Ramadan Lecture Series 1445 A.H.

Presented by Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Badruddin Al-Houthi

Lecture Twenty-Three

Sunday, 28 Ramadan 1445 A.H. (7 April 2024 A.D.)

The Most Important Lessons from the Story of Prophet Nuh (PBUH)
&
The Story of Prophet Hud (PBUH)

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 will shed light on some important lessons and insights from the story of Prophet Nuh (PBUH) and his people, and we will also discuss the following story.

Prophet Nuh (PBUH) was a great blessing and mercy from Allah (Glory be to Him) to his people and to humanity during his time. He strove for their guidance, salvation, success, and prosperity, working for their good in both this life and the Hereafter. However, most of them denied him, opposed him, and waged war against his message. They did not listen to him, accept him, or pay him any attention. Why? That was because of their ties to their arrogant elite, who were corrupt and relied on tyranny, injustice, and falsehood, and who did not want their situation to change.

Therefore, one of the key lessons from the story of Prophet Nuh (PBUH) is the danger of following the arrogant: Many ordinary people do not have the kind of interests that are built on an incorrect foundation of injustice and corruption to have a conflict with the message of Allah, the Almighty. However, the biggest obstacle to their guidance is their very connection to their arrogant leaders. They align themselves with those leaders: If they believe, they will believe with them; if they do not believe, they will not believe with them either, following them whatsoever.

This is an extremely important lesson, illustrating the danger of this type of association: a blind following that shows loyalty to falsehood. This is a serious issue that can affect many people in their connections with the leaders of their countries, their tribes, or their sects. This is really the case whenever a person forms a blind attachment and shows loyalty to falsehood, following the arrogant, without considering their reality. If they are on falsehood, one should not follow them in that falsehood. This is a very important lesson.

Prophet Nuh (PBUH) was a tremendous mercy and a great blessing from Allah (Glory be to Him) for his people. Had they followed him, it would have been for their own good, both the elite and others. Indeed, they would have found it to their benefit. He did not ask them for any material or personal gain; his purpose was sacred, and acted according to the message of Allah, the Almighty. He told them, {'I ask not of you for it any wealth. My reward is not but from Allah'}. He had no personal ambitions or goals to trade on the divine message or religion for that; he was far removed from such things.

One of the important lessons is the danger of persisting in falsehood: When a person insists on continuing in falsehood and refuses to turn away from it or stop walking on that wrong path, he will ultimately be forsaken by Allah. This is what happened to the majority of Nuh's people; their persistence in falsehood and insistence on their sins, transgressions, crimes, corruption, tyranny, and wrongdoing caused them to be forsaken by Allah and end up losers! In the end, Allah told him, {'No one will believe from your people except those who have already believed'}.

Another significant lesson is that family ties are of no benefit without faith and piety: This is an important lesson drawn from the story of Nuh's son, who did not genuinely believe or sincerely follow the Prophet. He distanced himself to remain neutral. As we mentioned in a previous lecture, there is no neutrality between truth and falsehood, between good and evil. Deviating from the truth is, by default, an inclination towards falsehood. He succumbed to the influence of bad companions—how dangerous bad companions are! And he was affected by the oppressive atmosphere created by his father's people, who engaged in denial, mockery, ridicule, noise, propaganda, fear-mongering, and exaggeration. Influenced by all that, in the end, his familial ties did him no good. When destruction came, he perished along with his people and lost everything. His father could do nothing for him because Allah said to him, {'Do not address Me concerning those who have wronged; indeed, they are drowned'}. He also told him, {'and your family, except for those against whom the word has already gone forth'}. Allah promised him the salvation of his family {'except for those against whom the word has already gone forth'}. Then, concerning his son, Allah said, {'Indeed, he is a deed that is not righteous'}. Thus, family ties are of no benefit to a person.

Another lesson from the story of Nuh's son is that it is a tremendous blessing when a person finds himself enjoying suitable circumstances for righteousness and uprightness in his life—such as being in a believing and virtuous family or in a community that predominantly follows the path of truth, faith, and piety. This allows a person to easily pursue righteousness and piety compared to being in a different environment that opposes his direction of faith, piety, and uprightness. Some people may struggle within their own families if those families hold different beliefs, causing them distress and constant pressure. For someone in that situation, remaining steadfast is a significant achievement and a great divine blessing. However, when the circumstances are favourable, the responsibility on that individual is greater; it is a significant blessing, but it also comes with greater responsibility. Therefore, one should strive to seize opportunities. If someone is in a society that follows the path of truth, moving towards faith and piety, they should recognise it as a blessing—a great blessing to be appreciated—and seek to make the most of such opportunities.

