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Nuh (AS) – “Noah”:

 

Today, let us start the story of Allah’s Prophet, Nuh (AS) (Noah), which cannot be summarized in one episode.

I have a feeling that we do not know our master, Nuh (AS) as we should, although the more you get to know him, the more you will love and have esteem for him. Any person who would like to help others find the right path has to admire Nuh (AS) as one great example to follow in this regard.

The great-great-grandfather of Nuh (AS) is our master, Idris (AS) whose sixth grandfather is our master, Adam (AS) (i.e. there were six generations between Adam and Idris and three generations between Idris and Noah). Do you see how those great Prophets connect; do you feel how they were, in fact, members of one big family? I wonder whether the members of our families today connect in the same way. I wonder whether the grandfathers in our families care to pass on the religion to their grandchildren and whether we feel this strong urge to make our children as religious as they should be. I wonder if our girls, when they choose a husband, think how important it is to choose someone who is religious rather than one who is good-looking or wealthy. There is no doubt that social status matters and it is, in fact, part of the Islamic criteria for choosing the appropriate husband. However, religion should come first, since our main concern should be to produce a religious and righteous generation.

Do you know how many years there were between Nuh (AS), and Adam (AS)? Ten centuries. Our Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) mentions this information in one Hadith when he was asked, “Was Adam a Prophet?” He said, “Yes. He was a Prophet and Allah talked to him.” Then, he was asked, “O, Messenger of Allah, how many years were there between them?” He answered, “Ten centuries.” (Sahih Muslim) Although we all know that a century is equal to one hundred years, which makes ten centuries equal to one thousand years, the word “Qarn” (century) in the Arabic language is sometimes used to refer to a “generation”. The Prophet (PBUH) clarifies this meaning in another Hadith, “The best among you (Muslims) are my qarn (meaning my generation) then whoever comes next.” In this sense, we could perceive the “ten centuries” difference between Adam and Nuh as “one thousand years” or as “ten generations”. Based on the latter possible interpretation, and taking into consideration that the average life span of a single generation during those ancient times used to reach one thousand years, we find that the total difference of years between Adam and Nuh could add up to ten thousand years. Furthermore, Imam Al-Bukhari reported another Hadith by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stating that, “There were ten generations between Adam and Noah during which all the people were Muslims.”

These interpretations lead us to a very important conclusion; that is, the people on earth lived for possibly ten thousand years believing in Allah as the only God. In other words, the natural instinct of this earth and all human beings is to surrender to Allah the One; this makes the notions of Kufr (disbelieving in Allah) or Shirk (joining other entities with Allah in worship) abnormal phenomena that were never part of the original nature of this earth.

What will happen on this Earth before the end of this worldly Life? Rest assured that Allah has written that the Earth must return to its original state before the end of this life. Recognizing this fact is very critical since it means that Islam (i.e. believing in Allah as the only God) will definitely supersede any other belief that might exist on this Earth, since these incidental beliefs are all temporary and must come to an end at some stage. People on this Earth lived for ten thousand years believing in Allah as the only God; not a single disbeliever existed among them, and this state of monotheism (believing in one God) will definitely return to the Earth as the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Allah shrunk the whole Earth for me to see and, when He did, I was able to see that my nation will reign over the whole area that Allah shrunk (the whole Earth).” (Sahih Muslim, 2889). Why did the Prophet (PBUH) tell us this? To give us faith in Allah’s power, to make us have pride in being Muslims and to make a stronger connection within Islam. He said it so no woman would feel ashamed of her Hijab (Muslim head cover for women) and no man would be embarrassed to show that he is religious in case his friends might mock him. We are proud to be Muslims because this is the original state that was meant for the whole Earth and this is the state that will dominate the Earth in the end.

Moreover, the Al-Bukhari Hadith (stating that the ten generations between Adam and Noah were all Muslims) indicates one more important meaning. It tells us that the religion of Nuh (AS) was Islam. You might ask: How could this be? Isn’t Islam the religion of Muhammad (PBUH)? And I answer you: No. Islam was the religion of all of Allah’s apostles. If you need a proof for what I say, read what is mentioned in the Qur’an in Surat Yunus that Nuh (AS) said (addressing his people) what can be translated as, “But if ye turn back, (consider): no reward have I asked of you; my reward is only due from Allah, and I have been commanded to be of those who submit to Allah's will (in Islam)."(TMQ, 10:72)[1].

Ibrahim also stated this fact in Surat Al-Baqara (The Cow) in what can be translated as, “Our Lord! Make of us Muslims, bowing to Thy (Will), and of our progeny a people Muslim, bowing to Thy (will); and show us our place for the celebration of (due) rites; and turn unto us (in Mercy); for Thou art the Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.” (TMQ, 2:128).

