Ramadan Lecture Series 1445 A.H.

Presented by Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Badruddin Al-Houthi

Lecture Twenty-Two

Saturday, 27 Ramadan 1445 A.H. (6 April 2024 A.D.)

Through the Story of Prophet Nuh (PBUH)
(Part Three)
The Great Flood!

I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the outcast.

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

Praise is to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. I believe that there is no god but Allah, the Sovereign and the Manifest Truth, and that Muhammad, our master, is His servant, Messenger, and Last Prophet.

O Allah! Confer Your salat and blessings upon Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad as You conferred Your salat and blessings upon Ibrahim and the Family of Ibrahim. You are Owner of Praise, Owner of Glory! And be pleased with Muhammad's good companions and all Your righteous servants and mujahidin.

O Allah! Guide us and grant us acceptance, for You are the Hearing, the Knowing; accept our repentance, for You are the Relenting and the Merciful.

Brothers and sisters, peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

In today's lecture, we continue with the remaining part of the story of Prophet Nuh (PBUH) and his people, based on the blessed Quranic verses. We have reached the verse in which Allah (Glory be to Him) says, {'And it was revealed to Nuh that, "No one will believe from your people except those who have already believed"'}. In previous lectures, we discussed the great efforts exerted by Prophet Nuh (PBUH) over a long period (hundreds of years) with multiple generations of his people.

He continued to exert his effort with them, using every legitimate way and means to call them to Allah (the Almighty) and to convey Allah's message to them, which is a magnificent message that aligns with human nature, aiming to serve people's interests in this worldly life and the Hereafter. Yet, due to their attachment to their elite and their misguidance, delusion, and falsehood, they persisted in their deviation. Only a few believed throughout long and varied periods of time. They reached such a level of stubbornness that they no longer listened to him; they would put their fingers in their ears, and cover their faces and eyes so they would not see him as he spoke. They did not stop there; Their approach and manner with him became such that they sought to prevent him from speaking to them using threats, intimidation, and harassment and even tried to prevent him from speaking to them at all. Eventually, with their denial, stubbornness, persistent tyranny, deviation, persistence in committing acts of disobedience, and rejection of Allah's message despite the clear and manifest truth, their souls became corrupt, and their psychological state deteriorated to the point that they were entirely closed off and utterly unreceptive to Allah's guidance and message.

This is a serious condition we discussed in the previous lecture: That is when a person reaches such depths of wickedness and corruption that he completely rejects truth. His soul has become so wicked and corrupt that it can no longer accept the guidance of Allah and His teachings, nor does it resonate with truth, virtue, morality, goodness, or justice. Wickedness and corruption take deep root in him. And his tendency towards corruption, misguidance, injustice, falsehood, abomination, and immorality reaches a terrifying degree (May Allah protect us from such a destiny).

Since He is the One Who is fully aware of what lies within hearts, the unseen and the seen, the hidden depths of the soul, people's reality, present, future, and even their past—Allah (Glory be to Him) knew that their condition was such that they were no longer receptive and that no one among them would believe, except for that very small group who had already embraced faith.

As for Allah's prophet and messenger Nuh (PBUH), after such a long time, having exhausted every means to guide them and having worked diligently, energetically, and persistently over hundreds of years and reached out to them at the individual and collective levels—he complained to Allah (the Almighty), especially after he found himself being targeted, prevented from conveying his message, and threatened: {'They said, "If you do not desist, O Nuh, you will surely be of those who are stoned"'}. He complained to Allah (Glory be to Him), and Allah revealed his complaint in a complete surah of the Holy Quran: Surah Nuh (PBUH). We already recited some verses of the surah.

{'Construct the ark under Our observation and with Our revelation'}—The decisive moment has arrived!

