Narrated At-Tirmidhi on the authority of
Abu Huraira that the prophet said: 'When Allah created Adam, He wiped Adam's
back and every person that He will create from him until the Day of
Resurrection fell out from his back. Allah placed a glimmering light between
the eyes of each one of them. Allah showed them to Adam and Adam asked, `O
Lord! Who are they' Allah said, `These are your offspring.' Adam saw a man from
among them whose light he liked. He asked, `O Lord! Who is this man' Allah
said, `This is a man from the latter generations of your offspring. His name is
David.' Adam said, `O Lord! How many years would he live' Allah said, `Sixty
years.' Adam said, `O Lord! I have forfeited forty years from my life for him.'
When Adam's life came to an end, the angel of death came to him (to take his
soul). Adam said, `I still have forty years from my life term, don't I' He
said, `Have you not given it to your son David' So Adam denied that and his
offspring denied, Adam forgot and his offspring forgot, Adam made a mistake and
his offspring made mistakes.
Adam forgot, he did not lie.
Abdullah Ibn Al-Iman Ahmad Ibn Hanbal
narrated that Ubai Ibn Kab said: "When Adam's death was near, he said to
his children: 'O my children, indeed, I feel an appetite for the fruits of
Paradise.' So they went away searching for what Adam had requested. They met
with the angels, who had with them his shroud and what he was to be embalmed
with. They said to them: 'O Children of Adam, what are you searching for? What
do you want? Where are you going?' They said: 'Our father is sick and has an
appetite for the fruits of Paradise.' The angels said to them: 'Go back, for
your father is going to meet his end soon.' So they returned (with the angels),
and when Eve saw them she recognized them. She tried to hide herself behind
Adam. He said to her: 'Leave me alone. I came before you; do not go between me
and the angels of my Lord.' So they took his soul, embalmed and wrapped him,
dug the grave and laid him in it. They prayed on him and put him in his grave,
saying: 'O Children of Adam, this is your tradition at the time of
death."'
Sheeth
Sheeth was not mentioned in the Quran.
Only mentioned in hadith.
According to a hadith narrated by Abu Dhar. Abu Dhar
also narrated that Prophet Muhammad said: "Allah
sent down one hundred four psalms, of which fifty were sent down to
Sheeth."
Sheeth received revelation from Allah.
Scholars say that Sheeth was the son of Adam, and at his death, Adam gave
Sheeth the responsibility to take care of the affairs of mankind.
Idris
Most of the scholars say Idris is a
prophet that came between Sheeth and Noah.
Maryam 19:56 And mention in the Book
(the Quran) Idris (Enoch).Verily! He was a man of truth, (and) a Prophet.
Maryam 19:57 And We raised him to a high
station.
That is all the authentic knowledge we
have on Idris. There are some stories from Israliyaat (Stories from the
People of the Book). We learn them from some of the Christians and the Jews
that became Muslim, and they were scholars from before and they brought over
their stories with them.
Narrated Abu Huraira: The people of the
Scripture (Jews) used to recite the Torah in Hebrew and they used to explain it
in Arabic to the Muslims. On that Allah's Apostle said, "do not believe
the people of the Scripture or disbelieve them, but say:-- "We believe in Allah and what is revealed to us."
(Al-Baqarah 2.136) Sahih Bukhari Book 60 Hadith 12
That means we can use these stories
sometimes but we cannot take them as certain knowledge, and if it does not
contradict something in Islam then we should not completely reject it. Ibn
Taymiyyah said we can use these stories as
supplementary evidences but not use them as primary evidences.
A writer, Ibn Jarir, relates in his
book, Rauzatul Ahbab that Prophet Idris was the special friend of one of the
angels of heaven. The angel took him up into the heavens and when they arrived
to the fourth heaven, they met the Angel of Death. The angel questioned the
Angel of Death how many years were remaining for Prophet Idris to live. The
Angel of Death replied that he had just been sent with the order by Allah to
take Idris's life. Prophet Idris then remained in the fourth heaven and he died
in the wings of his angel friend.
Maryam 19:57 And We raised him to a
high station
Narrated Malik bin Sasaa:
The Prophet said, "While I was at
the House in a state midway between sleep and wakefulness, (an angel recognized
me) as the man lying between two men. A golden tray full of wisdom and belief
was brought to me and my body was cut open from the throat to the lower part of
the abdomen and then my abdomen was washed with Zam-zam water and (my heart
was) filled with wisdom and belief. Al-Buraq, a white animal, smaller than a
mule and bigger than a donkey was brought to me and I set out with Gabriel.
