Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Noah in Islam

Image: Detail from a 16th century Mogul miniature painting giving a Moslem interpretation of Noah and the Flood.

Noah (Nuh or Nooh) is a prophet in the Qur'an, and there is an entire sura narrating the story of Noah. In Islam, Noah is considered among the five strong-willed messengers of God, the others being Ibrahim, Musa, Isa and Muhammad. Noah was a faithful messenger of Allah, and had firm belief in Allah, and he preached Islam for about 950 years.

He used to warn the people of the doom that was imminent because they were wrong-doers and did not obey Allah, and they were worshiping idols for almost a thousand years. He advised people to serve Allah, and that nobody but Allah could save them from the great deluge (flood).

Allah commanded Noah to build Noah's Ark (a ship). While Noah was building the ship, the chieftains passed him and mocked at him. Upon its completion, the ship was loaded with all the species of animals and Noah's own family. The people, including a son of Noah, who disregarded the message of Noah, drowned in the deluge. The final resting place of Noah's Ark is referred to as Mt. Judi (in Turkey).

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