Yaqub (Jacob), as well, stated the same meaning in Surat Al-Baqara in what can be translated as, “And this was the legacy that Abraham left to his sons, and so did Jacob; "Oh my sons! Allah hath chosen the Faith for you; then die not except in the Faith of Islam." (TMQ, 2:132).

Then Musa (Moses) came declaring the same message in Surat Yunus in what can be translated as, ”Moses said: "O my people! If ye do (really) believe in Allah, then in Him put your trust if ye submit (your will to His)." (TMQ, 10:84).

Even Eisa (Jesus) repeated the same meaning in Surat Al-‘Imran (The Family of ‘Imran) in what can be translated as, “When Jesus found Unbelief on their part He said: "Who will be my helpers for (the work of) Allah." The disciples said: "We are Allah's helpers: We believe in Allah, and do thou bear witness that we are Muslims.” (TMQ, 3:52).

Thus, Allah declares clearly in the Qur’an that the only religion before Him and the only religion accepted by Him is Islam, as mentioned in Surat Al-‘Imran in what can be translated as, “The religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His Will)” (TMQ, 3:19) and, “If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah), never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter He will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good).” (TMQ, 3:85).

What do we conclude from all this? We conclude that the religion that has been intended for all mankind since Adam (AS) until Muhammad (PBUH) is one; that is Islam. Even though some parts of the law might vary from one nation to another, the religion itself has always been Islam as all the previously mentioned verses of the Qur’an confirm.

This leads us to a question: Where did the different names of religions come from? They emerged from the fact that the people of these religions related themselves merely to those particular sects, consequently, they called themselves by these names although the true religion itself has only one name: Islam. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “The similitude of the apostles before me and my self is that of a man who built a house except for one part that he left unfinished. So, the people passing through the house would say, ‘What a wonderful house if only this part were finished!’ So I am the one that finished this part and I am the seal of all the apostles.” (Bukhari) This is another confirmation that all of Allah’s apostles were parts of the same “building” and the same religion.

This means that Allah’s apostle Nuh (AS) was inviting people to embrace Islam. But when did Allah send His revelations to Nuh (AS)? And what happened during that time in history?

After ten centuries of Islam on this Earth (from Adam to Nuh), the situation on Earth started to change, since the Shaytan (Satan) started to play a new role in misleading people. As I explained to you in the previous three lectures, the Shaytan, until that time in history, concentrated his temptation on two main aspects: temptation of women and nudity. However, the Shaytan came to realize that these two aspects were not enough to make people dwell in the hellfire for a long time, so he started to think of a third aspect: “Shirk” (tempting people to share other deities with Allah in worship).

Al-Bukhari narrated that there were people of knowledge between Adam and Nuh and that Allah did not send Prophets during those centuries except Idris and Nuh (AS). In other words, within the first ten centuries of life on this earth, Allah sent only three or four apostles to the people. Why? Because all the people used to be Muslims and they were rightly guided, so they only needed people of knowledge to guide them every now and then, just like the nation of Muhammad (PBUH) within the last fourteen hundred years; the responsibility of enlightenment and following the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is being carried out by the Islamic nation itself. This implication is significant. It indicates that since the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was the seal of all the Prophets, the message of Islam is left for the Muslims themselves to explain and fulfill. Could we be those Muslims? Definitely; and this is our primary responsibility.

Several people of knowledge existed in the times between Adam and Nuh (AS). Five of those people lived, at the most, within one or two generations preceding Nuh (AS) and they were particularly popular and very exceptional. Their names were: Wadd, Suwa, Yaguth, Ya'uq and Nasr. They were all mentioned in the Qur’an in Surat Nuh. They were widely loved by the people and they were of an immense influence, as well.

The Shaytan was extremely upset as he watched all this and, since despair is not of his nature, he waited for the right moment. The Shaytan does not approach you in the moments of strength but rather in the moments of weakness. The times during which those holy people of knowledge lived were times of strength. Glory to Allah Who made those five men able to protect and guide all humans on this Earth for all that time! So, what did the Shaytan do? He waited until the last of those holy people died. See how much the Shaytan fears one strong righteous person?  See how a single strong person could keep a whole nation steadfast on the right path? Each of those five men was equal to thousands of people. How many do you think you are equal to? Does the Shaytan fear you at least in the building where you live?

Listen to this excellent proverb that I would like our young men and women to consider: “Be equal to a thousand men; if you could not, then be equal to one full man rather than half a man.” Do you understand the meaning? Never accept to be half a man.