When I reached the nearest heaven. Gabriel said to the heaven gate-keeper,
'Open the gate.' The gatekeeper asked, 'Who is it?' He said, 'Gabriel.' The
gate-keeper,' Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel said, 'Muhammad.' The
gate-keeper said, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel said, 'Yes.' Then it was said,
'He is welcomed. What a wonderful visit his is!' Then I met Adam and greeted him
and he said, 'You are welcomed O son and a Prophet.' Then we ascended to the
second heaven. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel said, 'Gabriel.' It was said,
'Who is with you?' He said, 'Muhammad' It was asked, 'Has he been sent for?' He
said, 'Yes.' It was said, 'He is welcomed. What a wonderful visit his is!"
Then I met Jesus and Yahya (John) who said, 'You are welcomed, O brother and a
Prophet.' Then we ascended to the third heaven. It was asked, 'Who is it?'
Gabriel said, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is with you? Gabriel said,
'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been sent for?' 'Yes,' said Gabriel. 'He is
welcomed. What a wonderful visit his is!' (The Prophet added). There I met
Joseph and greeted him, and he replied, 'You are welcomed, O brother and a Prophet!'
Then we ascended to the 4th heaven and again the same questions and answers
were exchanged as in the previous heavens. There I met Idris and greeted him.
He said, 'You are welcomed O brother and Prophet.' Then we ascended to the
5th heaven and again the same questions and answers were exchanged as in
previous heavens. There I met and greeted Aaron who said, 'You are welcomed O
brother and a Prophet". Then we ascended to the 6th heaven and again the
same questions and answers were exchanged as in the previous heavens. There I
met and greeted Moses who said, 'You are welcomed O brother and. a Prophet.'
When I proceeded on, he started weeping and on being asked why he was weeping,
he said, 'O Lord! Followers of this youth who was sent after me will enter
Paradise in greater number than my followers.' Then we ascended to the seventh
heaven and again the same questions and answers were exchanged as in the
previous heavens. There I met and greeted Abraham who said, 'You are welcomed o
son and a Prophet.' Then I was shown Al-Bait-al-Ma'mur (i.e. Allah's House). I
asked Gabriel about it and he said, This is Al Bait-ul-Ma'mur where 70,000
angels perform prayers daily and when they leave they never return to it (but
always a fresh batch comes into it daily).' Then I was shown Sidrat-ul-Muntaha
(i.e. a tree in the seventh heaven) and I saw its Nabk fruits which resembled
the clay jugs of Hajr (i.e. a town in Arabia), and its leaves were like the
ears of elephants, and four rivers originated at its root, two of them were
apparent and two were hidden. I asked Gabriel about those rivers and he said,
'The two hidden rivers are in Paradise, and the apparent ones are the Nile and
the Euphrates.' Then fifty prayers were enjoined on me. I descended till I met
Moses who asked me, 'What have you done?' I said, 'Fifty prayers have been
enjoined on me.' He said, 'I know the people better than you, because I had the
hardest experience to bring Bani Israel to obedience. Your followers cannot put
up with such obligation. So, return to your Lord and request Him (to reduce the
number of prayers.' I returned and requested Allah (for reduction) and He made
it forty. I returned and (met Moses) and had a similar discussion, and then
returned again to Allah for reduction and He made it thirty, then twenty, then
ten, and then I came to Moses who repeated the same advice. Ultimately Allah
reduced it to five. When I came to Moses again, he said, 'What have you done?'
I said, 'Allah has made it five only.' He repeated the same advice but I said
that I surrendered (to Allah's Final Order)'" Allah's Apostle was
addressed by Allah, "I have decreed My Obligation and have reduced the
burden on My slaves, and I shall reward a single good deed as if it were ten
good deeds." Sahih Bukhari Book 54 Hadith 429
Noah
Ibn Abbas narrated that the Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) said: "The period between Adam and Noah was ten
centuries." Bukhari
Between Adam and Noah there were 10
generations and all of them were Muslim, qarn in Arabic means either
century or generation. If it means 10 centuries then that is 1000 years. If it
means 10 generations it could be more then 1000 years because people used to
live longer in those times. Between Adam and Noah there were many generations
and 10 of them were Muslim, and then disbelief and shirk slowly started to
creep in.