One of the important lessons from the story of the people of Prophet Nuh (PBUH) is that tyranny does not last indefinitely: They were, as Allah said about them, {'And before the people of Nuh, who were truly far worse in wrongdoing and transgression'}. Tyranny, wrongdoing, criminality, corruption, falsehood, denial of the truth, disobedience to the message of Allah (the Almighty), deviation from His path, and rejection of His message—they persisted in this for hundreds of years. They fell into a very serious state, and they were passing it on to the next generation. Then came the decisive punishment—the severe, dreadful punishment: the great, destructive, annihilating flood.

Thus, tyranny does not continue forever; divine punishment ultimately comes. This is an inevitable matter in Allah's law: Allah (the Almighty) sends His punishments and torment upon people when they persist in falsehood, wrongdoing, and tyranny. {'Indeed, your Lord is in observation'}, said Allah in Surah Al-Fajr after mentioning the stories of 'Aad, Thamud, and Firaawn . Likewise, it was His way with other nations.

One of the important lessons is the lesson of salvation: The means of salvation from Allah's punishment and from that destruction were faith, so that one may attain divine mercy, following Prophet Nuh (PBUH), and boarding the ship with him. So the ship was a means of salvation, along with faith and following the prophet of Allah. There was no other path to salvation. Such is the way of Allah (Glory be to Him). Allah is the One Who lays out for His servants the path to salvation from His punishment and wrath in this world and the Hereafter. A person cannot devise for himself another path to salvation other than the one laid out by Allah.

Therefore, when the son of Nuh deluded himself, as others did when the flooding began and the water started to engulf all parts of the earth—that is, he imagined that the lofty, towering mountains would save him if he sought refuge there, and that he would not need to board the ship. He believed that climbing the mountain would be better than embarking on the ship, thinking that by ascending a high, very elevated mountain, the water wouldn't reach him and wouldn't rise above the mountains' heights. He saw in the mountain something great, mighty, and saving, and based his decision on that assumption. {' he said, "I will take refuge on a mountain that will protect me from the water"'}. So Prophet Nuh (PBUH), his father, replied to him, {' said, "There is no protector today from the decree of Allah, except for whom He gives mercy"'}.

The path Allah guides us to as the path of salvation that guarantees His mercy for those who follow that path, is the only path to salvation. That is why the ship of Nuh was set as an example in the hadith of the ship, for the path that Allah lays out for salvation is the only way people can be saved. They cannot devise for themselves another path or means of salvation. This is something important.

In the face of the waves of tribulations—waves more perilous than the overwhelming waves of water—we need to follow the path of salvation and cleave through the waves of tribulations with the ships of salvation: 'Cleave through the waves of tribulations with the ships of salvation.'

Another important lesson is the serious consequences of sins for societies: Sins are the cause of the destruction and suffering of communities. A nation that rejects the message of Allah and turns away from His teachings is one that sees an increase in crime. Sins are crimes in all their forms, encompassing all criminal acts of wrongdoing, including shedding blood, taking lives, harming others, violating honour, and engaging in robbery, theft, and many other serious offences that proliferate in societies that deny the message of Allah, stray from His teachings, and reject His path.

This is evident in Western societies, where crime rates in America and Europe are measured in terms of incidents per minute. For example, it is reported that an enormous number of crimes occur every minute—hundreds of crimes every single minute! This results in a staggering total of various crimes over a 24-hour period in their societies: murders, rapes, robberies, thefts, and so on (May Allah protect us).

Crimes pose a serious threat to people, disrupting their lives, while uprightness and righteousness contribute to the stability and well-being of their lives.

The Story of Prophet Hud (PBUH)

The story that follows the account of the people of Nuh is the story of Prophet Hud (PBUH) and his people.

The people of Hud and their land: An introduction

The people of Prophet Hud (PBUH) were the 'Aad of Iram. This is how they are referred to in the Holy Quran. {'the first 'Aad'}—there was the first 'Aad, and after a long period, a second 'Aad. Those who perished—whose story Allah mentioned in the Holy Quran, detailing their downfall, their experiences in this life, and the outcomes of their choices and decisions—were the first people of 'Aad, as Allah said, {'and that He destroyed the first 'Aad'}, and He also said, {'Did you not see how your Lord dealt with 'Aad of Iram, who had lofty pillars, the likes of whom had never been created in the land?'}.

