Prophets Ādam, Nūḥ and Hūd: The Patience of the Prophets
Section 16 of 30 · Lives of the Prophets
My Lord, Leave None of the Disbelievers
Now Nūḥ started making duʿāʾ against them, because they reached a level where they're threatening him, to take away his life. They don't want to believe anymore; they want to end it. So Nūḥ told Allah (swt):
قَالَ نُوحٌ رَّبِّ إِنَّهُمْ عَصَوْنِى وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ مَن لَّمْ يَزِدْهُ مَالُهُۥ وَوَلَدُهُۥٓ إِلَّا خَسَارًا
“And said NūH, “My Lord, they disobeyed me, and followed him whose wealth and children added nothing to him but loss,” (71:21)
Qāla Nūḥun rabbi innahum ʿaṣawnī wa-ttabaʿū man lam yazidhu māluhu wa waladuhu illā khasārā: my Lord, they have disobeyed me, and followed one whose wealth and children gave him no increase but loss. They followed the wealthy, and they followed the strong families. These are the ones whom they followed; they didn't follow me.
وَأُوحِىَ إِلَىٰ نُوحٍ أَنَّهُۥ لَن يُؤْمِنَ مِن قَوْمِكَ إِلَّا مَن قَدْ ءَامَنَ فَلَا تَبْتَئِسْ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْعَلُونَ
“And it was revealed to NūH: None of your people would come to believe any more, except those who have already believed. So, be not distressed by what they have been doing.” (11:36)
Allah (swt) said: wa ūḥiya ilā Nūḥin annahu lan yuʾmina min qawmika illā man qad āman. Allah (swt) says: and it was inspired to Nūḥ, none of your people will believe except those who have already believed; so be not sad because of what they used to do. Allah (swt) told Nūḥ: no one else will believe. Nūḥ now started making duʿāʾ to Allah (swt), when he saw that we had reached the end. There's no further dialogue between us; the communication is cut.
وَلَقَدْ نَادَىٰنَا نُوحٌ فَلَنِعْمَ ٱلْمُجِيبُونَ
“And NūH did call Us (for help after he was disappointed with his people), so (We accepted his prayer, as) We are the best to respond.” (37:75)
Wa laqad nādānā Nūḥun fa-la-niʿma al-mujībūn: and indeed Nūḥ invoked Us, and We are the best of those who answer. Nūḥ made a duʿāʾ, and We will answer it. Nūḥ said:
وَقَالَ نُوحٌ رَّبِّ لَا تَذَرْ عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ دَيَّارًا إِنَّكَ إِن تَذَرْهُمْ يُضِلُّوا۟ عِبَادَكَ وَلَا يَلِدُوٓا۟ إِلَّا فَاجِرًا كَفَّارًا
“And said NūH, “My Lord, do not leave on earth even a single inhabitant (surviving) out of the disbelievers. If You leave them (surviving), they will lead Your servants astray, and will beget none but a sinful disbeliever.” (71:26–27)
Qāla Nūḥun rabbi lā tadhar ʿalā al-arḍi min al-kāfirīna dayyārā, innaka in tadharhum yuḍillū ʿibādaka wa lā yalidū illā fājiran kaffārā.
Nūḥ made his duʿāʾ. After 950 years of patience, he finally made a duʿāʾ against his people, and he said: O Allah, leave none of the disbelievers on the face of the earth. Destroy them all. Why? It's not because of a personal problem between Nūḥ and them — no. Nūḥ said: if You leave them, they will mislead Your servants, and they will beget none but wicked disbelievers. Nūḥ said: O Allah, destroy them. Why? Because if You leave them, they are going to deliver this disbelief to their children, and they're going to insist on it, and then they are going to corrupt the believers. So destroy them all. And the duʿāʾ was received by Allah (swt).