.
Allah chose a righteous, very good man whose name was Nooh (Noah). Like all Prophets Nooh was a sincere man, very tolerant, trustworthy, strong-willed, and determined. Angel Jubra'eel (Gabriel) relayed to Nooh the Directives and teachings from Allah many, many times, and Nooh was ordered to teach and lead the people. Nooh traveled from one city to another and from one village to another, guiding and preaching. He asked the people to: pray to Allah (swt) and not to idols, perform the good deeds and be righteous, fair, loving, trustworthy, and helpful. avoid the evil and sinful, to beware of Satan. (Surah 71: Ayah 1-25.) Most of the people however, did not believe in Nooh or his Message. Many of them ridiculed him, laughed at him, and hurt him. But being a Prophet Nooh would not quit. He knew his task was difficult so he persistently preached and taught for numerous years, even though most people made fun of him. Many people, if not most, continued in their evil ways, following Satan's temptations. (Surah 7: Ayah 59-64.)
Prophet Nooh worked exceptionally hard for many years, yet only few believed in his message. Finally Nooh prayed in desperation, "Oh my Lord," he said, "leave not upon the land any from the disbelievers." (Surah 71: Ayah 26. Also Surah 26: Ayah 105-118.) Allah answered Nooh's prayer by telling him to build an Ark. But Prophet Nooh was in a town far away from any sea, and building a huge boat was not an easy task. Prophet Nooh knew then that Allah planned to drown the evil people, the disbelievers. (Surah 11: Ayah 38-41.) Nooh started to work right away, building his Ark and working constantly. The believers gathered and helped with great devotion, and the work was hard and tedious, and it continued for a number of years. Slowly though, the mammoth Ark began to take shape while the disbelievers mocked Nooh and his followers, thinking that Nooh had turned insane and lost his senses. They reasoned that he who builds such a boat, so far from the sea, must be crazy. Little did they know!
As the large Ark was finally completed it started to rain, so Allah ordered: ► Nooh, ► his family, ► the believers, and ► one male and one female of each animal to board the Ark.
The boat had to be huge to hold so many. Not every one is able to put two of every kind of animal in one boat. But now that the Ark was completed and the skies cloudy and angry looking, it rained, and the rain began to pour and pour. It became heavier and heavier as time progressed. Water collected everywhere as streams and rivers overflowed, valleys began to fill, and water poured through the houses. The lightning was frightening, and the thunder made hearts pound with fear. Everyone was scared and frightened except for Prophet Nooh and his followers. The rushing waters poured into the houses, shops, and buildings. Waters rushed through the windows and doors, and the houses collapsed on the people, on the disbelievers. Many tried to swim but could do only for so long. People were in a panic but they deserved it. (Surah 54: Ayah 11-15.) Among the disbelievers was one of Nooh's son. He thought he could escape the flood by being on a hill; instead he drowned with the others. Nooh wanted his son to be on the Ark, but he disbelieved in his father's Message and ended by being the loser. (Nooh's wife was a disbeliever too. See Surah 66: Ayah 10. For Nooh's son see: Surah 11: Ayah 25-49.) Finally the whole area was drowned and all the disbelievers were destroyed while Prophet Nooh and the believers were safe in the Ark. The Ark was floating well, withstanding the huge waves. After raining for a long time the skies began to clear, the rain stopped, and the water level lowered. Prophet Nooh and the believers came to safety along with the animals.
Prophet Nooh lived to a very old age. The devoted believers built new homes and worked hard in the fields. They were good people since they practiced Allah's Guidance. They believed in His message and were righteous. They taught their children and their grandchildren about the Directives of Allah—and they taught them to do the good and avoid evil.
It is said that Prophet Nooh's Message and teachings continued for 950 years. (Surah 29: Ayah 14-15.) As times passed though, the number of people became very large and many of them began to go astray and live in an evil manner and do evil things. Many ignored the teachings of Nooh and the towns became corrupt and wicked, and the people went in the way of Satan. When evil spreads, Allah, through His mercy, chooses another Prophet to bring His Message again to the people, and this time He chose Ibrahim (Abraham).
|
