Noah
We sent Noah to his people, saying, "I come to you as a clear warner.

Noah was one of the messengers God chose to deliver His message to people. The Quran names him with Adam, the family of Abraham, and the family of Amram (3:33). God sent him to his own people with a plain message: "O my people, worship GOD. You have no other god beside Him" (23:23). He came as "a clear warner," and he feared for them "the retribution of a painful day" (11:25-26). He told them that if they turned to God, God would forgive their sins and give them respite (71:3-4). He also made clear that he wanted nothing from them: "my wage comes only from GOD" (11:29). He lived among them a very long time, "one thousand years, less fifty" (29:14).
Noah preached to them night and day, in public and in private. But the more he called them, the more they turned away. They put their fingers in their ears and covered themselves with their clothes (71:5-9). Their leaders said he was only a human being like them, that the first to follow him were "the worst among us," and that he was a liar (11:27). They called him crazy and persecuted him (23:25, 54:9), and they told each other not to give up their idols, Wadd, Suwaa', Yaghouth, Ya'ooq, and Nasr (71:23). Noah would not send the humble believers away to please them, because only God judges them (11:29-31). Even his wife betrayed him, and the Quran gives her as an example of the disbelievers.
Then God told Noah that no more of his people were going to believe, and commanded him to build the ark under His watchful eyes (11:36-37). His people laughed at him as he worked (11:38-39). When God's judgment came, the sky poured water and springs burst out of the earth (54:11-12). Noah carried on board a pair of each kind, his family except those condemned, and the believers, "and only a few have believed with him" (11:40). The ark was "a watercraft made of logs and ropes" (54:13). In his footnote, Dr. Khalifa explains that the flood was local, around the area of today's Dead Sea, and that the animals were Noah's own livestock, not every animal on earth (11:40). As the ark sailed through "waves like hills," Noah called to his son, but the son said he would shelter on a hill. "The waves separated them, and he was among those who drowned" (11:42-43).
Then the earth swallowed its water, the sky stopped, and "the ark finally rested on the hills of Judea" (11:44). Noah begged God for his son, reminding God that his son was part of his family. God answered, "O Noah, he is not of your family. It is unrighteous to ask Me for something you do not know" (11:45-46). Noah at once asked for refuge and forgiveness (11:47). He was then told to leave the ark "with peace and blessings upon you, and upon nations who will descend from your companions" (11:48). God made his companions the survivors and drowned all the others (37:77, 37:82). Later prophets came from the descendants of those carried with Noah (19:58, 57:26).
The Quran says God set this event up "as a lesson for all the people" (29:15), and asks, "Does any of you wish to learn?" (54:15). The story shows that those who reject God's messengers are destroyed and the believers are saved: "The ultimate victory belongs to the righteous" (11:49). It also shows that family ties do not save anyone, not even a prophet's son or wife (11:46, 66:10). Dr. Khalifa draws this lesson in his footnote: intercession is a myth, since "Abraham could not help his father, nor could Noah help his son, nor could Muhammad help his own relatives" (11:46). And God honors Noah: "Peace be upon Noah among the peoples" (37:79).
Verses
SubmissionAI can make mistakes. Check the sources.
We sent Noah to his people, saying, "I come to you as a clear warner.
"You shall not worship except GOD. I fear for you the retribution of a painful day."
The leaders who disbelieved among his people said, "We see that you are no more than a human being like us, and we see that the first people to follow you are the worst among us. We see that you do not possess any advantage over us. Indeed, we think you are liars."
He said, "O my people, what if I have a solid proof from my Lord? What if He has blessed me out of His mercy, though you cannot see it? Are we going to force you to believe therein?
"O my people, I do not ask you for any money; my wage comes only from GOD. I am not dismissing those who believed; they will meet their Lord (and He alone will judge them). I see that you are ignorant people.
"O my people, who can support me against GOD, if I dismiss them? Would you not take heed?
"I do not claim that I possess the treasures of GOD, nor do I know the future, nor do I claim to be an angel. Nor do I say to those despised by your eyes that GOD will not bestow any blessings upon them. GOD knows best what is in their innermost thoughts. (If I did this,) I would be a transgressor."
They said, "O Noah, you have argued with us, and kept on arguing. We challenge you to bring the doom you threaten us with, if you are truthful."
He said, "GOD is the One who brings it to you, if He so wills, then you cannot escape.
"Even if I advised you, my advice cannot benefit you if it is GOD's will to send you astray. He is your Lord, and to Him you will be returned."
If they say, "He made up this story," then say, "If I made it up, then I am responsible for my crime, and I am innocent of any crime you commit."
Noah was inspired: "No more of your people are going to believe, beyond those who already believe. Do not be saddened by their actions.
"Build the ark under our watchful eyes, and with our inspiration, and do not implore Me on behalf of those who have transgressed; they are destined to drown."
While he was building the ark, whenever some of his people passed by him they laughed at him. He said, "You may be laughing at us, but we are laughing at you, just as you are laughing.
"You will surely find out who will suffer a shameful retribution, and incur an everlasting punishment."
When our judgment came, and the atmosphere boiled over, we said, "Carry on it a pair of each kind,* together with your family, except those who are condemned. Carry with you those who have believed," and only a few have believed with him.
*11:40 & 44 This is God's proven truth: Noah's ark was made of logs, tied together with primitive ropes (54:13). Contrary to common belief, the flood was limited to the area around today's Dead Sea, and the animals were only Noah's livestock; not every animal that lived on earth.
He said, "Come on board. In the name of GOD shall be its sailing, and its mooring. My Lord is Forgiver, Most Merciful."
As it sailed with them in waves like hills, Noah called his son, who was isolated: "O my son, come ride with us; do not be with the disbelievers."
He said, "I will take refuge on top of a hill, to protect me from the water." He said, "Nothing can protect anyone today from GOD's judgment; only those worthy of His mercy (will be saved)." The waves separated them, and he was among those who drowned.
It was proclaimed: "O earth, swallow your water," and "O sky, cease." The water then subsided; the judgment was fulfilled. The ark finally rested on the hills of Judea.* It was then proclaimed: "The transgressors have perished."
Noah implored his Lord: "My Lord, my son is a member of my family, and Your promise is the truth. You are the wisest of the wise."
He said, "O Noah, he is not of your family. It is unrighteous to ask Me for something you do not know.* I enlighten you, lest you be like the ignorant."
*11:46 Intercession is Satan's most effective bait to entice people into idol worship. However, Abraham could not help his father, nor could Noah help his son, nor could Muhammad help his own relatives (2:254, 9:80 & 114).
He said, "My Lord, I seek refuge in You, lest I implore You again for something I do not know. Unless You forgive me, and have mercy on me, I will be with the losers."
It was proclaimed: "O Noah, disembark, with peace and blessings upon you, and upon nations who will descend from your companions. As for the other nations descending from you, we will bless them for awhile, then commit them to painful retribution."
This is news from the past that we reveal to you. You had no knowledge about them—neither you, nor your people—before this. Therefore, be patient. The ultimate victory belongs to the righteous.