In the Shade of the Qur'an by Sayyid Qutb

The sūrah as we have seen recounts Abraham’s story after it had given a more detailed one of Moses, thus going back in history. Now it goes further back to tell us about Noah and his people. The chronological order is not important here because the focus is on the ultimate end of idolatry, on the end of denials of the divine message.

Like the accounts of Moses and Abraham, Noah’s story is referred to in several sūrahs. It was given, in brief, in sūrah 7, The Heights, within the context of a historical account of God’s messengers and their messages. There it followed Adam’s fall from heaven, concentrating on Noah’s advocacy of God’s oneness and his warning to his people that they were risking grievous suffering. They accused him of being deep in error, expressing their amazement that God should send them a human messenger.

Their punishment by drowning is mentioned but without going into any detail.

In Sūrah 10, Jonah, the story is given in brief, concentrating on the end of his mission when he challenged his people, yet they still denied him. He was saved with those who followed him, while the others were drowned.

Sūrah 11, Hūd, provides many more details about the flood, the ark and what happened after the flood. It mentions, for example, Noah’s prayer for his son who was drowned with the rest of the unbelievers. In this sūrah we are also given an account of the sort of debate his people had with him about God’s oneness.

In Sūrah 23, The Believers, Noah’s account concentrates on his call to people to worship God alone, and their objection to the fact that he is a mere mortal like them.

They accuse him of wanting to press his favoured position. They claim that God could have sent angels, and they accuse Noah of madness. He turns to God, appealing for support. Then follows a very brief reference to the ark and the flood.

In many instances, like the present sūrah, Noah’s story is given together with stories of the `Ād, Thamūd, Lot’s people and the Madyan. The prominent features of the account given here are Noah’s call on his people to fear God and his declaration that he expects nothing by way of reward. Also important is his refusal to expel the poor who believe in God at the request of those who consider themselves noble. This was also demanded of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by the elders of the Quraysh in Makkah. We are also told of Noah’s appeal to God to judge between him and his community, and God’s response which resulted in the drowning of the unbelievers.

“The people of Noah, too, denied God’s messengers.” (Verse 105) This is the end of the story, but it is given at the beginning so as to add extra emphasis, before moving on to give the details of the story.

The fact is that Noah’s people denied him only, but they are described here as denying God’s messengers, because the message is one, summed up in the call to acknowledge God’s oneness and to worship Him alone, associating no partners with Him. Therefore, whoever rejects it denies all God’s messengers as they advocated one and the same message. The Qur’ān stresses this fact in several places and in different forms, because it is a basic principle of the Islamic faith. It, thus, brings the divine faith throughout human history under one umbrella, dividing mankind throughout all generations into two groups: believers and unbelievers. A Muslim considers that the community of believers in every divine religion, from the beginning of human life to the advent of the final divine message of Islam, as his own community. A believer accepts all God’s messengers, believes in their messages and looks upon them all with the highest respect, because they all preached the same message of God’s oneness.

From a Muslim’s perspective, mankind are not divided into races, colours and nationalities. They are divided into the people of the truth and the people of falsehood. His own stand is with the people of the truth. This gives Muslims one criterion that applies to all history. His values are much higher than bonds of race, colour, language, country and present or past kinship. His values are embodied into the bond of faith which is the basis of mankind’s accountability:

The people of Noah, too, denied God’s messengers. Their brother Noah said to them:

‘Will you have no fear of God? I am a Messenger [sent by Him] to you, worthy of all trust. So, fear God and pay heed to me. No reward whatever do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the Lord of all the worlds. So, fear God and pay heed to me.’ (Verses 105-110)

Such was Noah’s message which his people denied, despite his being their brother. Such brotherhood should have ensured a peaceful relationship, leading to their belief in him and his message. But his people had no time for this bond of brotherhood, and they did not soften to their brother’s call when he said to them:

“Will you have no fear of God?” (Verse 106) Will you not worry about the end to which your attitudes and actions lead you?

