3. Story of the First Messenger Nūh

The Story of the First Messenger Sayyidnā Nūh عليه السالم

So Nūh عليه السالم  was the first Messenger of Allāh ﷻ to the people of the world and that is mentioned in the authentic Hadīth of Ash-Shafa’a, when the people on the Day of Judgment will go to Nūh, what will they tell him? [They will tell him], ”Anta Awwalur-Rusulu ilaa Ahlil-Ard – You are the first Messenger of Allāh ﷻ to the people of the world.” So Sayyidnā Nūh is the first Messenger to the people of the earth, and he is one of the five Ulil ‘Azm and Ulil ‘Azm are the greatest five of the Ambiyā of Allāh ﷻ and Nūh is one of them. The other four are: Sayyidnā Muhammad, ‘Ibrāhīm عليه السالم , Mūsā عليه السالم  and ‘Īsā عليه السالم . These five are called Ulul ‘Azami min ar-Rusul and the greatest of them is Muhammad ﷺ.

3.1 Tawhīd – The Message of All Prophets at All Times

What was the message of Nūh عليه السالم ?
Allāh ﷻ says, “And indeed We sent Nūh (Noah) to his people (and he said): “I have come to you as a plain warner.” “That you worship none but Allāh, surely, I fear for you the torment of a painful Day.”(Hūd – 11:25, 26) This is the message that every Nabi has presented to the world – do not worship anyone but Allāh ﷻ; Tawhīd- the unity of Allāh ﷻ, that is the Message of every Nabi and he [Nūh] tells them,

“That you should worship Allāh (Alone), be dutiful to Him, and obey me.”(Nūh – 713)

So, the Nabi told them to worship Allāh ﷻ, and to have Taqwā, and to obey me. Allāh ﷻ says, We sent no Messenger, but to be obeyed by Allāh’s Leave.(An-Nisā’ – 4:64) The Ambiyā of Allāh ﷻ don’t just come and deliver a message, and leave. They deliver the Message, and they tell the people that they have to obey them, and this is Tahkeem ash-Sharee’ah – this is the establishment of the law of Allāh ﷻ. They came to be followed and to be obeyed.

3.2 The Patience and the Da’wah of Nūh عليه السالم

What were the methods of the Da’wah of Nūh عليه السالم ? What methods did he use? How did he perform his Da’wah? Allāh ﷻ says,

He said: “O my Lord! Verily, I have called my people night and day (i.e. secretly and openly to accept the doctrine of Islamic Monotheism).(Nūh – 71:5)

So, he used to make Da’wah to them in the night and day and He ﷻ said,

“Then verily, I called to them openly (aloud); Then verily, I proclaimed to them in public, and I have appealed to them in private.”(Nūh – 71:8, 9)

So, he used Jah’r, which is announcing to everyone and then he used A’lantu lahum – ‘I would speak to them, and also I would speak to them publicly and privately.’ So, he used Da’wah at night, he used Da’wah at day, he used public, and he used private; he varied his methods, and he tried every way possible. So, in our Da’wah, we should take advantage of every resource that we have, everything. Take advantage of everything: telephone, CDs, audio cassettes, internet, speeches, individual Da’wah on the individual level, visitations, through your Akhlāq, pamphlets, books. Don’t think that anything will not work. Use whatever you can, because Sayyidnā Nūh عليه السالم  used whatever was possible to him, any method. Use it for the sake of Allāh ﷻ. Nūh said,

“But all my calling added nothing but to (their) flight (from the truth).”(Nūh – 71:6) Allāhu Akbar, Nūh عليه السالم  is making Da’wah to them, and the more Da’wah he gives them, the further away they become, the further away they go. The more Da’wah he makes, the more they fly away from him. The more Da’wah he gives them, the worse the situation becomes. Difficult – very difficult and not only that. Nūh said,

“And verily! Every time I called unto them that You might forgive them, they thrust their fingers into their ears, covered themselves up with their garments, and persisted (in their refusal), and magnified themselves in pride.”(Nūh – 71:7)

He would give them Da’wah, he would be speaking to them, and they would put their fingers in their ears, or they would cover themselves with their clothes and they would be arrogant and proud. If you are speaking to someone and he starts putting his fingers in his ears, and he covers himself up, and he acts arrogantly towards you, will you be able to continue to talk to him? It’s very difficult. You would barely be able to do it for half an hour or an hour and then you would be fed up, and you would leave, and you would hate him for the rest of your life. Nūh عليه السالم  did this for 950 years! Nūh was doing this for 950 years. 950 years, he is making Da’wah night and day – publicly and privately and the more Da’wah he gives, the worse the situation would become, and the more animosity would become between him, and his people and the people are not listening to start with. He is speaking to closed ears, but he had patience. He had patience for 950 years.