He did not shirk his responsibility or refuse it; he persisted with immense patience. His patience over such a long period, despite the denial, arrogance, and stubbornness of his people, serves as a profound lesson for prophets, messengers, believers, and those who call to Allah (Glory be to Him), exemplifying extraordinary patience. Thus, Allah revealed to him, {'And it was revealed to Nuh that, "No one will believe from your people except those who have already believed, so do not be distressed by what they have been doing'}. This means that Prophet Nuh fulfilled his duty without any shortcomings and that the problem of his people's rejection was not because of him or his approach. In other words, he carried out his tasks to the highest standard and exerted every effort with them, but they were the ones to blame due to their wrongful actions, stubbornness, and denial of Allah's message. Therefore, Nuh was not supposed to grieve over them as divine judgment would arrive and the promised punishment was inevitable.

{'And construct the ark under Our observation and with Our revelation'}. Thus, he was instructed not to bother himself with them and instead to focus on the task at hand. He had done all he could for them, and now the time for punishment was drawing near. From that moment onwards, he would turn to the task of building the ark—a grand vessel that would serve as a means of salvation for him and the very few believers with him. Additionally, Allah (Glory be to Him) commanded him to take pairs of animals with him.

{'And construct the ark under Our observation and with Our revelation.'} It means that he had to undertake the task of building that great ship with the care and protection of Allah (Glory be to Him). Therefore, no one would be able to prevent or obstruct him from this work, as he would carry it out under Allah's protection, care, and assistance.

{‘And with Our revelation'}—he would receive instructions on how to build that large ark, which needs to meet specific features to fulfil its purpose. This is because it will carry a massive load, including a pair of every creature, along with the believers who are with him. The ship was also supposed to be capable of bearing its load while moving throughout the great flood that would come. Therefore, it also had to be constructed with precision and care, being large enough to accommodate the necessary cargo. Given the enormity of the flood that was to come, the ark had to be expertly made, robust, and spacious to withstand the great deluge. Thus, he would receive detailed instructions from Allah (Glory be to Him) regarding its construction, including its size, the materials to be used, the types of wood to select, and how to secure the timbers together, among other specifics.

It appears—Allah knows best—that this ship was the very first ship ever made. That is, prior to it, humans had no ships or maritime transport. In fact, the people of Nuh (PBUH) represented the entirety of the human population at that time: In his era, they represented the entire human society, and they were spread over a limited geographical area. In other words, they did not spread across multiple continents, so there was no need for maritime transport. Therefore, their movement was entirely on land, and thus no ships had been built before that ship. Moreover, this represents an early stage in human history. According to studies—Allah knows best—conducted on the remains of this ship, it is estimated to be over a hundred thousand years old. In that advanced era, this ship may indeed have been the very first ship made in human history. Following it, ships were constructed in subsequent generations, as humanity spread out and began to navigate the seas and travel between regions that required maritime transport.

Thus, Allah made it possible for His Prophet Nuh (PBUH) to build that ship and gave him the instructions on how to construct it. As mentioned in Surah Al-Qamar, Allah (the Almighty) says, {'And We carried him on a planks and dusur'}. It is said that 'dusur' means nails, which were used to fasten the ship planks.

{'And construct the ark under Our observation and with Our revelation and do not address Me concerning those who have wronged; indeed, they are drowned'}. Allah had decreed their destruction and punishment, leaving no room for intercession or advocacy for any of them. Their actions were acts of wrongdoing; in fact, acts of wrongdoing encompass all acts of crime and corruption. Even disbelief in Allah and associating partners with Him is an act of wrongdoing. Various types of sins are considered acts of wrongdoing, as a person wrongs himself and others by deviating from the guidance and teachings of Allah (the Almighty), which are meant for goodness, truth, virtue, justice, and the well-being of humanity and life. So Allah (Glory be to Him) had judged them to be doomed, and He would destroy them through drowning: {'Indeed, they are to be drowned.'} Thus, Allah (the Almighty) made clear to His prophet Nuh (PBUH) the inevitable end that awaited his disbelieving and stubborn people: drowning in the great flood, which the verses will later discuss. He directed and commanded Nuh to build that great ship, which would be the means of salvation.