Narrated Ibn abbas: All the idols which
were worshipped by the people of Noah were worshipped by the Arabs later on. As
for the idol Wadd, it was worshipped by the tribe of Kalb at Daumat-al-Jandal;
Suwa' was the idol of (the tribe of) Murad and then by Ban, Ghutaif at Al-Jurf
near Saba; Yauq was the idol of Hamdan, and Nasr was the idol of Himyr, the
branch of Dhi-al-Kala.' The names (of the idols) formerly belonged to some
pious men of the people of Noah, and when they died Satan inspired their people
to (prepare and place idols at the places where they used to sit, and to call
those idols by their names. The people did so, but the idols were not
worshipped till those people (who initiated them) had died and the origin of
the idols had become obscure, whereupon people began worshipping them. (Book
60,
Hadith 442
Bukhari)
That is how shirk started.
Noah was the first messenger
Narrated Abu Huraira: We were in the
company of the Prophet at a banquet and a cooked (mutton) forearm was set
before him, and he used to like it. He ate a morsel of it and said, "I
will be the chief of all the people on the Day of Resurrection. Do you know how
Allah will gather all the first and the last (people) in one level place where
an observer will be able to see (all) of them and they will be able to hear the
announcer, and the sun will come near to them. Some People will say: Don't you
see, in what condition you are and the state to which you have reached? Why
don't you look for a person who can intercede for you with your Lord? Some
people will say: Appeal to your father, Adam.' They will go to him and say: 'O
Adam! You are the father of all mankind, and Allah created you with His Own
Hands, and ordered the angels to prostrate for you, and made you live in
Paradise. Will you not intercede for us with your Lord? Don't you see in what
(miserable) state we are, and to what condition we have reached?' On that Adam
will reply, 'My Lord is so angry as He has never been before and will never be
in the future; (besides), He forbade me (to eat from) the tree, but I disobeyed
(Him), (I am worried about) myself! Myself! Go to somebody else; go to Noah.' They
will go to Noah and say; 'O Noah! You are the first amongst the messengers of
Allah to the people of the earth, and Allah named you a thankful slave.
Don't you see in what a (miserable) state we are and to what condition we have
reached? Will you not intercede for us with your Lord? Noah will reply: 'Today
my Lord has become so angry as he had never been before and will never be in
the future Myself! Myself! Go to the Prophet (Muhammad). The people will come
to me, and I will prostrate myself underneath Allah's Throne. Then I will be
addressed: 'O Muhammad! Raise your head; intercede, for your intercession will
be accepted, and ask (for anything). for you will be given. " (Book #55,
Hadith #556
Bukhari)
Noah was one of the 5 great prophets. He
along with Ibrahim, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad are referred to as Ulul 'Azm
Al-'Ahzab 33:7 And (remember) when We
took from the Prophets their covenant, and from you (O Muhammad SAW), and from
Nuh (Noah), Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), and 'Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam
(Mary). We took from them a strong covenant.
Al-'Ahqaf 46:35 Therefore be patient
(O Muhammad SAW) as did the Messengers of strong will and be in no haste
about them (disbelievers).On the Day when they will see that (torment) with
which they are promised (i.e. threatened, it will be) as if they had not stayed
more than an hour in a single day. (O mankind! This Quran is sufficient as) a
clear Message (or proclamation to save yourself from destruction). But shall
any be destroyed except the people who are Al-Fasiqun (the rebellious,
disobedient to Allah).
Noah's message to his people was the
message of all prophets to their people, tawhid. To worship no one but
Allah.
Hud 11:25 And indeed We sent Nuh (Noah)
to his people (and he said): "I have come to you as a plain Warner."
Hud 11:26 "That you worship none
but Allah, surely, I fear for you the torment of a painful Day."
An-Nisa 4:64 We sent no messenger, but
to be obeyed by Allah's Leave.
The messengers of Allah do not just come
deliver a message and then leave. They deliver the message and tell the people
that they have to obey them; this is the establishment of the law of Allah.
The methods of Noahs calling to people
(da'wa) are:
Noah 71:5 He said: "O my lord!
Verily, I have called to my people night and day
Noah 71: 8 'Then verily, I called to
them openly (aloud).'
Noah 71:9 "Then verily, I
proclaimed to them in public, and I have appealed to them in private.'
Noah tried all methods of da'wa. So in
our da'wa we should take advantage of every resource that we have e.g., books,
CDs, internet, speeches etc. We should not think that this will not work,
because Noah used all methods possible to him. We should use these methods for
the sake of Allah.
Noah 71: 6 But all my calling added
nothing but to (their) flight (from the truth).