3.3 The Value of Istighfār

Sayyidnā Nūh عليه السالم  told his people about the value of Istighfār, “I said (to them): ‘Ask forgiveness from your Lord; Verily, He is Oft-Forgiving.”(Nūh – 71:10) And listen to the benefits of Istighfār. Nūh عليه السالم  is telling his people the benefits of Istighfār. If you make Istighfār this is what will happen. Allāh ﷻ says, “He will send rain to you in abundance; ‘And give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers.(Nūh – 71:11, 12)

All of these are results of Istighfār; ‘Fastaghfirullah’. ‘Nastaghfirullah al-’Adheem wa natubu ilayhi.’ And he also turned their attention to the creation of Allāh ﷻ around them, because the creation of Allāh is a mirror of the attributes Allāh ﷻ, and Allāh ﷻ told them,

See you not how Allāh has created the seven heavens one above another, And has made the moon a light therein, and made the sun a lamp? And Allāh has brought you forth from the (dust of) earth. [Tafsir At-Tabari, Vol. 29, Page 97]. Afterwards He will return you into it (the earth), and bring you forth (again on the Day of Resurrection)? And Allāh has made for you the earth wide spread (an expanse). That you may go about therein in broad roads.(Nūh – 71:15-20)

These are some of the Āyāt of Allāh ﷻ that he turned their attention to.

3.4 The Virtues of The Weak and the Poor

When Nūh عليه السالم  was delivering this Da’wah for 950 years, only a few became Muslim and these few tended to be from the weak and the poor. So, the leaders, the wealthy and the political leaders, the influential men of the society, they came to Nūh عليه السالم  and they said,

The chiefs of the disbelievers among his people said: “We see you but a man like ourselves, nor do we see any follow you but the meanest among us and they (too) followed you without thinking. And we do not see in you any merit above us, in fact we think you are liars.”(Hūd – 11:27)

They told Nūh عليه السالم  that ‘we don’t see any favour of you upon us. I mean, you’re not any better than us.’ And then they also told him that ‘the people who followed you are the weakest and the meanest among us, and they followed you without thinking.’

Two things [to note here]: the people who are following you are the weak and the poor. And the second thing: they followed you without thinking. Let’s look at these two things. The followers of Nūh عليه السالم  were the weakest and the poorest.

When Abū Sufyān was on a business trip to Ar-Rum [Rom], he was visiting Ash-Shām, which was part of the Roman Empire of the time. Hiraql – the emperor of the Romans, (Heraclius), he was in Ash-Shām at the time, and he heard about Muhammad ﷺ. So, he demanded to meet one of his people, when he heard that there’s an Arab caravan that’s in town, he said, “Go and see if any of them knows about Muhammad ﷺ”.

So, they went, and brought these businessmen from Quraish to meet with the Roman emperor, Hiraql. So, Heraclius asked this group, “Who of you is the closest relative of Muhammad ﷺ?” So, Abū Sufyān said, “I am.” And he was the closest relative of him [from] among the group. Heraclius started asking Abū Sufyān a few questions and one of these questions were, “Who are the followers of this man?” Abū Sufyān said, “His followers are the slaves, and the weak, and the poor and the servants.” What did Heraclius say? He said, “These are the followers of the Ambiyā. These are the followers of the Messengers.”

These were the followers of Īsā عليه السالم , these were the followers of Mūsā عليه السالم , these were the followers of Hūdعليه السالم , these were the followers of Sālih عليه السالم . The people who follow the Ambiyā in the beginning, are usually the weak and the poor. Allāh ﷻ gives them this blessing. So, this point that the people of Nūh عليه السالم  are bringing, is worthless.

The second point is, they followed you without thinking. They [the Kuffār] wanted them [the weak and the poor] to study it, they wanted them to give it a second thought. This thing that they’re using as an accusation against Nūh عليه السالم , is actually a point of pride for those who believe, because what did Rasūlullāh ﷺ praise Abū Bakr As-Siddiq for? Rasūlullāh ﷺ said, “Everyone I presented Islam to, hesitated for a moment except Abū Bakr. As soon as I presented the Message to him, he accepted.” Without giving it a second thought [because] when you receive truth, you shouldn’t give it a second thought, you shouldn’t sit on it for a while. When you receive truth, as long as it is the truth, [you need to] immediately follow it. And that’s what these followers of Nūh عليه السالم  did. So, these chiefs are accusing these followers with something that is actually a point of praise for them, an honour.