{'And he constructed the ark'}: Prophet Nuh (PBUH) turned to focus on the task of building the ship and no longer continued his efforts with his people. He had fulfilled his duty, and the mission was complete. He turned to the task of building the ship because it would require significant effort, given the nature of the tools and resources available at that time. He needed to provide and cut wood, prepare it as planks, and manufacture the iron nails that would hold the planks together. The design process itself and all other details demanded time and effort, and he dedicated himself to this important task with great diligence and care.

The ridicule of his people and the important response they failed to heed!

{'And whenever an assembly of the eminent of his people passed by him, they ridiculed him'}. They would go to watch him, passing by the spot he had chosen to build the ark. They came in groups, often with their leaders, to ridicule him, laughing and saying things like, 'Have you become a carpenter? Have you abandoned your mission as a prophet to take up woodworking? What a ridiculous thing you are doing!' They laughed, mocked, and continued in this manner, as the phrase {'And whenever'} indicates this: {'And whenever an assembly of the eminent of his people passed by him, they ridiculed him.'} So they were preoccupied with making fun of him in this way. They would go in groups with their leaders to mock and deride him, directing offensive and contemptuous language at him.

{'And whenever an assembly of the eminent of his people passed by him, they ridiculed him'}: They were always preoccupied with ridiculing him throughout that long period during which he was building the ship. {'He said, "If you ridicule us, then we ridicule you just as you ridicule us. And you will know who will get a humiliating punishment and upon whom will descend an enduring punishment"'}. He responded to their ridicule with this significant reply. In fact, they should have taken heed of this response, but they were entirely forsaken. {'He said, "If you ridicule us, then we ridicule you just as you ridicule us.'} He was telling them that they were the ones deserving of ridicule, for they were preoccupied with foolishness, laughter, and jesting, unaware of the great calamity that was awaiting them, the immense destruction that would strike them. Therefore, they were the ones deserving of ridicule and in a position of absurdity. While they were amusing themselves, they were heading towards certain doom.

{'And you will know who will get a humiliating punishment.'} This situation was indeed a farce for them—like someone dancing while preparations are made for his execution. It was a terrifying reality. Their punishment was drawing near, while they were engaged in foolishness, laughter, mockery, and disdain. After their destruction will come the everlasting torment, (We seek refuge in Allah)—an overwhelming calamity, eternal loss. This is not just the destruction of the flood, but also what awaits them in the Hereafter, the Fire of Jahannam and eternal damnation: {'and upon whom will descend an enduring punishment'}.

And so the situation continued: He was tirelessly engaged in building the ship, remaining focused and undeterred by their disturbances, mockery, and ridicule. All of that did not affect his dedication to his work. Despite their relentless efforts to annoy and offend him and to create an atmosphere of mockery, laughter, and collective disdain, he persevered. He worked diligently until he got the job done; the ship was finally ready. He fulfilled his mission in designing and constructing it.

The divine judgment descends: The final moments before the catastrophe!

{'Until when Our command came'}. Then the command of Allah (the Almighty) came—the decisive moment that would bring about a monumental change in the history of humanity and lead to the complete and dreadful destruction of all disbelieving people. {'Until when Our command came'}—it was the great command of Allah, the Lord of the heavens and the earth. {'And the oven overflowed'}. This was the sign that Allah (Glory be to Him) had given to His messenger and prophet Nuh (PBUH): The water would begin to surge from the oven, a known tool used for baking bread.

It is clear that such tools in people's lives have existed since those ancient times—in other words, they date back to the early stages in human history. The situation in the past is not as the West portrays it, where they attempt to depict the past as one in which humans lived in a very primitive state, akin to animals, relying solely on hunting and not engaging in agriculture until about ten thousand years ago. They suggest that before that, people did not cultivate crops or consume plants. These are unfounded speculations and assumptions. They aim to present themselves as the originators of civilisation in human history, claiming that there was no civilisation among humans except since the Greek era, followed by the Roman, then the European and American eras. This is how they wish to depict history to humanity. They aim to present themselves as the origin of civilisation, claiming that true civilisation only emerged with the Greek era, followed by the Roman era and then the European and American era. This is how they wish to portray history to humanity, despite the embarrassment they face from the ancient discoveries in Latin America and other remote areas, which reveal that humans had civilisation in the early stages of history with advanced living conditions that were far from primitive as the West portrays. During the time of Prophet Nuh (PBUH), there were ovens; people would use fire for cooking, baking bread, and so on. There was certainly agriculture as well. Life was not primitive in the way the West wants to depict; they have political objectives in their presentation of history. They do not present history objectively but according to specific political aims.

