Prophet Nuh (Noah)

71 – Surah Nuh
NoahIn the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

Prophet Nuh’s dawah to his people

71:1 Indeed, We sent Nuh to his people, [saying], "Warn your people before there comes to them a painful punishment." 71:2 He said, "O my people, indeed I am to you a clear warner, 71:3 [Saying], 'Worship Allah, fear Him and obey me. 71:4 Allah will forgive you of your sins and delay you for a specified term. Indeed, the time [set by] Allah, when it comes, will not be delayed, if you only knew.’” 71:5 He said, "My Lord, indeed I invited my people [to truth] night and day. 71:6 But my invitation increased them not except in flight. 71:7 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. 71:8 Then I invited them publicly. 71:9 Then I announced to them and [also] confided to them secretly 71:10 And said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. 71:11 He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers 71:12 And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers. 71:13 What is [the matter] with you that you do not attribute to Allah [due] grandeur 71:14 While He has created you in stages? 71:15 Do you not consider how Allah has created seven heavens in layers 71:16 And made the moon therein a [reflected] light and made the sun a burning lamp? 71:17 And Allah has caused you to grow from the earth a [progressive] growth. 71:18 Then He will return you into it and extract you [another] extraction. 71:19 And Allah has made for you the earth an expanse 71:20 That you may follow therein roads of passage.' "

Lessons:

- Allah warns us before a punishment.

- Repentance can avert punishment.

- No other way to stop a punishment except through repentance.

- Dawah should be given at every opportunity, as well as in public and in private.

- It is never the message, it is always the people who must change.

- Always let people know the rewards of becoming Muslim.
- Ask people to reflect on their own creation as well as the creation of the universe.

The Dua of Prophet Nuh

71:21 Nuh said, "My Lord, indeed they have disobeyed me and followed him whose wealth and children will not increase him except in loss. 71:22 And they conspired an immense conspiracy. 71:23 And said, 'Never leave your gods and never leave Wadd or Suwa or Yaghuth and Ya‘uq and Nasr. 71:24 And already they have misled many. And, [my Lord], do not increase the wrongdoers except in error." 71:25 Because of their sins they were drowned and put into the Fire, and they found not for themselves besides Allah [any] helpers. 71:26 And Nuh said, "My Lord, do not leave upon the earth from among the disbelievers an inhabitant. 71:27 Indeed, if You leave them, they will mislead Your servants and not beget except [every] wicked one and [confirmed] disbeliever. 71:28 My Lord, forgive me and my parents and whoever enters my house a believer and the believing men and believing women. And do not increase the wrongdoers except in destruction." 

Lessons:

- Allah answers supplications of the sincere, righteous, determined and hardworking slave.

- Allah does not give punishments straight away. He gives chances for people to repent and mend their ways.
- Keep the company of the righteous and do not oppress or harm them. For it is dangerous for a righteous person to make dua against you.