The more da'wa Noah gives to his people
the further away they become.
Noah 71:7 And verily, every time I
called unto them that You might forgive them, they thrust their fingers into
their ears, covered themselves up with their garments, and persisted (in their
refusal), and magnified themselves in pride.
If one is speaking to another and that
person thrusts his fingers in his ears, and becomes arrogant, could the person
continue talking? One may be able to persist for a little while longer, then
finally give up and detest the person to whom he was speaking too. It was a
very difficult situation Noah was in. Nevertheless, Noah continued to do this
for 950 years, he had patience.
Noah was telling his people the results
of asking for forgiveness from Allah.
Noah 71:10 "I said (to them): 'Ask
forgiveness from your Lord, verily, He is Oft-Forgiving;
Noah 71: 11 'He will send rain to you in
abundance,
Noah 71: 12 'And give you increase in
wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers.'"
These are some of the results of asking
for forgiveness, so we should constantly be asking for forgiveness.
And in telling of the results of asking
for forgiveness, he also turned their attention to the creation of Allah around
them. Because the creation of Allah is a mirror of the attributes of Allah
(exalted is He).
Noah 71:15 See you not how Allah has
created the seven heavens one above another?
Noah 71:16 And has made the moon a light
therein, and made the sun a lamp?
Noah 71:17 And Allah has brought you
forth from the (dust of) earth?
Noah 71:18 Afterwards He will return you
into it (the earth), and bring you forth (again on the Day of Resurrection)?
Noah 71:19 And Allah has made for you
the earth a wide expanse.
Noah 71:20 That you may go about therein
in broad roads.
When Noah was giving this da'wa for 950
years, only a few became Muslim, and these tended to be from the weak and the
poor. So the leaders of the society, they came to Noah and said:
Hud 11:27 The chiefs who disbelieved
among his people said: "We see you but a man like ourselves, nor do we see
any follow you but the meanest among us and they (too) followed you without
thinking. And we do not see in you any merit above us, in fact we think you are
liars."
They claimed that Noah’s followers in
particular had two characteristics, that they were weak and poor, and that they
followed Noah without thinking.
Narrated Ibn Abbas:
Abu Sufyan narrated to me personally,
saying, "I set out during the Truce that had been concluded between me and
Allah's Apostle. While I was in Sham, a letter sent by the Prophet was brought
to Heraclius. Dihya Al-Kalbi had brought and given it to the governor of Busra,
and the latter forwarded it to Heraclius. Heraclius said, 'Is there anyone from
the people of this man who claims to be a prophet?' The people replied, 'Yes.'
So I along with some of Quraishi men were called and we entered upon Heraclius,
and we were seated in front of him. Then he said, 'Who amongst you is the
nearest relative to the man who claims to be a prophet?' So they made me sit in
front of him and made my companions sit behind me. Then he called upon his
translator and said (to him). 'Tell them (i.e. Abu Sufyan's companions) that I
am going to ask him (i.e. Abu Sufyan) regarding that man who claims to be a
prophet. So, if he tells me a lie, they should contradict him (instantly).' By
Allah, had I not been afraid that my companions would consider me a liar, I
would have told lies. Heraclius then said to his translator, 'Ask him: What is
his (i.e. the Prophet's) family status amongst you? I said, 'He belongs to a
noble family amongst us." Heraclius said, 'Was any of his ancestors a
king?' I said, 'No.' He said, 'Did you ever accuse him of telling lies before
his saying what he has said?' I said, 'No.' He said, 'Do the nobles follow
him or the poor people?' I said, 'It is the poor who followed him.' He
said, 'Is the number of his follower increasing or decreasing?' I said, 'They
are increasing.' He said, 'Does anyone renounce his religion (i.e. Islam) after
embracing it, being displeased with it?' I said, 'No.' He said, 'Did you fight
with him?' I replied, 'Yes.' He said, 'How was your fighting with him?' I said,
'The fighting between us was undecided and victory was shared by him and us by
turns. He inflicts casualties upon us and we inflict casualties upon him.' He
said, 'Did he ever betray?' I said, 'No, but now we are away from him in this
truce and we do not know what he will do in it" Abu Sufyan added, "By
Allah, I was not able to insert in my speech a word (against him) except that.
Heraclius said, 'Did anybody else (amongst you) ever claimed the same (i.e.