{'And the oven overflowed'}. The water surged from within the oven, which was a sign for Prophet Nuh (PBUH) that the time had come for a crucial moment. This was the decisive moment, the time to load the ship with what was needed and prepare for departure, as the water would soon rise and the flood would begin. The gushing of water from the oven, a place typically associated with fire, was a sign from multiple perspectives:

• It was a sign of the impending destruction of his disbelieving, obstinate people who used to hinder others from following the path of Allah.
• At the same time, it indicated that conditions would change completely. Water was coming from the place of fire—a place usually distant from moisture and far from water sources—highlighting a total upheaval of the existing order.

{'And the oven overflowed, We said, "Carry in it}—referring to the ship—{two of every kind, and your family, except for those against whom the word has already gone forth"'}. This refers to those from his family {'against whom the word has already gone forth'}—against whom the divine decree had been passed, indicating that they were among those whom Allah (the Almighty) had decreed to destroy. {'And those who have believed'}—that is, to carry with him those who believed with him. So he was commanded to carry in the ship two of every kind, his family, and the believers. The exception made in {'except for those against whom the word has already gone forth'} meant some of his family, as they were among those referred to by the divine decree: {'those against whom the word has already gone forth'}. {'And those who have believed'}—carry along with you those who have faith for their salvation.

{'But none had believed with him, except a few'}. Throughout that long period, despite his tremendous efforts and his great, impactful character—in fact, all prophets and messengers had a great, impactful character, and the guidance they brought was in harmony with human nature, a clear truth, and a call to goodness. Nonetheless, during that extensive time (nine hundred and fifty years), only a small number believed. Different accounts vary regarding the exact number of this small group, with some saying it was 'four', others 'eighty', which is the highest number mentioned. Regardless, they were very few compared to their people and the disbelievers who faced destruction.

Prophet Nuh (PBUH) acted accordingly and began to load the ship. He had already prepared the ship and gathered what was needed for those who would be on board during the duration of the flood—food supplies and other essential necessities. It was a massive ship, and he commenced and executed the task. {'We said, "Carry in it two of every kind"'}—that is, a male and female from every kind of animal. He started bringing the animals aboard, and Allah facilitated this for him, making it possible for the animals to come and for him to carry two of every kind.

{'And your family, except for those against whom the word has already gone forth'}—one of those who were included in this exception was his wife, since she had deviated from his path and true faith, betraying him by sharing information with her people. She may have distanced herself from him in those final days, as she was already marked for destruction by divine decree. Additionally, one of his sons was among those excluded, and perhaps he had hoped for his son's salvation, not expecting him to be among the doomed. More will be said about this later.

Those who believed—this very small group—also boarded the ship. {'And he said, "Embark therein. In the name of Allah be its course and its anchorage"'}. This verse would be recited differently in Qira'at Nafi' to mean 'its movement and its anchorage'. The act of boarding the ship began with {'In the name of Allah,'} which signifies that it was done by His command and planning and with His permission. The movement of the ship was also in {'in the name of Allah'}—by His planning, guidance, assistance, mercy, blessing, and grace. It was to sail under the protection and care of Allah (the Almighty). That was indeed a remarkable sign, for the flood was exceedingly great. The survival and movement of the ship, along with the safety of those on board—both animals and humans—was truly significant. In fact, the humans represented the minority on that ship, while the majority were animals. It is regrettable that humans were the minority; it is a sorrowful situation for humanity when they reject the truth and guidance that could lead to their salvation, success, and well-being.

