Nooh (Noah)
Verse 1 - 3
Table of Contents
Section (juz’) 29
Number of Verses: 28
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
The blessed Chapter, revealed in Mecca, has 28 Verses and depicts the ongoing struggle of the Truth against Falsehood and treats of the stratagems to be employed by the followers of Truth.
The Merit of Reciting the Chapter
It is narrated from the Noble Prophet of the Islamic Faith (S) as saying:
“One who recites Surah Nuh shall be ranked amongst the believers enwrapped by the light of Prophet Noah’s Call.”1
Summary of the Account of Noah (as). The detailed account of Prophet Noah (as) is attested in Chapters 7, 11, 23, 26, 54, and 71, though it is most elaborated in Chapter 11, Verses 25-49.
His people claimed that he was in error;
(“The leaders of his people said: 'Indeed, we see you in plain error”2 );
they mocked him at all times;
(“And when those who disbelieved see you, they take you not except for mockery”3 );
they called him light-headed and insane;
(“insane and scatterbrained”4 ).
However, the Prophet (as) still provided them with guidance. Like other Prophets (as), he acted upon his Prophetic call by calling people unto monotheism, obedience to the Divinely appointed leader, and fear of God Almighty.
He began by warning his people against disobedience to God Almighty and imparted his Prophetic call to all people, though confronted with their obduracy, he cursed them;
(“And Noah said: 'My Lord! Leave not one of the disbelievers on the earth!”5 ).
Noah (as) is the only Prophet whose term of Prophetic call (950 years) is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. He is the only Prophet (as) whose family and people disobeyed him. He also lived the longest lifespan.
Ordered by God Almighty, he built the Ark to rescue all animals and serve as a means of human deliverance from the tempest, hence the designation the second father of mankind (Àdam Abu al-Bashar al-Thani).
He was also the first Messenger of Allah upon whom the Book was revealed and he was appointed to impart his Prophetic call to the world (ulu al-‘azm).1 God Almighty had the earth drowned owing to his curse. He was the only Prophet (as) whose followers did not exceed ten in number after the passage of 950 years.
Surah Nuh - Verses 1-3
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنا نُوحاً إِلی قَوْمِهِ أَنْ أَنْذِرْ قَوْمَكَ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُمْ عَذابٌ أَلِيمٌ (1) قالَ يا قَوْمِ إِنِّي لَكُمْ نَذِيرٌ مُبِينٌ (2) أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَ اتَّقُوهُ وَ أَطِيعُونِ (3)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
1. We sent Noah to his people and We said: “Warn your people before there comes to them an excruciating torment.”
2. He said: “O my people! I am a plain warner unto you,
3. “That you should worship Allah, refrain from disobeying Him, and obey me.”
As mentioned above, the blessed Chapter in question treats of Noah’s (as) Prophetic call thereby providing those who tread the Path of God Almighty with points of interest concerning calling people unto the Truth, particularly while confronting obdurate peoples.
Opening with Prophethood, the blessed Verse 1 says:
“We sent Noah to his people and We said: 'Warn your people before there comes to them an excruciating torment.'“
Such excruciating torment may be this worldly or otherworldly. Both kinds of torment are further befitting, though the torments in this world better fit the context herein. The Prophets (as) were both warners and bearers of glad tidings, but the emphasis laid on warning is owing to the fact that it oftentimes entails stronger effects, in the same way that emphasis is laid on warning and chastisement the world over in order to guarantee law enforcement.
According to the second blessed Verse, Prophet Noah (as) was the first Prophet upon whom Divine Scriptures had been revealed and his Prophetic call addressed the world. Upon receiving Divine Command, he went to his people and said that he was a plain warner to them.
The blessed Verse 3 is saying that the goal of his Prophetic call was to urge people to worship God Almighty alone, fear Him, and obey his commands which were Divine Commands.
Prophet Noah (as) thus summarized his Prophetic call: worship the One God, Fear Him, Obey His Commands and Injunctions imparted which consisted of doctrines, moral principles, and Divine Law. At any rate, following the Prophets (as) is consequent to believing in monotheism, fear of God Almighty, obeying the Prophet (as), and believing in Resurrection.
Footnotes
Kanz al-‘Ummal, tradition 32391. ↩