Islam) before him? I said, 'No.' Then Heraclius told his translator to tell me
(i.e. Abu Sufyan), 'I asked you about his family status amongst you, and you
told me that he comes from a noble family amongst you Verily, all Apostles come
from the noblest family among their people. Then I asked you whether any of his
ancestors was a king, and you denied that. Thereupon I thought that had one of
his fore-fathers been a king, I would have said that he (i.e. Muhammad) was
seeking to rule the kingdom of his fore-fathers. Then I asked you regarding
his followers, whether they were the noble or the poor among the people, and
you said that they were only the poor (who follow him). In fact, such are the
followers of the Apostles. Then I asked you whether you have ever accused
him of telling lies before saying what he said, and your reply was in the
negative. Therefore, I took for granted that a man who did not tell a lie about
others, could ever tell a lie about Allah. Then I asked you whether anyone of
his followers had renounced his religion (i.e. Islam) after embracing it, being
displeased with it, and you denied that. And such is Faith when it mixes with
the cheerfulness of the hearts. Then I asked you whether his followers were
increasing or decreasing You claimed that they were increasing. That is the way
of true faith till it is complete. Then I asked you whether you had ever fought
with him, and you claimed that you had fought with him and the battle between
you and him was undecided and the victory was shared by you and him in turns;
he inflicted casual ties upon you and you inflicted casualties upon them. Such
is the case with the Apostles; they are out to test and the final victory is
for them. Then I asked you whether he had ever betrayed; you claimed that he
had never betrayed. I need, Apostles never betray. Then I asked you whether
anyone had said this statement before him; and you denied that. Thereupon I
thought if somebody had said that statement before him, then I would have said
that he was but a man copying some sayings said before him." Abu Safyan
said, "Heraclius then asked me, 'What does he order you to do?' I said,
'He orders us (to offer) prayers and (to pay) Zakat and to keep good
relationship with the Kith and kin and to be chaste.' Then Heraclius said, 'If
whatever you have said, is true, he is really a prophet, and I knew that he
(i.e. the Prophet ) was going to appear, but I never thought that he would be
from amongst you. If I were certain that I can reach him, I would like to meet
him and if I were with him, I would wash his feet; and his kingdom will expand (surely
to what is under my feet.' Then Heraclius asked for the letter of Allah's
Apostle and read it wherein was written:
"In the Name of
Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. This letter is) from Muhammad,
Apostle of Allah, to Heraclius, the sovereign of Byzantine........ Peace be
upon him who follows the Right Path. Now then, I call you to embrace Islam.
Embrace Islam and you will be saved (from Allah's Punishment); embrace Islam,
and Allah will give you a double reward, but if you reject this, you will be
responsible for the sins of all the people of your kingdom (Allah's
Statement):--"O the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Come to
a word common to you and us that we worship None but Allah....bear witness that
we are Muslims.' ('Ali-Imran 3.64)
When he finished reading the letter,
voices grew louder near him and there was a great hue and cry, and we were
ordered to go out." Abu Sufyan added, "While coming out, I said to my
companions, 'The situation of Ibn Abu Kabsha (i.e. Muhammad) has become strong;
even the king of Banu Al-Asfar is afraid of him.' So I continued to believe
that Allah's Apostle would be victorious, till Allah made me embrace
Islam." Az-Zuhri said, "Heraclius then invited all the chiefs of the
Byzantines and had them assembled in his house and said, 'O group of
Byzantines! Do you wish to have a permanent success and guidance and that your
kingdom should remain with you?' (Immediately after hearing that), they rushed
towards the gate like onagers, but they found them closed. Heraclius then said,
'Bring them back to me.' So he called them and said, 'I just wanted to test the
strength of your adherence to your religion. Now I have observed of you that
which I like.' Then the people fell in prostration before him and became
pleased with him." Book 60 Hadith 75 Bukhari
So the point that the people of Noah is
worthless as the followers of the prophets are usually the meek and poor. The
other point they were trying to make was that his people followed him without
thinking.
The Holy Prophet himself remarked 'I
called people to Islam, everybody thought over it, at least for a while, but
this was not the case with Abu Bakr, the moment I put Islam before him, he
accepted it without any hesitation'
When one receives truth, he should
accept it, not sit on it a while.
Hud 11:29 And O my people! I ask of you
no wealth for it, my reward is from none but Allah. I am not going to drive
away those who have believed. Surely, they are going to meet their Lord, but I
see that you are a people that are ignorant
It is important that the person who
makes da'wa does not want compensation in return. The work should be for the
sake of Allah.
