The Divine Education Model in the Family of the Prophets (Part 22)

Author: Abdul Hai Lay'yan

The Divine Education Model in the Family of the Prophets (Part 22)

Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) and his family

Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) was the first prophet that Allah Almighty sent to the people of the earth after Prophet Adam (peace be upon him).[1] He is one of the Ulul Azm prophets whom Allah Almighty sent to his people to invite them to worship the only God (Allah), the One and Only, without any partners, abandon idolatry and other false gods, believe in the Last Day, equality among people, and correct the wrong concepts that were prevalent among them due to the lack of the belief in monotheism.

Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) obeyed the command of his Lord and invited his people with full insight. He used various methods and means in his call, hoping that his people would respond to his call. He did not hesitate for a moment in his call, day or night, secretly or openly. In this regard, Allah the Exalted says: “لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحاً إِلَى قَوْمِهِ فَقَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُواْ اللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَهٍ غَيْرُهُ إِنِّيَ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ” Translation: “(The polytheists have been enemies of the truth, and the disbelievers have fought the prophets. Among them are) We sent Noah to his people (who had been raised up among them). He said: O my people! You have no god but Allah. So worship Allah alone, I am (one of you and your sympathetic. There is a Day of Judgment, a Reckoning, and a Book, and if you disobey) I fear that you will suffer the punishment of a great Day (and go to Hell)”.[2]

And Allah Almighty also says: “إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحاً إِلَى قَوْمِهِ أَنْ أَنذِرْ قَوْمَكَ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ * قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي لَكُمْ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ * أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاتَّقُوهُ وَأَطِيعُونِ * يَغْفِرْ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرْكُمْ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى إِنَّ أَجَلَ اللَّهِ إِذَا جَاء لَا يُؤَخَّرُ لَوْ كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ * ‏قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي دَعَوْتُ قَوْمِي لَيْلاً وَنَهَاراً ‏* فَلَمْ يَزِدْهُمْ دُعَائِي إِلَّا فِرَاراً ‏* وَإِنِّي كُلَّمَا دَعَوْتُهُمْ لِتَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ جَعَلُوا أَصَابِعَهُمْ فِي آذَانِهِمْ وَاسْتَغْشَوْا ثِيَابَهُمْ وَأَصَرُّوا وَاسْتَكْبَرُوا اسْتِكْبَاراً * ثُمَّ إِنِّي دَعَوْتُهُمْ جِهَاراً * ثُمَّ إِنِّي أَعْلَنتُ لَهُمْ وَأَسْرَرْتُ لَهُمْ إِسْرَاراً ‏* فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّاراً * يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاء عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَاراً * وَيُمْدِدْكُمْ بِأَمْوَالٍ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ أَنْهَاراً” Translation: “We sent Noah to his people (and commanded him) to warn them (of the punishment of Allah) before a painful punishment comes to them. He said: “O my people! I am a clear warner to you. Worship Allah and fear Him and obey me. Allah will forgive your sins and postpone your death until the appointed time. But if you only knew, when the appointed time comes, it will not be delayed.” Noah said: “My Lord! I have called my people by night and by day, but my calling has only increased them in aversion.” Whenever I called them to (believe) that You would forgive them, they put their fingers in their ears and drew their garments over their heads and persisted in (their disbelief) and were extremely rebellious and arrogant. Then I called them openly and loudly. Then I conveyed to them openly and privately, and I said to them: Ask forgiveness of your Lord, for He is Forgiving. Allah will send down from the sky showers of goodness and blessings. He sends down rain in succession, and He helps you with wealth and children, and He makes for you gardens of abundant fruit and rivers of abundant water.”[3]

The reaction of Noah’s people and his steadfastness towards them

Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) invited his people for a very long time. During this time, they denied him, argued with him bitterly, and harassed him greatly. Despite all this, he was patient with their denial and persecution and responded to their doubts and arguments with solid evidence. When his people despaired of him and were powerless to confront him, they threatened to kill him and said: “قَالُوا لَئِن لَّمْ تَنتَهِ يَا نُوحُ لَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمَرْجُومِينَ” Translation: “They said: O Noah! If you do not cease (from this behavior and speech), you will certainly be among those stoned (and the same will happen to you as happened to our other opponents).” [4]

At that time, Noah (peace be upon him) turned to his Lord and said: “قَالَ رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِي كَذَّبُونِ *‏ فَافْتَحْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُمْ فَتْحاً وَنَجِّنِي وَمَن مَّعِي مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ” Translation: “My Lord! My people have called me a liar, so judge between me and them, and save me and those who are with me of the believers”. [5]

Then the people of Noah (peace be upon him) asked him to bring the punishment he had promised and said: ‏”قَالُواْ يَا نُوحُ قَدْ جَادَلْتَنَا فَأَكْثَرْتَ جِدَالَنَا فَأْتَنِا بِمَا تَعِدُنَا إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ” ‏Translation: “They said: O Noah! You have argued with us and you have prolonged the argument (to the point that you have exhausted us. Our souls have reached the brink of exhaustion from all this talk and we can no longer bear to hear your words). If you are truthful (that you are a prophet and if we do not believe in you, Allah’s punishment will befall us), then bring us what you are warning us of (and do not delay. Enough talking, where is your punishment?).” [6]

Noah, peace be upon him, replied to them: «قَالَ إِنَّمَا يَأْتِيكُم بِهِ اللّهُ إِن شَاء وَمَا أَنتُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ» Translation: “He said: (The punishment is in the hand of Allah; not in my hand). It is Allah who will bring it upon you if He wills (and His wisdom requires it), and you cannot help (Allah) (and prevent the descent of His punishment or escape from it and save yourselves)”.[7]

Then Allah, the Exalted, informed him that none of his people would believe except those who had believed before: «‏وَأُوحِيَ إِلَى نُوحٍ أَنَّهُ لَن يُؤْمِنَ مِن قَوْمِكَ إِلاَّ مَن قَدْ آمَنَ فَلاَ تَبْتَئِسْ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَفْعَلُونَ» Translation: “It was revealed to Noah that none of your people will believe except those who have already believed. So do not grieve over what they do. (We will soon punish them for their misdeeds, their slander, and their denial.)” [8]

Continues…

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References:

1. Imad al-Din Abi al-Fida Ismail, Ibn Kathir, Tafsir al-Quran al-Azeem, vol. 2, p. 223, vol. 4, p. 71.
2. Al-A’raf/59.
3. Nuh/1-12.
4. Al-Sho’ara’/116.
5. Al-Sho’ara’/117-118.
6. Hud/32.
7. Hud/33.
8. Hud/36.