This directive and reminder to fear God is consistent in this sūrah. We saw it with Pharaoh and his people as God informed Moses of his assignment. Then every prophet that succeeded Noah said the same thing to his community: “I am a Messenger [sent by Him] to you, worthy of all trust.” (Verse 107) He would not cheat, defraud or act dishonestly. He would not add to, or withhold anything from what he was required to deliver to his people: “So, fear God and pay heed to me.” (Verse 108) In this case, Noah again reminds his people to fear God, giving it a more express definition this time. He appeals to their consciences to obey him as he calls on them to surrender themselves to God.

He then reassures them that he was neither looking for any worldly gain nor seeking any wage in return for advocating the divine message and guiding them to their Lord. He seeks only God’s reward, because it was He who gave him his message. This assurance of seeking no gain or wage seems to have always been necessary for sincere advocacy of faith. It is, thus, distinguished from the familiar pattern of religion as exploited by clerics and religious orders for personal gain and enrichment.

Now that he has reassured them of having no personal ambition, Noah again tells them to fear God, reminding them that they should obey him: “So, fear God and pay heed to me.” (Verse 110) Their response, a singular objection, was the same given to all messengers: “They said: Are we to believe in you, even though only the lowest of the low follow you?” (Verse 111)

What they meant was that it was only the poor who followed him, because the poor are normally the first to accept divine messages and messengers. They are quick to believe in God and submit themselves to Him, because they are not deterred by any hollow status or fear of losing any interest or position as a result. The chiefs and nobles of society often fear for their interests that are based on false considerations, as also myths and legends that are given religious status. Moreover, they are unwilling to accept complete equality with the masses as a result of believing in God’s oneness. Under such a belief system only faith and good action are given an appropriately high value, with the net result that some people rise and others fall by the single standard of faith that is complemented by good action.

Noah’s reply, therefore, establishes true values, defining the mission of God’s messenger and leaves judgement on people to God who knows best their intentions, thoughts and actions:

Said he: What knowledge do I have as to what they used to do in the past? Their reckoning rests with none other than my Lord, if you could but understand. I am not one to drive away the believers. I am only a plain warner. (Verses 112-115)

The nobility always speak in a derogative manner about the poor. They say that their habits and values are not acceptable to those who are in the higher echelons of society. They have nothing of their refinements. Noah tells them that he does not ask of people anything other than that they believe in God. Their actions are left to God to evaluate and to determine their appropriate reward. His, God’s, is the right evaluation. Noah then defines his own mission: “I am only a plain warner.” (Verse 115)

With such clear argument and plain logic, Noah’s people were silenced. They had no meaningful reply to offer. Hence, they resorted to the same method to which tyranny resorts every time it finds itself cornered; they threatened him with brute force: “Said they: Noah! If you will not desist, you will surely be stoned to death.” (Verse 116) Thus tyranny reveals its ghastly and cruel face.

Noah realized that their hardened hearts would not soften. Therefore, he turned to the One source of support that is always available to believers, never failing them:

“He prayed: My Lord! My people have denied me. So, judge decisively between me and them, and save me and those of the believers who are with me.” (Verses 117-118) His Lord certainly knew that his people had denied him and accused him of lying, but Noah needed to address his complaint to God, appealing to Him for justice. Thus, he puts the matter in His hands: “Judge decisively between me and them.” (Verse 118) Such decisive judgement will put an end to tyranny and injustice: “And save me and those of the believers who are with me.” (Verse 118)

God certainly responded to His messenger’s plea for help: “So We saved him, and those with him, in the laden ark, and We caused the others who stayed behind to drown.” (Verses 119-120) Thus, the end of this very early battle in human history between faith and unfaith is described in a very quick sequence of words, which also tell of the outcome of every subsequent battle between the two sides in human history.

We then have the sūrah’s now familiar comment that follows every one of God Almighty’s signs: “Indeed, there is in this a sure sign; yet most of them will not believe. And indeed it is your Lord who is the Mighty One, the Merciful.” (Verses 121-122)