They were the first mighty nation to emerge after the people of Nuh. The descendants of Prophet Nuh (PBUH) dispersed, multiplied, and branched out into various regions, giving rise to communities in multiple and scattered areas. Among these communities that grew and became powerful was 'Aad, whose dwellings were located in Al-Ahqaf, a name given to the undulating and elongated sand dunes. It is said that their homes and the regions they occupied stretched from Hadhramaut to parts of the Sultanate of Oman—extending from Hadhramaut into other areas of Oman. They spread out there. Despite being close to these sandy areas, their situation was not adversely affected, because they also expanded to regions suitable for agriculture and settlement, with mountains present as well. In fact, they might have expanded from areas with valleys, lands suitable for farming, and mountains all the way to the sandy regions. It is also possible that the sands later encroached upon their lands after their destruction—Allah knows best!

Allah (Glory be to Him) made them successors on the earth. His way with His servants is that a powerful nation arises at every stage of human history, or even more than one nation, in societies that are blessed by Allah's grace and supported by what He provides and empowers them with. The efforts and activities there contributed to the flourishing of their lives, placing them in a robust economic position and transforming them into a powerful and capable nation. They were also considered as the first pure Arabs: the original roots of the Arabs in that region.

The blessings of physical strength, agricultural land, livestock, and human wealth!

Indeed, they were endowed by Allah with physical strength, fertile land, and abundant livestock and human resources. Allah granted them physical strength, which made them distinguished from others. Prophet Hud (PBUH) reminded them of this blessing: {'And He increased you extensively in stature'}. They had strong physiques—they were large, robust, tall, and muscular, which proved beneficial in their agricultural and construction activities. They possessed the energy, stamina, and physical capability to engage in various forms of work. They benefited from their physical strength and energy in agricultural and construction activities, among other activities. Yet, they denied this blessing and failed to show gratitude for Allah's blessings.

Allah bestowed upon them His abundant blessings: He facilitated agriculture for them, so they had vast farms with a variety of fruits and abundant agricultural production. He granted them springs, so they had access to water sources to irrigate their farms, which led to a flourishing agricultural activity and a tremendous surplus of diverse crops, providing them with comfort—Prophet Hud (PBUH) reminded them of this blessing. They were blessed with livestock, so Allah did not only bless them with the extensive farms they owned and the water sources available to them but also with plentiful livestock (cattle), including camels, cows, and sheep.

This is among the most essential requirements for people's lives and livelihoods, supplying them with nourishment, meeting their daily needs and sustenance plentifully, comfortably, and in a very elegant manner, so they had access to the finest and best foods. Prophet Hud (PBUH) reminded them of this blessing: {'Be mindful of Him who has provided you with everything you know. He provided you with cattle'}, referring to the wealth of livestock they possessed.

{'He provided you with cattle and children.'} Allah also granted them human resources as well: They grew in number, becoming a significant workforce with vast numbers capable of engaging in various fields. Thus, they became a numerous and powerful nation with great potential. {'And with gardens and springs'}. They also had beautiful, extensive farms filled with various types of fruits and crops, along with plentiful water springs to irrigate their lands effortlessly.

The blessing of empowerment: Massive urban development and military might!

Allah also granted them the ability to achieve significant urban development. They turned to construction and built their cities, creating homes and urban centres. As a result, they reached a level of extravagance in their architectural pursuits, thanks to the wealth and resources Allah had granted them, including financial returns from agriculture and livestock. They did not just build what was necessary for their lives and stability; rather, they engaged in ostentatious construction simply for show, to boast and display their wealth. They went beyond just building for settlement, indulging in construction for the sake of amusement, boasting, and displaying the magnitude of their wealth and potential.

Consequently, Prophet Hud (PBUH) criticised them for this wastefulness: {'Do you construct on every elevation a sign, amusing yourselves, And take for yourselves constructions that you might abide eternally?'}. They squandered their wealth and the blessings that Allah had provided them, erecting buildings in high places solely for the purpose of arrogance and boasting over others. Allah (Glory be to Him) said about them, {'Did you not see how your Lord dealt with 'Aad of Iram, who had lofty pillars, the likes of whom had never been created in the land?'}. Their cities and urban development became the stuff of legends for generations, some of which were mythical due to the fame of their urban development that demonstrated strength, precision, craftsmanship, grandeur, and arrogance.

Along with all those blessings, they also possessed military power. They were a powerful military force, with formidable fighters and military resources that set them apart from others in their time. They had the ability to wage wars and launch attacks against others, utilising these military capabilities to oppress and wrong other communities. They attacked weaker societies, committing acts of violence and crimes against them.

Illustrating their arrogance, oppression, and boastfulness about their power and capabilities, since they had military might and economic strength, Allah said about them, {'And they said, "Who is greater than us in strength?"'}. They were boasting about being the dominant force among human societies—the largest and strongest nation compared to all others. They took pride in that, and they looked down on other societies and subjected them to oppression and persecution.