{'And its anchorage'} also depended on Allah’s planning, mercy, and grace, ensuring that it would come to rest safely and securely in the right place at the right time. {'Indeed, my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful'}. Through His forgiveness, mercy, and grace, this wonderful blessing and care for the salvation of Allah's prophet, along with the believers and others transported aboard the ship, was achieved.

The great flood: The heavens pouring down heavy rain and the earth bursting with springs!

And then it started to rain heavily. The conditions unfolded just as Allah (Glory be to Him) said in Surah Al-Qamar, {'Then We opened the gates of the sky with rain pouring down and caused the earth to burst with springs'}. The sky was covered with thick, dark, and immense clouds, and it started to rain heavily and in an unprecedented way. {'With rain pouring down'}—rain was coming down in an incredibly massive and fierce downpour! The earth erupted with springs; water began to gush forth from every direction, appearing suddenly, astonishing those who had been in a state of severe drought for a long time.

Before that, they experienced drought, and even when Prophet Nuh (PBUH) called them to seek forgiveness, to return to Allah, and to believe in his message—{'I said, “Ask forgiveness of your Lord: He is ever forgiving. He will send down abundant rain from the sky for you"'}—they refused to listen. They did not heed that call, which contained goodness for them.

Additionally, the infertility among their women persisted; they were unable to bear children. According to some narrations and accounts, when the flood and destruction came upon them, there were no young children among them because the period of infertility had lasted for decades. As a result, they were all adults, those who had reached the age of accountability and were deserving of punishment.

The rain poured down in an immense deluge from the sky, while the earth burst forth with springs from every direction. Water gushed up from beneath the ground and also fell heavily from above. In that situation, the prevailing thought among the people, who were in a state of shock and astonishment at what was happening, was to head towards the mountains, seeking refuge in their heights. They saw the water rising and overwhelming the land everywhere, so they thought their only chance of survival from drowning was to climb the mountains. However, the water was increasing rapidly, rising and surging at an alarming rate.

As the waves of water multiplied and grew larger, flooding the earth, while the water kept rising and rising, {'And it sailed with them}—the ship—{through waves like mountains'}. We can imagine the size of those enormous waves, towering like mountains—immense waves of water! The earth continuously released water, springs bursting forth, and rain poured down relentlessly and abundantly! The gigantic waves engulfed the land on all sides, while the ship was carried along by these immense waves that were truly mountain-sized. Prophet Nuh (PBUH) saw his son, who had not joined him and was isolated from the group. He witnessed his son trying to save himself, but where could a person escape in such a situation? How could he survive when he refused to follow the path to safety?

The destiny of Nuh’s son: A lesson for those who decide to remain neutral!

{'And Nuh called to his son'}. He called out so that his son could hear him because, with the torrential rain pouring down and the incredible chaos of the earth bursting forth with springs, the water surging everywhere, he would only be able to hear his father if he called out loudly. So Nuh raised his voice to ensure he could hear him. {'Who was in isolation'}—previously, his son had distanced himself from him and lived independently so that he could stay away from the struggles faced by Prophet Nuh (PBUH). He wanted to appear as if he was not with his father . According to some narrations and accounts, his son had been influenced by bad companions and the general atmosphere filled with disbelief, mockery, ridicule, propaganda, harassments, and threats. He was deeply affected by that, so he chose to isolate himself from his father.

Prophet Nuh called to him, {'O my son, embark with us and do not be not with the disbelievers'}. He called out for his son’s salvation, urging him to join them on the ship instead of going with the disbelievers who were destined for destruction. Yet, even in that critical moment, his son did not respond to his father’s call, nor did he heed his advice. At that moment, he still believed that it was merely heavy rain and thought he could survive: {' he said, "I will take refuge on a mountain that will protect me from the water"'}. He thought the mountain could save him and protect him from drowning with those who were perishing. But how could that be possible? The waves were towering like mountains, and the water was rising higher and higher, even above the mountains.

At that moment, Prophet Nuh (PBUH) said to him, {'He said, "There is no protector today from the decree of Allah, except for whom He gives mercy"'}. There is no salvation except through the mercy of Allah. The means to attain Allah's mercy is clear: to turn towards faith and to be with the believers in order to be saved. Faith is the pathway to the mercy of Allah (Glory be to Him), and it is through faith that a person can receive His mercy.