If those five men were able to keep all the people of the earth on the right path, how many are you able to keep? I know that some of the people who are present here are equal to tens and hundreds. One of them would be a woman who came along and brought along with her a few of her friends. A second would be someone who teaches people the Qur’an. A third would be a person who helps the people around him. A forth would be someone who tries to guide those employees and workers in his factory by insisting when it is prayer time, that they all stop working for those few minutes until they all pray as one group and then resume their work. A fifth would be someone who educates the people in his club. A sixth would be a woman who keeps the people in her building on the right path by inviting them to “Iftar” (dinner when it is time to break one’s fast) and reminding them of Allah. Some Muslims are, beyond doubt, equal to hundreds, some are equal to tens, some are hardly able to stay on the right path themselves, some are equal to halves and some are equal to zeros. Some could attend lectures like this and still remain a zero if they do not make use of the knowledge they learn. I urge you to make a difference in this life for the sake of Allah and for the sake of Islam. Do not wait until you die worthless. Mustafa Sadeq Al-Rifa’i said some valuable words, “If you do not add something to this life, then you are redundant in this life.” In other words, if you do not produce something of a benefit to this life, then you are a useless person that should be rejected by life.

Is there anybody here who is equal to a half or a zero? It is a great shame if you make all this effort to attend here and then still leave as equal to a half or a quarter or a zero. We have to become equal to tens and hundreds.

The Shaytan, thus, waited until the death of the last of these holy men, which marked the end of that period of strength. He then went to the people who loved those five men and told them, “Build statues in the image of those five men so that you would remember them, just out of loyalty, but do not worship them.” The Shaytan knew he could not make the first generation worship these statues because they were the ones who lived with those men of knowledge and they knew very well that, no matter how much they loved them, they should never worship them. Thus, the Shaytan decided to wait another fifty years until the first generation died. Can you imagine how patient the Shaytan could be until he gets you to commit a sin?

Thus the Shaytan made the first generation build the statues as a demonstration of their loyalty to those men but he did not make this first generation worship them. As the second generation emerged, however, he started to tempt them to walk around those statues to feel closer to them and closer to Allah. When they started to do that, the Shaytan proceeded with his plan of convincing them that, if they were to pray and prostrate themselves to those statues, they would become closer and closer to Allah. He said to them: if you want to be closer to Allah, prostrate yourselves to these statues so Allah would know that you prostrated yourself for His sake. This is how the people started to prostrate themselves to those idols and in this way, started to worship them.

How many generations did Iblis (the Shaytan) have to wait to get to this point? Three generations. Beware of the Shaytan’s tricks because this is what he does with us as well.

One man told me how he ended up committing adultery after twenty years of gradual preparation by the Shaytan. I am not mentioning his story to disgrace him. You do not know who he is and he has repented anyway. He told me that if the Shaytan had started with him by a direct temptation to commit adultery he would have never done it and the Shaytan knew that. So, he started with telling him to look at every woman in the street. Then, bit by bit, years later, he allowed himself to commit adultery. Now, he has repented.

This happens to many people. The Shaytan finds you leaving this lesson, for example, quite strong, so he stays away for a while. You say to yourself, “I have to end my relationship with the girl I have been going out with.” The Shaytan tells you, “Just check on her once a month.” Believe me, this is how it happens. The girl might also answer, “I attended the last lecture as well, so we will break up but we will just check on each other once a month.” This way, the Shaytan leaves the door half open, waiting for your moment of weakness, even if it comes two or three years later.

If you say to yourself, “I will stop all the wrongdoing that I have been committing.” The Shaytan tells you, “But do not delete all the numbers that are already saved in your cellular phone; leave them for now.”

Ask yourself, “Why? Why not tear up the phone book where you keep all those numbers? Did you not repent?” Of course you will answer, “Yes, I repented but I might tell them to attend the next lecture.” Really! Think: how else will the Shaytan get you to keep those numbers? He is not going to tell you to keep the numbers so you would resume the relationship; he is going to tell you that you are keeping the numbers so you would help them to return to Allah’s path. The main thing for him is to keep the door half open until the right moment of weakness comes; then you find the number and the phone conveniently available and resume the wrongdoing.

Or, the Shaytan might tell you to go to a party with some friends, and even if there will be alcohol in the place where you are going, you will not drink; you will just sit there for two or three hours. Then you find yourself drinking. Have you ever heard of anybody who smoked marijuana without first smoking a cigarette? One step leads to another. So, be very aware of the Shaytan’s tricks.

When the Shaytan managed to tempt people to worship those statues, Allah sent Nuh (AS). Look at Allah’s mercy! Allah never leaves the people without someone advising them and showing them the right path. Thus, when the Shaytan deluded the people over those three generations, Allah sent Nuh (AS).