Prophet Hud (PBUH) reminded them of their aggressive behaviour—their actions of oppression, tyranny, injustice, and aggression against others. He reminded them of that, saying, {'And when you strike, you strike as tyrants'}. They unjustly practised tyranny, oppression, and cruelty against others, so {'They transgressed throughout the land and spread much corruption there'}.

Despite all that, they deviated in their beliefs by worshipping others besides Allah and turning away from His religion. Humanity had begun a new phase after the great flood and the destruction of Nuh's people, except for those who believed with him. This marked the start of a new beginning for human society based on faith, the oneness of Allah, following His messengers, adhering to His message, and committing to His teachings. However, deviation emerged again at the practical and moral levels and then developed to encompass beliefs, leading to polytheism and the worship of other than Allah. They went astray in terms of their beliefs and turned away from Allah’s message and religion, taking idols as deities to worship—just as they went astray by engaging in tyranny, oppression, and corruption, committing crimes, and becoming ungrateful for the great blessings they enjoyed.

Prophet Hud reminding and warning his people—How did they respond?

Allah sent His prophet Hud (PBUH), who was one of them by lineage, belonging to their nation and social fabric. This is why he is referred to in the Quran as the brother of 'Aad: {'And mention the brother of 'Aad'}—he was one of them. He delivered Allah's messages to them and endeavoured to guide them, aiming to save them from that state they had reached: deviation, ingratitude for blessings, arrogance, injustice, crime, and widespread corruption. He reminded them of Allah's blessings and warned them of the dire consequences of denying His blessings. He said to them, {'And remember when He made you successors after the people of Nuh}—they were the nation that Allah appointed as successors after Nuh's people—{and He increased you extensively in stature. So remember the favours of Allah that you might succeed'}. {'And to 'Aad their brother Hud. He said, "O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. Then will you not fear Him?"'}. He called them to worship Allah alone, to adhere to His oneness, to submit to His message and guidance, to hold fast to His religion, and to commit to piety.

The arrogant elite among them (their chieftains, elders, tyrant and obstinate leaders) took the lead in denying the divine message and opposing Prophet Hud (PBUH). They accused him and spread slander about him: {'The elite who disbelieved among his people said, "We certainly see you as a fool"'}. They confronted him with this absurd accusation, saying, {'We certainly see you as a fool.'} They claimed that he lacked intellect, maturity, and understanding. They directed this very strange accusation at him and spoke to him in that manner. {'And we certainly think you are a liar'}, despite the fact that he called them to a clear truth—a manifest truth, a clear light, evident guidance. This is not to mention that Allah (the Almighty) supports His messengers with miracles indicating that they are indeed sent by Him.

{'He said, "O my people, there is not foolishness in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds. I convey to you the messages of my Lord, and I am to you a trustworthy adviser. Then do you wonder that there has come to you a reminder from your Lord through a man from among you, that he may warn you?"'}. He spoke to them with such sincere advice and concern. Their offensive, provocative, and hurtful words did not provoke him, because he was keen to guide and save them. He was patient with their denial, their abuse, and their provocation. All that he wanted was to clarify the truth for them and leave them no excuse. He advised them faithfully and reminded them that there was absolutely no justification for their rejection of the message and their astonishment that Allah had sent a human to them as His messenger. {'Then do you wonder that there has come to you a reminder from your Lord}—guidance from Allah—{through a man from among you, that he may warn you?"'} This was, in fact, a blessing, since they were in need of warning.

One of the accusations they launched against him was the claim that he had a mental disorder, as a punishment—according to their belief—from their idols. They said, {'We only say that some of our gods have possessed you with evil'}. They claimed that their idols had punished him and affected his mind as a punishment for his disbelief in them. {'He said, “I call Allah to witness, and you too bear witness, that I reject whatever you associate with Allah. So plot against me all together; then do not give me respite"'}. He challenged them and their idols to do whatever they wished and go ahead with all their schemes, stating that their schemes were futile, without power, and had no effect

They reiterated what the elite of Nuh’s people had previously said, arguing that he could not be a messenger since he was merely a human like them. They raised this issue, stemming from their arrogance: How can they follow someone who is just a human like them? They questioned, {'This is not but a human like yourselves. He eats of that from which you eat and drinks of what you drink. And if you should obey a human like yourselves, indeed, you would then be losers'}. The astonishing thing, as we mentioned, was that they accepted divinity for a stone but would not accept prophethood for a human. Moreover, they followed other humans instead. Did they not follow anyone at all in their reality? No, they followed misguided, arrogant, and wicked humans instead of the prophets and messengers. Had they followed the prophets, they would have been guided by the teachings of Allah, the Almighty. The prophets themselves follow what Allah has revealed to them; therefore, the issue does not rest solely with them, so one could say people follow the personal opinions, moods, or desires of the prophets. They follow what Allah reveals to them, just as the Prophet of Allah (PBUH&F), whom Allah commanded to say, {'I only follow what is revealed to me'}.