Hud 11:31 "And I do not say to
you that with me are the Treasures of Allah, nor that I know the Ghaib
(Unseen), nor do I say I am an angel, and I do not say of those whom your
eyes look down upon that Allah will not bestow any good on them. Allah knows
what is in their inner-selves (as regards belief, etc.). In that case, I
should, indeed be one of the Zalimun (wrong-doers, oppressors)."
The messengers do not have to be wealthy
for the people to follow them. Here, Noah is telling them about things people
look for in their leaders. People usually honour and respect the rich, people
usually wouldn’t follow a poor leader.
Same thing happened with Talut, Al-Baqarah
2:247 And their Prophet (Samuel عليه
السلام) said to them, "Indeed Allah has
appointed talut (Saul) as a king over you." They said, "How can he be
a king over us when we are fitter than him for the kingdom, and he has not
been given enough wealth." He said: "Verily, Allah has chosen him
above you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature. And Allah
grants His kingdom to whom He wills. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His
creatures' needs, All-Knower."
Noah is telling them that he doesn’t
control the treasures of Allah and that he doesn’t have to be rich, and that he
doesn’t know the unseen. We shouldn’t expect from the prophets of Allah that
they know the unseen, expect what Allah teaches them. He also said he isn’t an
angel, as people may say that he should not be a human but in a different form.
Noah gave da'wa for 950 yrs, and he is
not the one who gave up, but his people did.
Hud 11:32 They said: "O Nuh (Noah)!
You have disputed with us and much have you prolonged the dispute with us, now
bring upon us what you threaten us with, if you are of the truthful."
Ash-Shu'ara 26:116 They said: "If
you cease not, O Nuh (Noah) you will surely be among those stoned (to death)."
Now Noah, started making dua
Noah 71:21 Nuh (Noah) said: "my
lord! They have disobeyed me, and followed one whose wealth and children give
him no increase but loss.
Hud 11:36 And it was revealed to Nuh
(Noah): "None of your people will believe except those who have believed
already. So be not sad because of what they used to do.
So now, Noah knowing that there is no
further advancing with them, started making dua against them.
As-Saaffat 37:75 And indeed Nuh (Noah)
invoked us, and We are the Best of those who answer (the request).
Noah’s invocation was
Noah 71:26 And Nuh (Noah) said: "My
Lord! Leave not one of the disbelievers on the earth!
Noah 71: 27 "If You leave them,
they will mislead Your slaves, and they will beget none but wicked
disbelievers.
So, Allah instructed Noah to build the
arc.
Hud 11:37 "And construct the ship
under Our Eyes and with Our Revelation, and call not upon Me on behalf of those
who did wrong; they are surely to be drowned."
Noah was building this ship on top of
this mountain, and there is no sea or ocean. The disbelievers are limited to seeing only what is in front of
their eyes, they cannot understand that Allah can perform anything. They are
limited to the narrow vision of this world.
Hud 11:38 And as he was constructing the
ship, whenever the chiefs of his people passed by him, they mocked at him. He
said: "If you mock at us, so do we mock at you likewise for your
mocking".
Hud 11:39 "And you will know who it
is on whom will come a torment that will cover him with disgrace and on whom
will fall a lasting torment."
Hud 11:40 (So it was) till when Our
Command came and the oven gushed forth (water like fountains from the earth).
We said: "Embark therein, of each kind two (male and female), and your
family - except him against whom the Word has already gone forth - and those
who believe. And none believed with him, except a few."
According to different narrations, there
were from 7 to as much as 80 believers with Noah on the arc. After 950 yrs of
work, there was a maximum of only 80 believers on the arc with Noah. One here is asked to reflect. When we study or do business, our
grades or profit are the rewards we seek and the increasing of these are the
encouragement that keep us going. If we didn’t see any change in these grades
or profits it will be very difficult to keep going as we are not seeing any
fruits for our hard work. After 950 yrs of da'wa the situation didn’t change
much for Noah, but he knew that it was Allah who would be rewarding him the
best of rewards. He put his trust in Allah.
Hud 11:41 And he [Nuh (Noah) عليه السلام] said: "Embark
therein: in the Name of Allah will be its (moving) course and its (resting)
anchorage. Surely, my Lord is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
Whenever Muslims start something e.g.,
start eating, praying, going to bed etc. we say In the name of Allah
(bismillah).
Hud 11:42 So it (the ship) sailed
with them amidst waves like mountains, and Nuh (Noah) called out to his
son, who had separated himself (apart): "O my son! Embark with us and be
not with the disbelievers."