3.5 The Da’wah for the Pleasure of Allāh ﷻ

And you always find that they would accuse us, the Muslims today, with things that are in reality things, that we should be proud of. Nūh عليه السالم  said,

“And O my people! I ask of you no wealth for it.”(Hūd – 11:29) It’s very important that the Da’iyah – the one who’s calling to the sake of Allāh ﷻ, never wants compensation [such like] financial material compensation, for what he is doing. It’s very important [because] the work should be done for the sake of Allāh ﷻ alone. Nūh said,

“My reward is from none but Allāh”(Hūd – 11:29) And then he [Nūh] told them, “I am not going to drive away those who have believed.”(Hūd – 11:29)

These chiefs, they said, “You have to kick out those weak and slaves, otherwise we’re not going to listen to you.” He said, “I’m not going to drive them out; these are the believers, these are the ones whom Allāh ﷻ honoured with Islam.” And then Nūh told them,

“And I do not say to you that with me are the Treasures of Allāh, “Nor that I know the Ghaib (unseen); “nor do I say I am an angel.” (Hūd – 11:31)

The Ambiyā of Allāh ﷻ do not have to be wealthy for the people to follow them. Notice, Nūh is telling them about things which usually people look for in their leaders. People want to see their leaders rich, and we usually respect and honour the rich and the wealthy. If somebody is poor, we don’t care about him and wouldn’t follow him, or we wouldn’t accept having him as a leader. The tame thing that happened with Tālūt [when] they said,

“And he has not been given enough wealth.”(Al-Baqarah – 2:247) Nūh عليه السالم  is telling them, ‘I don’t control the treasures of Allāh ﷻ and I don’t have to be rich’. And he told them, “Walaa a’lam al-Ghaib – and I do not know the unseen.”(Hūd – 11:31) We shouldn’t expect from the Ambiyā of Allāh ﷻ that they know Al-Ghaib. He said, “I do not know the unseen, except what Allāh ﷻ would teach me”. And he told them, “And I am not an angel”, because always, whenever a Nabi comes, they say, “You should be an angel and you should be different, you shouldn’t be in the human form.” So, he told them, “Walaa aqulu innee Malak – And I do not tell you that I am an angel.”(Hūd – 11:31)

3.6 The Persistence of Nūh عليه السالم  in his Da’wah

Nūh عليه السالم  is giving Da’wah for 950 years, and he did not get tired. He is alone against all of the society, and he did not get tired, and he never gave up. Who gave up? His people! His people gave up, it wasn’t Nūh. Nūh عليه السالم  persisted, even though he was alone. And they were rejecting him, but they are the ones who eventually gave up. They gave up. They said,

They said: “O Nūh (Noah)! You have disputed with us and much have you prolonged the dispute with us, now bring upon us what you threaten us with, if you are of the truthful.”(Hūd – 11:32) They told Nūh, “You have been debating with us, and this debate has been prolonged. It is taking too long. Can you please end it, and bring the punishment of Allāh that you said?”

Subhān’Allāh, look at the Sabr of the Nabi, he never gave up and the whole society – one [person] against the whole [society], and they lost. One person, alone, was able to stand against the whole society and in the end, they are the ones who blinked first. They said, “You bring the punishment, if you can” – Qad Jādaltanā Fa’aktharta Jidālanā – We’re tired. And they threatened him. Allāh ﷻ says,

They said: “If you cease not, O Nūh (Noah)! You will surely be among those stoned (to death).”(Ash-Shu`arā’ – 26:116) – we’re going to stone you to death.”