The same thing happens with us. Whenever the Shaytan deludes one of us, Allah sends somebody or something to remind him of Allah’s path and mercy. It could be a lecture, a tape, or a friend telling you to return to Allah. Whether you accept the advice or not is your decision.

Everybody thinks that Nuh (AS) lived nine hundred and fifty years, which is wrong. This was the number of years he spent calling on his people to return to Allah as the only God. But Nuh’s actual life span could be divided into three parts or stages. First, the stage of his life from birth until the beginning of revelations, which was said to be fifty years, since that was the average age at which Allah’s apostles used to start receiving the revelation. Secondly, the nine hundred and fifty years of revelation and Da’wa (the call to Allah’s message) until the flood, the story of which conveys a significant meaning, as we will discuss in the upcoming lecture, Allah willing. Third, the stage of the flood and how the ship settled afterwards as well as how the Earth returned to the pure faith of monotheism once again until the death of Nuh (AS).

This makes the total number of years that Noah lived exceed one thousand years, which in turn, makes him the apostle that lived the longest on this Earth; even longer than Adam who died at nine hundred and forty years of age.

One more interesting thing is that the Da’wa stage in Nuh’s life could have lasted more than 950 years. How? Listen carefully to the verse in Surah Al-‘Ankabut (The Spider) in what can be translated as, “We (once) sent Noah to his people, and he tarried among them a thousand years less fifty: but the Deluge overwhelmed them while they (persisted in) sin.” (TMQ, 29:14).

Why did Allah use the Arabic word Sana (year) instead of the Arabic word Aam (year)? It was said that each of these words indicates a slightly distinct meaning of its own. The word Sana is used several times in the Qur’an to refer to difficult years. For example, it was used in the story of Yusuf (AS) (Joseph): “(Joseph) said: "For seven years shall ye diligently sow as is your wont.” (TMQ, 12:47).

Sana was also used in the story of Moses and Pharaoh in Surat Al-A’raf (The Heights) in what can be translated as, “We punished the people of Pharaoh with years (of droughts) and shortness of crops; that they might receive admonition.” (TMQ, 7:130).

The word Aam, on the other hand, is used in several locations in the Qur’an to refer to easy or prosperous years. One example is found in Surat Yusuf in what can be translated as, “ ‘Then will come after that (period) a year in which the people will have abundant water, and in which they will press (wine and oil)." (TMQ, 12:49).

Returning to the verse in question, “We (once) sent Noah to his people, and he tarried among them a thousand years less fifty,” we find that some Muslim scholars interpret this verse by saying that Nuh kept on informing people of Allah’s message for one thousand years—not 950—and that the number 950 in this verse refers only to the number of difficult years that he spent among the disbelievers, but there was another 50 years that he enjoyed and were easy for him. Thus, the verse says, “a thousand years less fifty” instead of, “nine hundred and fifty years”. Overall, this fifty-year difference is not our main concern; the main point that matters is that Nuh (AS) lived a very difficult life for at least 950 years. And what result did he get in the end? The verse in Surat Hud answers, “…but only a few believed with him.” (TMQ, 11:40).

One Muslim scholar said that those “few” were only eighty people. Can you imagine this? If we divide 950 years by 80 people, we find that it took Nuh (AS) approximately twelve years of Da’wa before one new person would believe in him. Try to imagine if Nuh (AS) were one of us, would he have been that tolerant with his people? Would he have continued with his Da’wa?

Please try to focus with me because this was not everything that Nuh (AS) had to endure; his years of Da’wa were very difficult. While I am explaining the next few details, think of what YOU have done for Islam. What have you done in your life so far? What are you living for? What are the goals you would like to achieve in your life? Is there anybody among us who is living for Islam and has decided that the purpose of his life is to help make Islam victorious?

What did Nuh (AS) go through? Beatings, mockery and death threats; he suffered all this over 950 continuous years. The disbelievers used to gather around him and beat him until he fell unconscious, then they used to wrap him up in a rug (like a shroud) and throw him in the wild, hoping that he would die. (Isra’iliyat) Nevertheless, as soon as he woke up, he would return to calling on them again to accept Allah’s message. Therefore, he is considered one of the most determined apostles.

The fathers during Nuh’s (AS) time used to wait until their children would reach maturity and warn them never to follow in Nuh’s footsteps; the fathers would make their children promise never to follow him before they died. (Isr.) They continued to do this for generations throughout the thousand years of Noah’s preaching. What kind of man would be able to endure this? What kind of human spirit would continue to tolerate those people?

