Long after the time of Prophet Adam(عليه السلام), the people who once followed Allah's guidance began to stray. Initially, they were righteous, devoted solely to Allah. But as generations passed, they began to forget the pure monotheism of their ancestors. Iblis, ever watchful, saw his chance. He whispered to them, "Make statues of your pious ancestors. Their images will remind you of their devotion to Allah and inspire you to follow their path." The people embraced this idea, placing these statues outside their homes and places of worship, thinking they were simply honoring their forefathers.
Allah says in the Quran, "And they said, 'Never leave your gods and never leave Wadd or Suwa' or Yaghuth and Ya'uq and Nasr.'" (Quran 71:23). These were the names of their righteous ancestors, whose statues they had made.
As time went on, Iblis continued his cunning whispers. "Bring the statues closer," he suggested. "Place them near your places of worship to keep their memory alive." Gradually, the people moved the statues closer, eventually bringing them inside their places of worship. Generations passed, and the true purpose of these statues was forgotten. Iblis then whispered, "These statues are more than mere symbols; they can intercede with Allah on your behalf." The people, having lost touch with their monotheistic roots, began to honor and venerate the statues even more.
As more time passed, Iblis whispered a final deceit. "These statues," he said, "are not just symbols but gods themselves. They can bring you closer to Allah." The people, fully forgetting the pure teachings of their forefathers, began to worship these idols. They prayed to them, asked them for help, guidance, and blessings, believing these once-pious figures could intercede with Allah on their behalf. Thus, they completely deviated from the worship of Allah alone.
In this era of rampant idolatry, Allah sent Prophet Noah(عليه السلام) to guide his people back to the straight path. Noah(عليه السلام), a man of profound patience and unwavering faith, was chosen by Allah to be His messenger. Allah says, "Indeed, We sent Noah(عليه السلام) to his people, and he said, 'O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a tremendous Day.'" (Quran 7:59).
Noah(عليه السلام) preached tirelessly for nine hundred and fifty years, reminding them of the monotheism of their ancestors and warning them of the consequences of their idolatry. He urged them to abandon their false gods and return to the worship of Allah alone. Despite his persistent efforts and the clear signs he brought, most of the people rejected his message, clinging to their idols and ridiculing Noah(عليه السلام) for his warnings. "And they said, 'Do not leave your gods and do not leave Wadd or Suwa' or Yaghuth and Ya'uq and Nasr.'" (Quran 71:23).
Noah(عليه السلام), heartbroken by their stubbornness, turned to Allah for help. 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." (Quran 71:5-7).
Seeing the people's continued disobedience, Allah commanded Noah(عليه السلام) to build an ark. Allah said, "And construct the ship under Our observation and Our inspiration and do not address Me concerning those who have wronged; indeed, they are to be drowned." (Quran 11:37). Noah(عليه السلام) began constructing the ark on dry land as instructed by Allah. The people mocked and ridiculed him, laughing and saying, "What madness is this? Why build a ship on dry land?" Despite their scorn, Noah(عليه السلام) continued his work with unwavering faith, knowing that Allah's command would come to pass.
Once the ark was completed, Allah's command came, and the heavens opened up with a torrential downpour. Water gushed from the earth, and soon a massive flood enveloped the land. Noah(عليه السلام) called upon his followers to board the ark. They were a small group of true believers along with pairs of every animal species. The disbelievers, who had mocked Noah(عليه السلام), were left behind. The waters rose, covering everything, and those who had rejected Noah's(عليه السلام) message were swept away by the flood. Allah says, "So We opened the gates of the heaven with rain pouring down and caused the earth to gush forth with springs, and the waters met for a matter already predestined." (Quran 54:11-12).
The ark floated on the waters for many days and nights until the rain ceased and the floodwaters began to recede. Eventually, the ark came to rest on Mount Judi. Allah commanded the earth to swallow the water and the sky to withhold its rain. The land dried up, and Noah(عليه السلام) and the believers disembarked from the ark to start anew. They were grateful to Allah for their salvation and determined to live righteously, adhering to the pure monotheism that Noah(عليه السلام) had preached. "And it was said, 'O earth, swallow your water, and O sky, withhold [your rain].' And the water subsided, and the matter was accomplished, and the ship came to rest on the [mountain of] Judi. And it was said, 'Away with the wrongdoing people.'" (Quran 11:44).
Prophet Noah's(عليه السلام) life is a testament to patience, perseverance, and unwavering faith. Despite the ridicule and rejection he faced, he remained steadfast in his mission. His story teaches us the importance of staying true to our faith, no matter the challenges. It also serves as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from Allah's guidance and the mercy that awaits those who believe and obey.
The moral of the story is clear: deviation from the path of monotheism can lead to severe consequences, but steadfast faith and obedience to Allah's commands will always lead to salvation. Prophet Noah's(عليه السلام) life and mission remind us of the importance of upholding the true teachings of Islam and the need to resist any form of deviation, no matter how small it may seem.
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