{'He said, "There is no protector today from the decree of Allah, except for whom He gives mercy." And the waves came between them'}. At that moment, as he was addressing him, a great wave of water came, separated them, and drowned his son while he was watching him. {'And he was among the drowned'}—his son drowned. The water rose to heights surpassing the mountains, engulfing everything and everyone, leading to their destruction. Only those who were on the ship were saved; it was a great flood that encompassed the inhabited world, affecting all of humanity—they all drowned. Allah knows whether it extended to the entire globe or just parts of it. Regardless, it was, in every case, an immense flood.

The mission was accomplished: They all perished. {'And it was said, "O earth, swallow your water, and O sky, withhold ." And the water subsided, and the matter was accomplished, and it came to rest on Al-Judi'}. The mission was completed. Then Allah gave his command to the earth, which is His dominion and under His authority, power, and will: {'Swallow your water,'} allowing it to return, as the earth had erupted with springs, and water had risen to its surface. {'O sky, withhold '}: Stop raining. {'And the water subsided,'} which means that the water descended and returned from the surface of the earth back into the earth, returning from the same place it had emerged on the surface of the earth. {'And the matter was accomplished.'} Their fate was sealed, and Allah (Glory be to Him) destroyed them. {'And it came to rest}—meaning the ship—{on Al-Judi.'} Al-Judi is a mountain on which the ship settled safely.

{'And it was said, "Away with the wrongdoing people!"'}. There was no sorrow for them, no regret, and no grief. That was because of their wrongdoing—in fact, wrongdoing is an extremely serious matter. It encompasses disbelief, polytheism, falsehood, crime, and corruption. All these evils—disbelief and rejection of Allah’s guidance—make one a wrongdoer who is far from justice, fairness, virtue, wisdom, and balance in his actions and behaviours. Thus, wrongdoing becomes characteristic of him in every aspect of his life. {'Away with the wrongdoing people!'} They faced destruction; no pity for them was warranted because there was no hope for them to change due to their stubbornness and insistence on their disbelief, polytheism, wrongdoing, falsehood, obstruction of Allah’s path, and opposition to His message. Furthermore, the continuation of their state would lead to worse outcomes. There is a certain limit to tyranny; when it is reached, divine punishment follows.

Nuh wonders, but 'A noble lineage is of no benefit for a person who is held back by his deeds!'

{'And Nuh called to his Lord and said, "My Lord! Verily, my son is of my family! And certainly, Your Promise is true, and You are Most Just of Judges!"'}. Allah promised him the salvation of his family when He said to him, {'and your family'}, but He made an exception, {'except for those against whom the word has already gone forth'}. He might have expected that his son would not be among those about whom the decree had been passed and that it would only be his wife, as he had already realised her fate and lost hope for her salvation. He sought clarification about the reason for his son's destruction because he had hoped for his salvation.

{'He said, "O Nuh, indeed he is not of your family; indeed, he is a deed that is not righteous"'}. This means that he was not among those whom Allah had promised to save. Perhaps Prophet Nuh thought that his son had distanced himself due to the pressures and problems he was facing, wanting to remain apart to escape the troubles, trying to be neutral, as those who imagine there is neutrality between good and evil, between truth and falsehood. But there is no such neutrality. Nuh hoped for his son's salvation, thinking that his son’s isolation was a way to avoid confronting the problems and pressures. He could not have imagined that his son was so bad that he would not deserve Allah’s mercy or salvation. However, Allah made clear his condition: {'Indeed, he is a deed that is not righteous.'} This means that due to the actions he had taken and the bad practices he had engaged in, he had reached such a state that he was considered {'a deed that is not righteous'}. When a person becomes deeply engrossed in something, to the point of being completely absorbed in it, he is described by it, whether it be good or evil. For example, if we want to praise someone for his generosity and kindness, we might say that he is 'generosity itself', which means he has reached a high level of giving and generosity. So he is described by that very act he is known for. In the case of corruption, if someone is deeply immersed in corrupt practices, we might say he is 'corruption itself'.