Moreover, they used to accuse him of all sorts of evil and false claims. They used to say that he was senile as mentioned in Surat Al-A’raf in what can be translated as, “The leaders of his people said: "Ah! We see thee evidently wandering (in mind)." He said: "O my people! No wandering is there in my (mind): on the contrary I am an apostle from the Lord and Cherisher of the worlds!” (TMQ, 7:60-61) They accused him of madness as mentioned in Surat Al-Qamar (The Moon) in what can be translated as, “Before them the People of Noah rejected (their apostle): they rejected Our servant, and said, "Here is one possessed (or mad)!” and he was driven out.” (TMQ, 54:9). Wherever he used to walk they used to taunt him saying, “Crazy – crazy – crazy!” Who could endure all this?

They also used to claim that he was possessed as mentioned in Surat Al-Mu’minun (The Believers) in what can be translated as, “(And some said): "He is only a man possessed: wait (and have patience) with him for a time." (TMQ, 23:25).

They mocked him everywhere he went as mentioned in Surat Hud in what can be translated as, “Forthwith he (starts) constructing the Ark: Every time that the chiefs of his people passed by him, they threw ridicule on him.” (TMQ, 11:38).

They further threatened to kill him and stone him as mentioned in Surat Ash-Shu’ara (The Poets) in what can be translated as, “They said: "If thou desist not, O Noah! Thou shalt be stoned (to death)." (TMQ, 26:116).

Nuh (AS) endured all this suffering and so did the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Why? Because this religion is very precious. They both went through this so that you would come after all these years to appreciate Islam, to guard it and to be steadfast on its path.

Would you like to know what suffering the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had to endure, as well? One example is his journey to Ta’if, a town that is one hundred kilometers (50 miles) away from Makkah. He walked on foot all this distance only to have stones thrown at him by the people of Ta’if who rejected him. All the people there gathered in two lines to throw stones and bricks at him. Can you imagine that? Then, he ran away from them trying to find a place of refuge. He did this at fifty years of age while you find it difficult to wake up and pray the Fajr prayer on time! As the people continued throwing stones at Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) his servant Zaid Ibn-Haritha, who accompanied him, held him very tightly so that the stones would hit him instead, until Zaid’s head was covered with blood and the Prophet’s feet were bleeding severely. Imagine if your own father had to go through this suffering and these insults!

I meant to explain to you what Nuh (AS) went through so you will feel ashamed of yourselves for finding it difficult to get up and pray in the mosque after you have slept on a full stomach. The question I would like to ask at this point is this: How deep are our feelings towards this religion?

Looking at what Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did at fifty years of age, try to imagine your father in the same situation being pelted with stones and bricks, insulted and beaten! What would your father have done? He would’ve dropped dead, right? But Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) endured all this, and so did Nuh (AS) so we would become Muslims! And now, how exactly do we connect to this religion? Our sisters who hear me now: how do you connect to this religion? How strong is our love for this religion? How much do we really care about guiding people to the right path?

The Prophet (PBUH) ran over the stones with his bleeding feet until he found a small garden for refuge. As soon as he entered that garden, he called on Allah with this great supplication: “Oh, Allah, to You I complain of the weakness in my strength, and of my limited power, and of the treatment of contempt and humiliation from people. To you, the most Merciful of all the merciful ones, you are the Lord of the oppressed, and my Lord. Under whose care are you leaving me? To an enemy oppressing me? Or a friend you have given control of my affairs? If You are not angry with me, I will forever be content. However, your blessing is vastly important to me. I seek refuge with the Light of Your Face, from which the heavens and Earth are illuminated, from Your anger befalling me, or Your displeasure descending on me. It is Your right to admonish until you are pleased, and there is no control or power expect in You.” (narrated by Ibn Ishaq).

Another time, while the Prophet was walking through Makkah, ten men from Quraysh (the Prophet’s tribe in Makkah) pulled him by his clothes, pushed him around and hit him. Ali Ibn Abu-Taleb said, “We watched that, but none of us dared to approach them (since whoever would do that, would die) until Abu-Bakr, the most courageous man among us, interfered and pushed those men away from the Prophet (PBUH) and said to them, ‘Do you want to kill a man merely for believing in Allah?’ So, they left the Prophet and started attacking Abu-Bakr. One of those men, ‘Uqba Bin Abi Ma’eed, pushed Abu-Bakr and he fell to the ground. Then, ‘Uqba stood on Abu-Bakr’s stomach and started beating him on the face with his shoes.” All this happened to Abu-Bakr, so you would become a Muslim.

