The Divine Education Model in the Family of the Prophets (Part 28)
Educational lessons of the story of Noah (peace be upon him)
The Third lesson: Belief, the true bond that binds people together.
This idea is inspired by the story of Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) in the Holy Quran. When Noah (peace be upon him) asks Allah about his son, the divine answer is decisive and enlightening: “فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنَّ ابْنِی مِنْ أَهْلِی” Translation: And he said, My Lord! My son (Kana’an, whom waters have swallowed) is of my family.”[1]
Allah Almighty said: “قَالَ یا نُوحُ إِنَّهُ لَیسَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ إِنَّهُ عَمَلٌ غَیرُ صَالِحٍ” Translation: “He said, O Noah! Your son is not of your family, because he (due to his ugly behavior and the vile deeds he has committed) is an indecent act.”[2]
This verse clearly shows that the bond that brings people together in this religion is a unique bond. This bond is closely related to the special nature of this religion and is related to the lofty horizons, goals, and dimensions that exist within the divine methodology of Islam.
This bond is not a bond of blood and lineage, nor a bond of land and homeland, nor a bond of tribe and clan, nor a bond of color and language, nor a bond of gender and race, nor a bond of profession and class. All of these bonds may exist in the beginning; but they have the ability to be severed. This truth is revealed in the very conversation between Allah and Noah (peace be upon him). Noah (peace be upon him) said: «رَبِّ إِنَّ ابْنِی مِنْ أَهْلِی»“My Lord, indeed my son is from my family,” but the divine response was: «یا نُوحُ إِنَّهُ لَیسَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ»“O Noah, indeed he is not from your family.”
Then the reason was explained: «إِنَّهُ عَملٌ غَیرُ صَالِحٍ»“Indeed, he has done a wrong deed.” This means that the bond of faith between Noah and his son was severed; therefore, Allah said to Noah (peace be upon him): «فَلَا تَسْأَلْنِ مَا لَیسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ»“Do not ask about that of which you have no knowledge.”
Noah’s assumption that his son was from his family was wrong. The definite truth was that he was not from Noah’s family, although he was from his lineage.
The Unique position of Belief in Humanity and Islamic Society
This bond is indeed the bond of the correct Islamic belief. This belief encompasses the highest characteristics of man that distinguish him from the animal world; for belief is related to the spiritual and superfluous element in man’s being that has made him a man in this body; even the most ardent atheists and materialists have recently come to realize that belief is a fundamental characteristic of man that fundamentally separates him from animals.
Therefore, belief is the fundamental foundation and principle upon which the Muslim community must be built and nothing else. Allah, the Exalted, has called upon Muslims to adhere to this belief with firmness and clarity. This is clearly stated in many Quranic positions and guidelines, some of these verses are mentioned below: “لَا تَجِدُ قَوْمًا یؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْیوْمِ الْآخِرِ یوَادُّونَ مَنْ حَادَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَوْ كَانُوا آبَاءَهُمْ أَوْ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ أَوْ إِخْوَانَهُمْ أَوْ عَشِیرَتَهُمْ أُولَئِكَ كَتَبَ فِی قُلُوبِهِمُ الْإِیمَانَ وَأَیدَهُمْ بِرُوحٍ مِنْهُ وَیدْخِلُهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِی مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِینَ فِیهَا رَضِی اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ أُولَئِكَ حِزْبُ اللَّهِ أَلَا إِنَّ حِزْبَ اللَّهِ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ” Translation: “You will not find people who believe in Allah and the Last Day, but take as friends those who have enmity with Allah and His Messenger, even if they are their fathers, or sons, or brothers, or their people and tribes. “As for the believers, Allah has sealed their hearts with faith, and has supported them with His breath, and has strengthened them, and will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, to abide therein forever, Allah is well pleased with them and they are well pleased with Him. These are the party of Allah. Lo! The party of Allah is the victorious, the successful.”[3]
“یا أَیهَا الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا عَدُوِّی وَعَدُوَّكُمْ أَوْلِیاءَ تُلْقُونَ إِلَیهِمْ بِالْمَوَدَّةِ وَقَدْ كَفَرُوا بِمَا جَاءَكُمْ مِنَ الْحَقِّ یخْرِجُونَ الرَّسُولَ وَإِیاكُمْ أَنْ تُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ رَبِّكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ خَرَجْتُمْ جِهَادًا فِی سَبِیلِی وَابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِی تُسِرُّونَ إِلَیهِمْ بِالْمَوَدَّةِ وَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ بِمَا أَخْفَیتُمْ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُمْ وَمَنْ یفْعَلْهُ مِنْكُمْ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ سَوَاءَ السَّبِیلِ” Translation: “O you who believe! Do not take My enemies and your enemies as friends. You love them and show them affection, while they do not believe in the truth that has come to you. They will drive out the Messenger and you because you believe in Allah, your Lord. If you have gone out to fight in My way and seek My approval, then do not take My enemies as friends. You secretly befriend them, while I am most aware of what you conceal and what you reveal. Whoever of you does that has indeed strayed from the right path”.[4]
“لَنْ تَنْفَعَكُمْ أَرْحَامُكُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَادُكُمْ یوْمَ الْقِیامَةِ یفْصِلُ بَینَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِیرٌ” Translation: “Your relatives and your children will not benefit you. On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will judge between you and Allah is All-Seeing”.[5]
Thus, this fundamental and decisive rule has been established in the relations of the Islamic society and in the nature of its organic structure and composition; a structure that distinguishes it from other pre-Islamic societies, old and new, until the end of time. There is no longer any room left for Islam to unite and establish society on any basis other than the basis of belief; the same basis that Allah Almighty has chosen for His chosen nation.
The Fourth lesson: Calling Children and Relatives to Allah and Being Patient with Them
Noah, peace be upon him, called and advised his son to join him and the believers with him until the last moment of his life. This shows that a father bears the constant responsibility of calling his son to the religion of Allah and advising him so that he will not be rebuked and blamed by Allah for his corruption and misguidance. This responsibility is inferred from verses such as the following: “یا أَیهَا الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِیكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ عَلَیهَا مَلَائِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَا یعْصُونَ اللَّهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَیفْعَلُونَ مَا یؤْمَرُون“ Translation: “O you who have believed! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is men and stones. Over it are angels, stern and severe. They do not disobey Allah in what He commands them, and they do what they are commanded.”[6]