The connections with arrogant and tyrannical leaders deeply influenced the masses and the majority among them. They had tyrannical, oppressive, arrogant, violent leaders, who committed crimes and were characterised by stubbornness, severity, cruelty, rudeness, and harshness. So they rejected the divine message, as Allah said about them, {'And that was 'Aad; they rejected the signs of their Lord, disobeyed His messengers, and followed the order of every obstinate tyrant'}. They obeyed their tyrannical leaders, who went astray owing to their extreme stubbornness. Furthermore, they ridiculed him and persisted in their denial. They displayed ridicule to such a degree that after he would finish reminding them, advising them, and conveying the messages of Allah, they would say, {'It is all the same to us whether you advise us or not'}. This means that his words had no value to them, and they were not ready to consider what he said; it made no difference. {'It is all the same to us whether you advise us or not'}—they told him that his words held no value to them, had no impact, and were completely unacceptable!

They began demanding punishment from him. Whenever he warned them about the serious consequences of their persistence, they would ask him to bring them the punishment! They urged him to hasten the torment, saying, {'They said, "Have you come to us that we should worship Allah alone and leave what our fathers have worshipped? Then bring us what you promise us, if you should be of the truthful"'}.

After establishing proof and reminding them for a while, they were first punished with drought and the removal of blessings, hoping it would serve as a reminder for them. This punishment was a factor to help them remember. Prophet Hud (PBUH) reminded them and advised them to return to Allah: {'And O my people, ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. He will shower you with rain in abundance and increase you in strength upon your strength. And do not turn away as criminals'}.

No more respite: People are set apart, and divine punishment has come!

Despite all that, they persisted in their stubborn insistence, ingratitude, and obstinacy, and they remained in that state for a long period. So when their respite came to an end, the time for divine punishment arrived. The believers among them were a small group, while the rest clung to their ways. The separation had been completed, and the lines were clearly drawn.

Then the punishment came; the time for divine punishment arrived—the destructive and devastating punishment from Allah. He sent upon them a barren wind: an extremely fierce and destructive wind. It was not that kind of wind that brings rain with it, fertilises the plants, or comes in a particular season. It was a barren, destructive, and extremely fierce wind, intended for their annihilation. When it approached, it was so thick that they mistook it for rain-laden clouds, coming towards them. They rejoiced and went out, filled with hope, as they had suffered from a drought that had exhausted and affected them. They were eager and excited to welcome what they thought was a thick cloud bringing rain. But what did it turn out to be?

{'And when they saw it as a cloud approaching their valleys, they said, "This is a cloud bringing us rain!" Rather, it is that for which you were impatient: a wind, within it a painful punishment, destroying everything by the command of its Lord'}. It was a destructive wind that wiped out everything. {'So they became such that nothing could be seen except their dwellings! Thus do We recompense the criminal people'}. The word 'thus' here shows that this is the practice that Allah follows in punishing the criminal ones: In the end, no criminal is left unpunished; divine punishment is inevitable and comes in many forms.

The wind raged over them for days—fierce, devastating, and lethal wind: Allah said about it, {'It left nothing of what it came upon but that it made it like disintegrated ruins'}. He also said, {'Which He let loose against them for seven consecutive nights and eight consecutive days, so you would have seen the people therein lying dead'}. Those with massive, robust bodies—who once had great physical and military strength—were scattered and destroyed. They all perished; their enormous bodies were scattered everywhere, lying dead, just as Allah described: {'So you would have seen the people therein lying dead as if they were hollow trunks of palm trees'}—because of their enormous size, but they were destroyed. {'Do you see any of them left alive?'}.

Allah saved His prophet Hud and those who believed with him, rescuing them from destruction. They left before the calamity began: {'And when Our command came, We saved Hud and those who believed with him, by mercy from Us; and We saved them from a harsh punishment'}. It became clear who the true losers were. They used to say, {'And if you should obey a man like yourselves, indeed, you would then be losers'}. Yet the real losers were those who aligned themselves with those tyrants {'and followed the command of every obstinate tyrant'}. They lost everything in this life and their future in the Hereafter, and they became a lesson for other nations and communities, a warning for all.

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.