And after all this, a girl today says that she finds it difficult to wear Hijab! Or a young man says that he cannot break up with his girlfriend! Or a third one might say that he cannot quit smoking! Are you really that weak that you cannot leave a cigarette? Are you that careless about what your Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had to go through for the sake of this religion?

Abu-Bakr was beaten on his face by ‘Uqba until his face was swollen and the Prophet’s (PBUH) followers could not recognize his features and his face was level with his nose, as ‘Ali Ibn Abu-Taleb narrated. Then, they carried Abu-Bakr to his house thinking that he was definitely going to die. But he woke up and as soon as he did, he asked, “What happened to Allah’s apostle (PBUH)?” They answered him, “He is fine.” Abu-Bakr said, “I will not be satisfied or touch any food until I see him with my own eyes (to make sure that he is alright).”

I am telling you this story and I wonder: Why have we become so passive? Why do we not value this religion, as it should be valued?

Another follower of the Prophet (PBUH) named Khabbab Ibnul-Arat (may Allah be pleased with him) used to be laid on top of burning coals until the skin of his back would blister and [the fluids would] extinguish the coals.

I am not telling you these stories to make you upset; I only narrate them for one reason: to show you how precious this religion is and how strong we should all feel about it.

O Allah, was not Nuh (AS) a very dear Prophet to You? Was not the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) the dearest of Your creations to You? Were not Khabbab and Abu-Bakr among the dearest of Your slaves to You? Why did all this happen to them? It all happened for our sake; it happened so you would come now and realize how precious Islam is and so you would be able to make the decision to be religious and steadfast on Allah’s path.

The story of Nuh (AS) that I am narrating today reveals the fact that all of us, including those who attend today and those listening to the lecture, could be classified into five different groups:

1.      The first group does not really care at all about this religion; they attend the lectures for fun but they are neither moved by what is said nor do they want to change and return to Allah’s path. I honestly hope that this group would only form a very small percentage of the people present here.

2.      The second group prays, fasts, and avoids the major sins but they do not feel the urge to get closer to Allah; they are satisfied with themselves the way they are and they do not try to improve.

3.      The third group feels they need to get closer to Allah and do more of what pleases Him. Most of the people present here belong to this group.

4.      The fourth group feels a sincere urge to be religious and to help their friends to do the same. Do you see the difference here?

5.      The fifth group are those living for one main goal: to please Allah and enter Paradise; they live for Islam.

Each one of us belongs to one of these groups. So, how many do you think belong to the first group? We sadly have to admit that those who belong to the fifth group are the least among us and those who belong to the fourth group are not too many more. Most of the people here belong to the third group as I said earlier and I am narrating the story of Nuh (AS) to motivate more and more people to belong to the fifth group and live for the sake of Allah.

As we read Surat Nuh, we come across the verse that can be translated as, “We sent Noah to his People (with the Command): "Do thou warn thy people before there comes to them a grievous Penalty." (71:1) And Nuh (AS) does exactly what Allah asked him to do, “He said: "O my People! I am to you a Warner, clear and open” (TMQ, 71: 2).

Notice the repetition of the same word “warn”.

We also read that Nuh (AS) said to his people what can be translated as, “That ye should worship Allah, fear Him, and obey me, so He may forgive you your sins and give you respite for a stated Term; for when the Term given by Allah is accomplished, it cannot be put forward; if ye only knew." (TMQ, 71: 3-4).

These were the exact words that Allah’s apostle Muhammad (PBUH) used, as well. This confirms the fact that Allah sent both Prophets with one religion.

Afterwards, we reach the fifth verse in which Nuh (AS) addresses Allah saying, what can be translated as, “He said: "O my Lord! I have called my People night and day” (TMQ, 71:5). When we read this verse we feel that throughout the 950 years, Nuh (AS) only cared about one thing: whether Allah was pleased with him. I can almost envision him giving his report to Allah and telling Him that he did everything he possibly could.

The reason why I am narrating these verses to you is to motivate those who are not in the fifth group to belong to that group. Our master Nuh (AS) was at the top of the fifth group; he only lived for the sake of Allah and his religion.

Notice the sequence that Nuh (AS) used in the verse, “I have called my People night and day”! He started with “night” before “day” although usually a person would talk to the people during the day first. Nuh (AS) said this to stress the fact that his efforts to guide his people never stopped; he did not have time to rest; he worked throughout the night and throughout the day. Did these verses move you and make you wish to be like Nuh (AS)?

Then, we get to his people’s reaction in what can be translated as, “But my call only increases (their) flight (from the Right) and every time I have called to them, that Thou might forgive them, they have (only) thrust their fingers into their ears, covered themselves up with their garments, grown obstinate, and given themselves up to arrogance. ” (TMQ, 71: 6,7).

