1. THE PROPHET NOAH

1. THE PROPHET
NOAH
He is the first Messenger sent by God. He was sent after his people began practicing Shirk (polytheism). Their condition deteriorated steadily and they forgot the fundamentals of their faith that were passed down to them by their forefathers who upheld the creed of Islam.
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God, the Exalted, says:
“Indeed, We sent Noah to his people, [saying], ‘Warn your people before there comes to them a painful punishment.’”( Qur’an 71:1)
They worshipped five idols named: Wadd, Suwa’, Yaghuth, Ya’uq and Nasr.
Allah, the Exalted, clarifies their names in the Qur’an saying: “And they said, ‘Never leave your gods and never leave Wadd or Suwa’ or Yaghuth and Ya’uq and Nasr.’” (Qur’an 71:23)
The Prophet Noah was very pious and truthful. He patiently called his people to righteousness. He called on them using a variety of different methods.
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God, the Exalted, says:
“He said, ‘My Lord, indeed I invited my people [to truth] night and day. But my invitation increased them not except in flight. And indeed, every time I invited them that You may forgive them, they put their fingers in their ears, covered themselves with their garments, persisted, and were arrogant with [great] arrogance. Then I invited them publicly.
Then I announced to them and [also] confided to them secretly. And said, ‘Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver.’” (Qur’an 71:5-10)
In spite of his efforts, many of his people turned away and rejected the Message.
Only a few followed him and the disbelievers amongst his people continued in their disbelief and evil ways. So Allah prevented them from receiving any rain.
Noah informed them that if they were to believe they would receive rain and so they believed, but soon afterward they returned to their disbelief. After spending long years in calling them to the path of Allah, but seeing no answer, he eventually beseeched God, the Exalted, saying:  
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“And Noah said, ‘My Lord, do not leave upon the earth from among the disbelievers an inhabitant. Indeed, if You leave them, they will mislead Your servants and not beget except [every] wicked one and [confirmed] disbeliever.’” (Qur’an 71:26-27)
Allah answered his supplications and He ordered him to build an ark. Noah was a skillful carpenter and those who believed in the Message helped him. Once the ark was complete, God ordered Prophet Noah to gather a pair of each animal (a male and female). God then ordered the heavens to pour rain and the earth to release the water within it.
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God, the Exalted, says:
“The people of Noah denied before them, and they denied Our slave and said, ‘A madman,’ and he was repelled. So he invoked his Lord, ‘Indeed, I am overpowered, so help me.’ Then We opened the gates of the heaven with rain pouring down. And caused the earth to burst with springs, and the waters met for a matter already predestined. And We carried him on a [construction of] planks and nails. Sailing under Our observation as reward for he who had been denied. And We left it as a sign, so is there any who will remember?” (Qur’an 54:9-15)
The Prophet Noah had three offspring: Sam was the father of the Arabs, Ham was the father of the Ethiopians and Yafith was the father of the Europeans.
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