The state that Nuh's son reached, marked by deviation and bad practices, influenced by bad companions who led him away from righteous deeds, brought him to a level that was described in this way: {'Indeed, he is a deed that is not righteous.'} This reflects a very serious state. It serves as an important lesson; despite having a father who was a prophet of Allah, he failed to benefit from this opportunity, which could have allowed him to grow in faith, goodness, and righteousness.

When the environment within a family makes it possible for a person to grow in uprightness, righteousness, piety, and faith, it is a significant blessing. However, if a person turns away from this and submits to other influences, he can lose all opportunities and fail to benefit from even the most important, beneficial, and supportive factors that encourage uprightness and good deeds. This is a crucial point and a lesson for everyone, especially within believing and righteous families. A person must recognise the blessing he is in, understanding that he is in an environment that allows him to grow in righteousness, faith, purity, and uprightness. He should take advantage of this opportunity and realise that it truly serves as a significant aid. There is a marked difference between being in a negative environment or a bad family that undermines one’s righteousness, even within his own home, and being in a situation that helps him to achieve righteousness and uprightness and even offers encouragement in that regard.

{'So ask Me not for that about which you have no knowledge. Indeed, I advise you, lest you be among the ignorant'}. This serves as a gentle reprimand to him—why this question? It is enough for you to know that since Allah has destroyed him, he is not righteous, and there is no hope for his reform.

Nuh immediately apologised to Allah: {'He said, "My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have mercy upon me, I will be among the losers"'}. He questioned because he did not fully understand the extent of his son’s corruption, misguidance, and departure from the realm of piety, faith, and good deeds. His lack of knowledge about his son’s state was the reason for his questioning. However, he apologised to Allah and sought refuge in Him to protect him from asking or questioning about something he had no knowledge of. It is sufficient to submit to the decree of Allah (Glory be to Him) because Allah knows what we do not.

{'And unless You forgive me and have mercy upon me, I will be among the losers. It was said, "O Nuh, descend with peace from Us and blessings upon you and upon nations from those who are with you"'}. Allah commanded him to descend to the earth in peace because the flood had destroyed everything. So they descended: The ship landed safely, and they then went out of it and returned to the earth in peace, resuming life anew on the earth also in peace. After the destruction of everything, one would expect there to be diseases, harm, and an unprepared situation on the earth immediately after the flood. However, Allah facilitated their resumption of life unaffected by the negative consequences of the flood, thus protecting them from those effects.

{'And blessings upon you and upon nations from those who are with you'}—blessings in both religion and worldly matters for the resumption of life anew. This marked the end of a chapter in human history and the beginning of a new one, with a believing community and a faithful generation ready to establish life once again.

{'And nations We will grant them enjoyment, but then a painful torment will touch them from Us'}. From that believing group, nations will arise. From that small number, some will branch out into nations. Some of them may eventually see their lineage perish after several generations, but in the case of others, the human race will continue on earth, and goodness and righteousness will persist within certain generations and communities. However, eventually, a state of deviation re-emerged, multiplying and increasing until it reached a level of associating others with Allah, denying His message, and disbelieving in Him and His prophets. This had its consequences and effects on human society across many nations. Allah granted them enjoyment in this life, allowing them to enjoy His blessings and attain means of power on this earth, yet they did not show gratitude for these blessings. They denied the favours of Allah, disobeyed Him, and strayed from His guidance and valuable teachings, which are essential for leading a good and righteous life and seeking salvation in the Hereafter. After this enjoyment, after they failed to thank Allah for His blessings, the torment came: {'But then a painful torment will touch them from Us.'} This has happened to many nations and peoples who later deviated and followed the path of the people of Prophet Nuh (PBUH).

We ask Allah (Glory be to Him) to grant us success in seeking what pleases Him. O Allah! Have mercy on our virtuous martyrs, heal the wounded among us, set free our captives, and grant us victory. You are the Hearer of Prayer!

Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.