Prophet Nuh
نوحعليه السلام
Preached to his people for 950 years. Built the Ark by Allah's command to survive the great flood that destroyed the disbelievers.
950 Years of Da'wah
Nuh is one of the five Ulul-Azm (Prophets of Determination). He called his people to worship Allah alone for 950 years, yet only a handful believed. Despite facing mockery, rejection, and hostility, he never gave up. His patience is unmatched in the history of prophethood.
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ فَلَبِثَ فِيهِمْ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ إِلَّا خَمْسِينَ عَامًا
“And We certainly sent Nuh to his people, and he remained among them a thousand years minus fifty years.”
The Rejection of His People
The chiefs and elite of his people accused him of being misguided, called him a liar, and mocked his followers as being lowly people. They stuffed their fingers in their ears and covered themselves with their garments to avoid hearing his message. Nuh tried every approach — public preaching, private counsel, day and night — but they persisted in disbelief.
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي دَعَوْتُ قَوْمِي لَيْلًا وَنَهَارًا * فَلَمْ يَزِدْهُمْ دُعَائِي إِلَّا فِرَارًا
“He said, 'My Lord, indeed I invited my people night and day. But my invitation increased them not except in flight.'”
Building the Ark
When Allah's decree came, He commanded Nuh to build the Ark. His people mocked him for building a ship far from water. Nuh built it under divine guidance, and when the flood began, he was commanded to load the believers and a pair of every species aboard. The floodwaters rose until they covered the mountains.
وَيَصْنَعُ الْفُلْكَ وَكُلَّمَا مَرَّ عَلَيْهِ مَلَأٌ مِّن قَوْمِهِ سَخِرُوا مِنْهُ
“And he constructed the ship, and whenever an assembly of the eminent of his people passed by him, they ridiculed him.”
The Great Flood
The earth erupted with water from below and rain poured from above. The flood destroyed all the disbelievers, including Nuh's own son who refused to board the Ark, thinking he could escape to a mountain. Nuh called out to his son, but the waves came between them. After the flood, the Ark settled on Mount Judi, and the earth was cleansed.
وَنَادَىٰ نُوحٌ ابْنَهُ وَكَانَ فِي مَعْزِلٍ يَا بُنَيَّ ارْكَب مَّعَنَا وَلَا تَكُن مَّعَ الْكَافِرِينَ
“And Nuh called to his son who was apart [from them], 'O my son, come aboard with us and be not with the disbelievers.'”
وَقِيلَ يَا أَرْضُ ابْلَعِي مَاءَكِ وَيَا سَمَاءُ أَقْلِعِي وَغِيضَ الْمَاءُ وَقُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ وَاسْتَوَتْ عَلَى الْجُودِيِّ
“And it was said, 'O earth, swallow your water, and O sky, withhold [your rain].' And the water subsided, and the matter was accomplished, and the ship came to rest on Mount Judi.”
Key Lessons
- ◆Perseverance in da'wah regardless of the results — success is in the effort, not the outcome
- ◆Family ties do not override faith — even Nuh's own son and wife were not saved
- ◆Allah's punishment comes when a people collectively and persistently reject guidance
- ◆Trust in Allah's plan, even when it seems improbable to others
References & Sources
- Quran: Surah Nuh (71), Hud (11:25-49), Al-A'raf (7:59-64), Al-Mu'minun (23:23-30), Al-Qamar (54:9-16)
- Tafsir Ibn Kathir
- Ibn Kathir, Qasas al-Anbiya