The waves were like mountains. It was
not the ship that Noah built that gave them safety; this was only what Allah
ordered Noah to do. The ship would be like a matchbox in comparison to such
huge waves, it would not be able to survive at all. Allah just wants Noah to do
his part, just build the ship but the ship will not save him. It is the will
and care of Allah that will take care of him and save him. This is a lesson for
us. We have to do our part, we have to take the first step.
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said,
"Allah says: 'I am just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e. I am able to do for
him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if He remembers Me. If
he remembers Me in himself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers
Me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than they;
and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him; and if he
comes one cubit nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer
to him; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.' "
(Book #93, Hadith #502 ,Bukhari)
Abu Dharr reported Allah's Messenger (may
peace be upon him) as saying that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, said: My
servants, I have made oppression unlawful for Me and unlawful for you, so do
not commit oppression against one another. My servants, all of you are liable
to err except one whom I guide on the right path, so seek right guidance
from Me so that I should direct you to the right path. O My servants, all
of you are hungry (needy) except one whom I feed, so beg food from Me, so that
I may give that to you. O My servants, all of you are naked (need clothes)
except one whom I provide garments, so beg clothes from Me, so that I should
clothe you. O My servants, you commit error night and day and I am there to
pardon your sins, so beg pardon from Me so that I should grant you pardon. O My
servants, you can neither do Me any harm nor can you do Me any good. O My
servants, even if the first amongst you and the last amongst you and even the
whole of human race of yours, and that of jinn’s even, become (equal in)
God-conscious like the heart of a single person amongst you, nothing would add
to My Power. O My servants, even if the first amongst you and the last amongst
you and the whole human race of yours and that of the Jinns too in unison
become the most wicked (all beating) like the heart of a single person, it
would cause no loss to My Power. O My servants, even if the first amongst you
and the last amongst you and the whole human race of yours and that of jinn’s
also all stand in one plain ground and you ask Me and I confer upon every
person what he asks for, it would not. in any way, cause any loss to Me (even
less) than that which is caused to the ocean by dipping the needle in it. My
servants, these for you I shall reward you for thern, so he who deeds of yours
which I am recording finds good should praise Allah and he who does not find
that should not blame anyone but his ownself. Sa'id said that when Abu Idris
Khaulini narrated this hadith he knelt upon his knees. (Book #32, Hadith #6246
Sahih Muslim)
The victory of Allah comes after we do
our part. For Noah it was building the ship.
Hud 11:42 So it (the ship) sailed with
them amidst waves like mountains, and Nuh (Noah) called out to his son, who
had separated himself (apart): "O my son! Embark with us and be not with
the disbelievers."
So then his son, thinking in the
materialism of this world
Hud 11:43 (The son) replied: "I
will betake myself to some mountain; it will save me from the water." Nuh
(Noah) said: "This day there is no saviour from the Decree of Allah except
him on whom He has mercy." And waves came in between them, so he (the son)
was among the drowned.
Imagine standing and you see your son,
and then waves separate both of you and you know then that that is the end of
your son, such a difficult situation.
Hud 11:44 And it was said: "O
earth! Swallow up your water, and O sky! Withhold (your rain)." And the
water was made to subside and the Decree (of Allah) was fulfilled (i.e. the
destruction of the people of Nuh (Noah). And it (the ship) rested on (Mount)
Judi, and it was said: "Away with the people who are Zalimun (polytheists
and wrong-doers)!"
They say that Mount Judi is at present
day Kurdistan.
Hud 11:45 And Nuh (Noah) called upon his
Lord and said, "O my Lord! Verily, my son is of my family! And certainly,
Your Promise is true, and You are the Most Just of the judges."
Allah promised Noah, that he will be saved with his
family. So he asked his lord, without any doubts. Allah taught him a lesson.
Noah considered his son to be his family.
Hud 11:46 He said: "O Nuh (Noah)!
Surely, he is not of your family; verily, his work is unrighteous, so ask not
of Me that of which you have no knowledge! I admonish you lest you should be
one of the ignorant."
Hud 11:47 Nuh (Noah) said: "O my
Lord! I seek refuge with You from asking You that of which I have no knowledge.
And unless You forgive me and have Mercy on me, I will indeed be one of the
losers."
