Author: Abdul Hai Lay'yan
The Divine Education Model in the Family of the Prophets (Part 25)
Allah Almighty commanded him to build an Ark [as mentioned earlier] so that it would serve as a means of salvation for the believers who were with Noah (peace be upon him). After completing the construction of the ark, his Lord commanded him to carry on board a pair of every kind of creature. Allah (SWT) says: “قُلْنَا احْمِلْ فِیهَا مِن كُلٍّ زَوْجَینِ اثْنَینِ وَأَهْلَكَ إِلاَّ مَن سَبَقَ عَلَیهِ الْقَوْلُ وَمَنْ آمَنَ” Translation: “We said: Load onto it a pair from every kind, and your family, except those against whom the decree has already been passed, and [also] those who believe. [1]
“Then the divine command came: “وَقَالَ ارْكَبُواْ فِیهَا بِسْمِ اللّهِ مَجْرَاهَا وَمُرْسَاهَا إِنَّ رَبِّی لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِیمٌ” Translation: “(Noah said to his family and the believing companions:) Board it. In the name of Allah be its sailing and anchoring. Indeed, my Lord is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [2]
This statement reflects the full submission of the ark to Allah’s will in its movement and stillness. The ship was under divine care and protection. What power do humans have over a ship in a stormy sea, let alone a great flood?
Then came the terrifying and overwhelming scene of the flood. The ark carried them through waves as high as mountains. In that critical and frightening moment, Noah (peace be upon him) noticed that one of his sons was separate from them. His fatherly instinct stirred in deep anxiety, and he cried out to him. The Qur’an portrays the scene:”وَهِی تَجْرِی بِهِمْ فِی مَوْجٍ كَالْجِبَالِ وَنَادَى نُوحٌ ابْنَهُ وَكَانَ فِی مَعْزِلٍ یا بُنَی ارْكَب مَّعَنَا وَلاَ تَكُن مَّعَ الْكَافِرِینَ” Translation: “And the ark sailed with them through waves like mountains. And Noah called to his son, who had kept himself apart, ‘O my dear son! Embark with us, and do not be with the disbelievers.’” [3]
But the disobedient son paid no heed to his anxious father. The pride of youth prevented him from understanding the magnitude of the danger. He said: “قَالَ سَآوِی إِلَى جَبَلٍ یعْصِمُنِی مِنَ الْمَاء” Translation: “He replied, ‘I will take refuge on a mountain that will protect me from the water.’” [4] Then the father, fully aware of the true nature of the catastrophe, cried out one final warning: “قَالَ لاَ عَاصِمَ الْیوْمَ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللّهِ إِلاَّ مَن رَّحِمَ وَحَالَ بَینَهُمَا الْمَوْجُ فَكَانَ مِنَ الْمُغْرَقِینَ” [5] Translation: “Noah said, ‘There is no protector today from the command of Allah, except for the one to whom He shows mercy.’ Then a wave came between them, and he was among those who drowned.”
No mountains, no shelters, and no guardians can help—except for the mercy of Allah Almighty.
The Fate of the Son of Noah (peace be upon him)
In a moment, the entire scene changes, and the overwhelming wave swallows everything in its path. Allah Most High says: “وَحَالَ بَینَهُمَا الْمَوْجُ فَكَانَ مِنَ الْمُغْرَقِینَ” Translation: “Then a wave came between them, and he was among those who drowned.” [6]
Noah’s (peace be upon him) call to his Lord regarding his son
After the destruction of the doomed and the salvation of the believers, the following was proclaimed: “وَقِیلَ یا أَرْضُ ابْلَعِی مَاءكِ وَیا سَمَاء أَقْلِعِی وَغِیضَ الْمَاء وَقُضِی الأَمْرُ وَاسْتَوَتْ عَلَى الْجُودِی وَقِیلَ بُعْداً لِّلْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِینَ” Translation: “It was said: O earth, swallow your water, and O sky, withhold [your rain]. The water subsided, the command was fulfilled, and the ark came to rest on [Mount] Judi. And it was said: Away with the wrongdoing people! [7]
Noah (peace be upon him) was surprised by the drowning of his son among the destroyed. So, he called out to his Lord and questioned the reason for his son’s fate, since he was of his family:
“وَنَادَى نُوحٌ رَّبَّهُ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنَّ ابُنِی مِنْ أَهْلِی وَإِنَّ وَعْدَكَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنتَ أَحْكَمُ الْحَاكِمِینَ” Translation: “Noah called to his Lord and said: My Lord, indeed my son is of my family, and indeed Your promise is true, and You are the most just of judges.” [8]
This question from Noah (peace be upon him) was not in objection to Allah’s decree—far from it—but rather a request for clarification and understanding about the fate of his drowned son. He said: “فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنَّ ابُنِی مِنْ أَهْلِی” Translation: “He said: My Lord, indeed my son is of my family.” [9]
Allah (SWT) replied: “قَالَ یا نُوحُ إِنَّهُ لَیسَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ إِنَّهُ عَمَلٌ غَیرُ صَالِحٍ” Translation: “[Allah] said: O Noah, he is not of your family. Indeed, his conduct is unrighteous.” Meaning: He is not among those whom I promised to save, because I only promised you the salvation of the believers from your family. [10]
Thus, He said: “وَأَهْلَكَ إِلاَّ مَن سَبَقَ عَلَیهِ الْقَوْلُ” Translation: “And your family, except those against whom the decree has already been passed (which includes your wife and one of your sons).” [11]
So, this son was among those who, because of their disbelief and defiance of Noah, the Prophet of Allah, had been decreed to be among the drowned. [12]
Continues…
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References:
[1]. Hud: 40.
[2]. Hud: 41.
[3]. Hud: 42.
[4]. Hud: 43.
[5]. Hud: 43.
[6]. Hud: 43.
[7]. Hud: 44.
[8]. Hud: 45.
[9]. Hud: 45.
[10]. Hud: 46.
[11]. Hud: 40.
[12]. Imad al-Din Abi al-Fida Ismail, Ibn Kathir, Tafsir al-Qur’an al-‘Azim, vol. 2, pp. 248-447.
