Juz 12: Hūd 6 to Yūsuf 52
Section 6 of 19 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
6. The Story of Prophet Nuh
The narrative of Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) in Surah Hood provides one of the most detailed accounts of this prophet's mission in the Quran. The story begins with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala mentioning how He sent Nuh to his people:
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ إِنِّي لَكُمْ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ
“Indeed, We sent Nuh to his people (saying to them), 'I am a clear warner for you.'" [11:25]”
Nuh's mission was clear and straightforward—to call his people to the worship of Allah alone. He warned them of severe punishment if they persisted in disbelief and idolatry. His approach embodied both aspects of prophetic calling: warning (indhar) against consequences of disbelief and giving glad tidings (tabshir) of rewards for faith.
Despite Nuh's persistent efforts over an exceptionally long lifespan, only a few responded positively to his call. The majority not only rejected his message but also ridiculed him and those who followed him. The elite among his people dismissed his followers as the lowest class of society who had accepted his message without proper reflection:
فَقَالَ الْمَلَأُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِن قَوْمِهِ مَا نَرَاكَ إِلَّا بَشَرًا مِّثْلَنَا وَمَا نَرَاكَ اتَّبَعَكَ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ هُمْ أَرَاذِلُنَا بَادِيَ الرَّأْيِ
“So the chiefs of his people who disbelieved said, 'We do not see you but as a man like ourselves, and we do not see that anyone has followed you except those who are the lowest among us, having no careful consideration.'" [11:27]”
Eventually, after exhausting all means of persuasion, Allah commanded Nuh to build an ark. The construction itself became a sign and a final opportunity for people to reflect, as Nuh built this vessel far from any body of water. His people mocked this seemingly irrational project:
وَيَصْنَعُ الْفُلْكَ وَكُلَّمَا مَرَّ عَلَيْهِ مَلَأٌ مِّن قَوْمِهِ سَخِرُوا مِنْهُ ۚ قَالَ إِن تَسْخَرُوا مِنَّا فَإِنَّا نَسْخَرُ مِنكُمْ كَمَا تَسْخَرُونَ
“And he was constructing the ship, and every time chiefs of his people passed by him, they ridiculed him. He said, 'If you ridicule us, we shall ridicule you, just as you ridicule.'" [11:38]”
Perhaps the most poignant aspect of Nuh's story in this surah is the exchange between him and his son at the moment of embarkation. When the floods began, Allah commanded Nuh to board the ark with his family and the believers, along with pairs of every species:
﴿وَهِيَ تَجۡرِي بِهِمۡ فِي مَوۡجٖ كَٱلۡجِبَالِ وَنَادَىٰ نُوحٌ ٱبۡنَهُۥ وَكَانَ فِي مَعۡزِلٖ يَٰبُنَيَّ ٱرۡكَب مَّعَنَا وَلَا تَكُن مَّعَ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ﴾ (هود 11:42)
“And it was sailing with them amidst the waves like mountains. And NūH called out to his son, who was at an isolated place, “O my child, come on board with us, and do not be in the company of the disbelievers.”” (11:42)