11. Hud

Noah said to those who believed among his family and his people to board the Ark, and that its sailing and landing would be in the name of Allah, saying that his Lord was Forgiving of the sins of those of His servants who repent to Him, and was Compassionate with them. By His mercy to the believers, He saved them from being destroyed.

Noah’s son said to him that he would take refuge on a high mountain so that the water could not reach him. Noah told his son that nothing would save anyone from Allah’s punishment of being drowned by the Flood, except those who Allah would save in His mercy. A wave came between Noah and his disbelieving son, and his son was drowned by the Flood because of his disbelief.

After the Flood, Allah told the earth to absorb the water, and He told the sky to hold back and not send down rain; and so the water decreased, until the land became dry. By then, Allah had destroyed the disbelievers. The Ark stopped on Mount Jūdī. It was said, ‘Be gone and destroyed the people of disobedience, for they had overstepped the limits of Allah through their disbelief.

Noah (peace be upon him)called upon his Lord, saying that his son was of his family, whom He had promised him would be saved. He said that Allah’s promise is always true and that Allah is the most just of judges Who knows best.

Allah said to Noah that his son, who he asked Him to save, was not from his family, whom He had promised to save, because he was a disbeliever. Noah’s question was not appropriate coming from him, and was not right for someone of his rank. Allah told him not to ask Him about what he had no knowledge about, cautioning him not to be among those who are ignorant, by asking Him for things that go against His knowledge and wisdom.

Noah (peace be upon him) asked his Lord to help him by preventing him from asking Him for what he had no knowledge about. He said that if Allah did not forgive him his sin, and have mercy on him, then he would be among the losers who lost their share in the Afterlife.

Allah told Noah (peace be upon him) to get down from the Ark on to the ground in safety and security, and with many blessings from Allah upon him and on the believing descendants of those who were with him on the Ark, who would come after them. There would also be other peoples from their descendants who would disbelieve whom Allah would for a time give enjoyment in the life of this world, giving them their livelihood, but then a painful punishment from Him would come to them.

This story of Noah is from the news of the Ghaib, which the Messenger (peace be upon him)did not know beforehand, and his people did not have knowledge of it either before this revelation from Allah. Allah tells him to be patient in the face of the injury and rejection of his people, just as Noah (peace be upon him) was patient. Help and victory is for those who follow what Allah instructs and who stay away from what He has prohibited.

Allah sent to the people of ‘Ād their brother Hūd (peace be upon him). He told them to worship Allah alone, and not to associate anyone with Him. He told them that they had no real god other than Him, glory be to Him, and that they were not telling the truth in claiming that he had a partner.