The story of Noah was mentioned in many
parts of the Quran. The longest version being in Chapter (Surah) Hud 11, it
begins at verse 25 and ends at verse 49. After the story is being told to
Prophet Muhammad, the 49th verse tells him
Hud 11:49 This is of the news of the
Unseen which We reveal unto you (O Muhammad صلى
الله عليه و سلم); neither you nor your
people knew it before this. So be patient. Surely, the (good) end is for
Al-Muttaqun (the pious)
All of this story is told to Muhammad
for the following lesson to be derived from it, to be patient. Allah closes the
story of Noah by telling Muhammad to be patient, like Noah did. Noah for 950
yrs gave da'wa to his people, in the night and the day, he persisted. He made
it in public and privately, he gave da'wa when he was alone. He gave da'wa and
they were not listening, but he remained patient. The winners in the end are
the pious. Noah did win, but not until 950 yrs, and he could not have won if he
didn’t have patience. The road is long, and it needs a lot of energy, and that
energy is patience.
Hud
Allah sent Hud to the people of 'Aad. The people of 'Aad live in Al-Ahqaf
Al-Ahqaf 46:21 And remember (Hud) the
brother of 'Ad, when he warned his people in Al-Ahqaf (the curved sand-hills in
the southern part of Arabian Peninsula). And surely, there have passed away
warners before him and after him (saying): "Worship none but Allah; truly,
I fear for you the torment of a mighty Day (i.e. the Day of
Resurrection)."
Al-Ahqaf means sand hills, so the people
of 'Aad lived in the desert area of around Yemen, but it wasnt a desert back
then.
Al-Araf 7:69 "Do you wonder that
there has come to you a Reminder (and an advice) from your Lord through a man
from amongst you to warn you? And remember that He made you successors after
the people of Nuh (Noah) and increased you amply in stature. So remember
the graces (bestowed upon you) from Allah so that you may be successful."
The people of 'Aad used to worship idols. They were very strong, well built
individuals.
As a
society Allah blessed them livestock, manpower, agriculture and water
resources.
Ash-Shu'ara 26:132 And keep your duty to
Him, fear Him Who has aided you with all (good things) that you know.
Ash-Shu'ara 26:133 He has aided you with
cattle and children.
Ash-Shu'ara 26:134 And gardens and
springs.
As individuals,
Ash-Shu'ara 26:128 "Do you build
high palaces on every high place, while you do not live in them?
Ash-Shu'ara 26:129 "And do you get
for yourselves palaces (fine buildings) as if you will live therein forever.
Ash-Shu'ara 26:130 "And when you
seize (somebody), seize you (him) as tyrants?
Ash-Shu'ara 26:131 "So fear Allah,
keep your duty to Him, and obey me.
They became so wealthy that they were
spending their money in a wasteful way; they fell into the trap that rich
nations fall into, using their money for arrogance. After one has satisfied his basic needs, if there is no Imaan (belief)
then the rest of the money will be spent in evil. 'Aad had this additional
wealth, so they would build monuments on top of these mountains that they were
not using for living. They built these palaces out of pride. They way they
built these palaces were as if they would be living there forever. They were
strong and tyrants.
Al-Fajr 89:6 Saw you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) not how your Lord
dealt with 'Ad (people)
Al-Fajr 89:7 Of Iram (who were very
tall) like (lofty) pillars,
Al-Fajr 89:8 The like of which were not
created in the land?
Allah did not create anyone similar to
them. Allah sent to them Hud
Hud 11:50 And to 'Ad (people We sent)
their brother hud. He said, "O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other
ilah (god) but Him. Certainly, you do nothing but invent lies!
The prophets of Allah are straight
forward because that is part of the trust and responsibility of conveying the
truth.
Ash-Shu'ara 26:125 Verily! I am a
trustworthy Messenger to you.
Al-Araf 7:68 I convey unto you the
Messages of my Lord, and I am a trustworthy adviser (or well-wisher) for you.
Then he told them
Hud 11:52 "And O my people! Ask
forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him, He will send you (from the
sky) abundant rain, and add strength to your strength, so do not turn away as
Mujrimoon (criminals, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah)."
He told them the same thing Noah said.
And he added more things Allah will give them if they ask him for forgiveness.
Hud 11:52 "And O my people! Ask
forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him, He will send you (from the
sky) abundant rain, and add strength to your strength, so do not turn away as
Mujrimoon (criminals, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah)."
This tells us that we are not making
enough Istaghfar (asking forgiveness) to Allah, if we were, then our
situation would not be as it is today.
Their response was
Hud 11:53 They said: "O Hood! No
evidence have you brought us, and we shall not leave our gods for your (mere)
saying! And we are not believers in you.
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