Could you imagine how difficult it feels to put yourself through all this hardship to guide someone and then he would only turn away from you? Nevertheless, Nuh (AS) never stopped trying.

When I was still a young student at university, I used to hear a verse from the Qur’an or an interpretation of a verse by Sheikh Al-Sha’rawi and say to myself, “I wish everyone would hear this.” And today, Allah made this strong wish come true. I advise every young man who wishes for Allah to employ him for the sake of this religion to strongly maintain this wish in his heart since this concern and sincere desire to guide other people to the right path is the best gift that Allah could bestow upon anyone. This gift is more precious than any financial wealth you might get and this is how the Prophet’s followers used to feel.

One man named At-Tufayl Ibn Amr from Daws, in Yemen, met the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who invited him to embrace Islam and At-Tufayl did and asked the Prophet in this very first meeting, for something to do for Islam. The Prophet said, “Go back to your people and guide them to Allah’s path.” So, he went back to guide his people in Yemen, with the knowledge he learned from the Prophet (PBUH) in this very short meeting. He learned that Allah is the only God to be worshipped and that Muhammad is his Messenger; he learned that we will all be judged on the Day of Judgment and that if the people obey Allah’s orders, they will go to paradise;  otherwise, they will go to hellfire. When he went back to his people with this basic, but straightforward, knowledge, he spent twelve years calling on them to embrace Islam.

During these years, the Muslims went through several battles like Badr, Uhud, Al-Khandaq, the Treaty of Hodaybia and the battle of Khaybar in which the Muslims won against the Jews. On his way back to Madinah, the Prophet saw a huge dust cloud blocking the horizon. The Prophet asked, “What is this?” His followers answered, “That is Al-Tufayl Ibn-Amr leading the whole tribe of Daws.

Does anyone here wish to be like those people and guide all the people in the building where he lives or all his friends? Believe me, the highest pleasure on this Earth is not to food, drink, getting married, having children, performing the prayers, and then dying; the most enjoyable pleasure you could get in this life is to live for Allah’s sake.

Take another one of the Prophet’s followers named Abdullah Ibn-Masoud (may Allah be pleased with him) who swore before Allah to make Quraysh hear the Qur’an in spite of their complete rejection of the idea. Abdullah, who also happened to have very thin and weak legs, stood at the Ka’ba and started to recite, as loud as possible, Surat Ar-Rahman, “(Allah) Most Gracious! It is He Who has taught the Qur’an. He has created man; He has taught him speech.”  (TMQ, 55: 1-4).  As soon as he did that, the disbelievers gathered around him and started to beat him on the head with their shoes until the Muslims came and pulled him out. Nevertheless, he looked at the Muslims through the blood that covered his head and said, “I swear before Allah to repeat this tomorrow.” And he did. This, of course, infuriated the disbelievers who started to beat him even more than the previous day. Nevertheless, when the Muslims pulled him out while dying, he said to them, “I swear before Allah to repeat this tomorrow.”

Do you see how strong his feelings for this religion were? He did not do this because he enjoyed the beating but rather because his heart was full of love for Islam. Why could we not be like those people? Do not think that I am telling you to go and turn the whole world upside down; I am simply telling you to try to guide your neighbor or friend to Allah’s path.  Do not think that I am telling you this so you would start fighting with people or your family and switch off the TV while they are watching; instead go and kiss your parents’ hands then tell them, “Please pray.” Invite your friends to a party and at the end, tell them, “let us take a few minutes to talk about religion.” Love the people and care for them.

Do you know what motto the Muslims repeated during the battle of Uhud? “Your religion is your flesh and blood!” Considering our feelings today, do you think that is the case? Do you think that a sample of your blood, if tested under the microscope, would have the word “Islam” engraved in it? Your religion should be the ultimate purpose of your life. This is the meaning I am trying to convey to you.

Another example is Um-Sulaym who was widowed in Madinah and one of the disbelievers named Talha went to propose marriage to her, so she said, “But you are a disbeliever and the Prophet told us that it is Haram (illegal in Islamic Law) for a Muslim woman to marry a disbeliever. He said, “But I would love to marry you”. She answered, “I could never marry you except if you embraced Islam.” He left for a while and then went back to her because he really wished to marry her and, surprisingly enough, she too wanted him. When he returned, she said to him, “Abu-Talha, isn’t the idol that you worship made by such and such person?” He said, “Yes.”  She said “What if you set this idol on fire, doesn’t it burn?” He said, “Yes.” She continued, “So, is it not a shame for someone as smart as you are to worship something like this?” He replied, “I bear witness that Allah is one and that Muhammad is his slave and messenger.” She said, “This is my dowry; your conversion to Islam is my dowry.”

