Allah in His Mercy sent His messenger Noah to guide his people. Noah was an excellent speaker and a very patient man. He pointed out to his people the mysteries of life and the wonders of the universe.
He pointed out how the night is regularly followed by the day and that the balance
between these opposites were designed by Allah the Almighty for our good. The night gives
coolness and rest while the day gives warmth and awakens activity. The sun encourages growth, keeping all plants and animals alive, while the moon and stars assist in the reckoning of time, direction and seasons. He pointed out that the ownership of the heavens and the earth belongs only to the Divine Creator.
Therefore, he explained to this people, there cannot have been more
than one deity. He clarified to them how the devil had deceived them for so long and that the time had come for this deceit to stop. Noah spoke to them of Allah’s glorification of man, how HE had created him and provided him with sustenance and the blessings of a mind. He told them that idol worshipping was a suffocating injustice to the mind. He warned them not to worship anyone but Allah and described the terrible punishment Allah would mete out if they continued in their evil ways.
Division Among Noah’s People
The people listened to him in silence. His words were a shock to their stagnating minds as it is a shock to a person who is asleep under a wall which is about to fall and who is vigorously
awakened. This person may be alarmed and may even become angry although the aim was to save him.
Noah’s people were divided into two groups after his warning. His words touched the hearts of
the weak, the poor, and the miserable and soothed their wounds with its mercy. As for the rich,
the strong, the mighty and the rulers they looked upon the warning with cold distrust. They
believed they would be better off if things stayed as they were. Therefore they started their war of words against Noah.
The Disbelievers’ Arguments
First they accused Noah of being only human like themselves.
“The chiefs of the disbelievers among his people said: “We see you but a man like ourselves.”‘
(Ch 11:27 Quran)
He, however, had never said anything other than that. He asserted that, indeed, he was only a
human being; Allah had sent a human messenger because the earth was inhabited by humans. If it had been inhabited by angels Allah would have sent an angelic messenger. The contest between the polytheists and Noah continued.
the rulers had thought at first that Noah’s call would soon fade on its own. When they found that his call attracted the poor, the helpless and common laborers, they started to verbally attack and taunt him: ‘You are only followed by the poor, the meek and the worthless.’
Allah the Almighty told us:
“Indeed We sent Noah to his people (he said): “I have come to you as a plain Warner that you worship none but Allah, surely, I fear for you the torment of a painful Day.” the chiefs of the Disbelievers 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.” (CH 11:25-27).
The Disbelievers Attempt to Bargain
Thus the conflict between Noah and the heads of his people intensified. The Disbelievers tried to bargain: “Listen Noah, if you want us to believe in you, then dismiss your believers. They are meek and poor, while are elite and rich; no faith c an include us both.” Noah listened to the
heathens of his community and realized they were being obstinate. However, he was gentle in his response.
He explained to his people that he could not dismiss the believers as they were not his
guests but Allah’s. Noah appealed to them:
“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. O my people! Who will help me against Allah, if I drove them away? Will you not then give a thought? And I do not say to you that with me are the Treasures of Allah nor that I know the 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 (regards to Belief). In that case, I should, indeed be one of the Zalimeen
(wrongdoers, oppressors etc).”
(Ch 11:29-31 Quran)
Noah refuted the arguments of the disbelievers with the noble knowledge of the prophets. It is the logic of intellect that rids itself of personal pride and interests.
The Disbelievers Remain Ignorant
The rulers were tired of Noah’s arguments. Allah the Exalted related their attitude:
They said:
“O 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.” He said: “Only Allah will bring it (the punishment)on you, if He will, and then you will escape not. And my advice will not profit you, even if I wish to give you counsel, if Allah’s Will is to keep you astray. He is your Lord! And to Him you shall return.” (Ch 11:32-34 Quran)
The battle continued; the arguments between the Disbelievers and Noah became prolonged. When all the refutations of the Disbelievers collapsed and they had no more to say, they began to be rude and insulted Allah’s prophet:
“The leaders of his people said: “Verily, we see you in plain error.” (Ch 7:60 Quran)
Noah responded in the manner of the prophets:
“O my people! There is no error in me, but I am a Messenger from the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists)! I convey unto you the Messages of my Lord and give sincere advice to you. And I know from Allah what you know not.”
(CH 7:61-62 Quran)
Noah continued appealing to his people to believe in Allah hour after hour, day after day year
after year. He admonished his people and called them to Allah day and night, in secret and openly.
HE gave them examples, explained Allah’s signs and illustrated Allah’s ability in the formation of His creatures. But whenever he called them to Allah, they ran away from him. Whenever he urged them to ask Allah to forgive them, they put their fingers in their ears and became too proud to listen to the truth.
Noah’s Appeal to His People
Allah the Almighty related what Noah faced:
“Verily, We sent Noah to his people saying: “Warn your people before there comes to them a painful torment.” He said: “O my people! Verily, I am a plain Warner to you, that you should worship Allah alone, be dutiful to Him and obey me, He (Allah) will forgive you of your sins and respite you to an appointed term. Verily, the term of Allah when it comes, cannot be delayed, if you but knew.”
He said: “O my Lord! Verily, I have called my people night and day (secretly and openly to accept the doctrine of Islamic Monotheism), but all my calling added nothing but to their flight from the truth. Verily! Everytime 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. Then verily, I called to them openly (aloud); then verily, I proclaimed to them in public, and I have appealed to them in private, I said to them:
‘Ask forgiveness from your Lord, Verily, He is Oft Forgiving; He will send rain to you in
abundance, and give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers.“
What is the matter with you, that you fear not Allah (His Punishment), and you hope not forreward from Allah or you believe not in His Oneness. While He has created you in different stages. (Ch 23:13-14 Quran)
See you not how Allah has created the seven heavens one above another, and has made the moon a light therein and made the sun a lamp? And Allah has brought you forth from the dust of earth.
Afterwards He will return you into it (the earth), and bring you forth (again on the Day of
Resurrection) Allah has made for you the earth wide spread (an expanse) that you may go about therein broad roads.
Noah said: “My Lord! They have disobeyed me, and followed one whose wealth and children give him no increase but only loss. They have plotted a mighty plot. They have said: ‘you shall not leave your gods, nor shall you leave wadd, nor Suwa, nor Yaghuth, nor ya’uq nor Nasr (names of the idols). Indeed they have led many astray. O Allah! Grant no increase to the Zalimeen (polytheists, wrongdoers, and Disbelievers etc) save error.”
Because of their sins they were drowned, then were made to enter the Fire and they found none to help them instead of Allah. (Ch 71:1-25 Quran).