Thus, with the love of Islam that filled her heart, she became the woman who received the greatest dowry in history.

Why can’t we cherish Islam that much and feel how steadfast and patient our Master Nuh (AS) was on its path?

Each one of us should be successful in his/her life in order to have a strong influence on other people’s lives; every one of us should love his country, love others and talk to them and care about them. This is what our religion commands us to do. Let Islam fill your heart.

During one battle between the Muslims and the Persians, the leader of the Muslim army was a man named Muthanna Ibn-Haritha. He noticed that, although the Muslims were on the whole winning, the right flank of the Muslim army, which was formed by a tribe called Bani Bakr, was very weak - just like us today, although we might be even worse. When “Al-Muthanna” saw that the Persians were breaching the right flank of the Muslim army, he wrote a small note and sent it to Bani Bakr saying: “From Al-Muthanna Ibn-Haritha to Bani Bakr: Do not disgrace the Muslims.” This small note motivated Bani Bakr and made them fight so fiercely that their courage turned into victory for the whole Muslim army.

I am addressing you today: Do not disgrace the Muslims with your bad behavior that drives people away from our religion. When a religious young man commits sins or when a Muslim girl wearing Hijab continues to wear heavy makeup or simply fails to conduct herself according to Islamic rules in the way she talks and behaves, all this disgraces the Muslims.

Where is your love for this religion?

Allah designated one full Surah in the Qur’an telling us the story of Nuh (AS) in order to convey this meaning to us: Cherish (Support and guard) Islam.

As we proceed with Surat Nuh, we read what can be translate as, “And every time I have called to them, that Thou might forgive them, they have (only) thrust their fingers into their ears…” Although a person usually puts only the tip of his fingers in his ears if he does not want to hear something, Nuh (AS) used the term “their (full) fingers” to indicate the strength of their rejection.

We then read what can be translate as, “…covered themselves up with their garments…”

This verse shows how Nuh (AS), when the disbelievers refused to listen to him and put their fingers in their ears, did not stop trying to guide them to Allah’s path; he continued trying to guide them using sign language. However, they covered their faces with their clothes so they would not even see him. They did this out of arrogance as Nuh (AS) explained they had, “grown obstinate, and given themselves up to arrogance.”

If somebody acts this way with you, what would you have done? You would have given up on them. This, however, was not what Nuh (AS) did. The next verse tells us that he continued to talk to them, “So I have called to them aloud…”( TMQ, 71: 8).

Reading this Surah, we feel that Nuh (AS) is standing before Allah explaining how he did his utmost to convey the message over 950 years.

There are people here that have lived not more than 40 or 50 years and they are still unable to resist the sins and the temptations in this worldly life. One might even say that he finds it difficult to resist the temptations until he gets married. Could you not just be patient for those 60 years that you are living here and then it will all be over? Do you understand now why Allah reduced our life span? He made the Muslims of Muhammad’s nation live on this Earth for an average of 60 or 70 years since we could not have endured the temptation any longer than this; our sins would have been overwhelming.

My brothers and sisters: Be patient and steadfast on Allah’s path and you will be rewarded with Paradise afterwards. It is true that this worldly life is putting us through a lot of pain but this does not mean that we give it up. We have to maintain the connection between this Earth and Allah through acting in the way that pleases Him.

While Nuh (AS) spent his life calling on people to return to Allah’s path, we spend ten hours a day watching television and flipping though the channels to see one football match after the next; a twenty-five year old young man might spend hours reading comics or solving crosswords; a young girl might spend hours reading through the latest fashion and makeup tips so she would follow them. Your religion needs more of your time. Why do you not, for instance, learn how to read the Qur’an properly in this coming summer and get closer to Allah?

Your 60 years will pass quickly. Out of the 24 hours that are in a day, you spend 8 hours sleeping. You spend one third of your life sleeping. The second third you spend it eating, drinking, working and getting married. So, what is left? One third. I urge you not to waste this one third that is left. This is your asset.

Nuh (AS) implemented all possible means in calling on his people; he talked to them publicly, he talked to them in smaller groups (6 or 7 at a time) and he talked to them in private (a single person) as mentioned in the Qur’an in what can be translate as, “Further I have spoken to them in public and secretly in private, saying, ‘Ask forgiveness from your Lord; for He is Oft-Forgiving’ ” (TMQ, 71:9-10).

Since we will not be able to explain the remainder of the verses of Surat Nuh today, we will have to stop at this point. Next time, Allah willing, we will go over the whole Surah and explain how Nuh (AS) called on his people and what he did to guide them.

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