3.7 The Du‘ā of Nūh عليه السالم Against his People

Now, Nūh عليه السالم  started making Du‘ā against them because they reached a level where they are threatening him to take away his life, they don’t want to believe anymore, they want to end it. So Nūh told Allāh ﷻ,

Nūh (Noah) said: “My Lord! They have disobeyed me, and followed one whose wealth and children give him no increase but only loss.”(Nūh – 71:21)

They followed the wealthy, and they followed the strong families; these are the ones who they followed, they didn’t follow me. Allāh ﷻ said,

And it was inspired to Nūh (Noah): “None of your people will believe except those who have believed already. So be not sad because of what they used to do.”(Hūd – 11:36) Allāh ﷻ told Nūh, “No one else will believe”. Nūh started now making Du‘ā to Allāh ﷻ, when he saw that we reached to the end, there is no further dialogue between us. The communication is cut. Allāh ﷻ says,

And indeed Nūh (Noah) invoked Us, and We are the Best of those who answer (the request).(As-S ā ffāt – 37:75) Nūh عليه السالم  made his Du‘ā, after 950 years of patience, he finally made a Du‘ā against his people and Allāh ﷻ says,

And Nūh (Noah) said: “My Lord! Leave not one of the disbelievers on the earth!”(Nūh – 71:26, 27) Destroy them all! Why? It is not because of a personal problem between Nūh and them, no. Nūh said,

“If You leave them, they will mislead Your slaves, and they will beget none but wicked disbelievers.”(Nūh – 71:26, 27) Nūh said, “Oh Allāh ﷻ destroy them”. Why? Because if You leave them, they are going to deliver this disbelief to their children and they are going to insist on it and then they are going to corrupt the believers; so, destroy them all. And the Du‘ā was received by Allāh ﷻ.

3.8 The Ark of Nūh عليه السالم  

Allāh ﷻ instructed Nūh عليه السالم  to build the Ark, the ship.

And construct the ship under Our Eyes and with Our Inspiration, and address Me not on behalf of those who did wrong; they are surely to be drowned.(Hūd – 11:37) So, he started building the Ark – Wa Yaşna`u Al-Fulka. And as he was constructing the ship, whenever the chiefs of his people would pass by, they would make fun of him. They mocked at him [saying], “Yas’Kharun” – they would make fun of him. [They would say], “Nūh, are you crazy? Did you lose your mind? You are building a ship and there’s no sea?” Nūh is building an ark on top of this hill, and there’s no sea and ocean, and there’s no river; there’s nothing and Nūh is building a ship. So, they would come next to him because, Subhān’Allāh, the people of Dunyā can only see what is in front of their eyes. They cannot understand that Allāh ﷻ is able to do [everything] – ‘Inna Allāha `Alá Kulli Shay’in Qadīr [Al-Baqarah – 2: 20]. They are limited with this narrow vision of the material world. [They would say], “There’s no sea, there’s no river, there’s no ocean, what are you doing?” And they would make fun of Nūh. Nūh عليه السالم  told them,

He said: “If you mock at us, so do we mock at you likewise for your mocking. And you will know who it is on whom will come a torment that will cover him with disgrace and on whom will fall a lasting torment.”(Hūd – 11:38, 39)

Allāh ﷻ says further, “(So it was) till then there came Our Command and the oven gushed forth (water like fountains from the earth). We said: “Embark therein, of each kind two (male and female), and your family, except him against whom the Word has already gone forth, and those who believe. And none believed with him, except a few.”(Hūd – 11:40) “Wa Fāra At-Tannūr – the springs of the earth started gushing with water and rain started falling from the sky. When the water started coming out from the earth, and rain falling from the sky,

Allāh ﷻ instructed Nūh to go in the ark, and to take with him the believers, and to take with him his family, and to carry a pair – male and female – of every animal. The number of the believers with Nūh عليه السالم , goes from 7 till 80, and 80 is the maximum number narrated. That’s the maximum but then there’s 7 and there’s 8 and there’s different numbers. [The] Maximum is 80; after 950 years of work, the fruit is 80.

3.9 Trust in Allāh ﷻ Even When it Seems Hopeless

Brothers and sisters, sometimes we need to reflect, when we when we listen to this. We receive encouragement in our work when we see the fruits of it. When you are studying, and you are receiving good grades, that encourages you to study. When you are doing business, and your business is flourishing, it encourages you to do business. But when you see that your effort is put in something that is not improving, and the more work you do, the worst the situation becomes, it is very, very difficult – extremely difficult – to go on. Nūh عليه السالم , for 950 years is not seeing anything happening in front of his eyes, nobody is believing. But because he had trust that Allāh ﷻ is the one who rewards, he’s not waiting for a reward in Dunyā. Allāh ﷻ is the one who gives the Ajr. He kept on, and persisted on doing this for 950 years and that is the Yaqīn and Tawakkul and Īmān in Allāh ﷻ.

3.10 Bismillah – Start Everything In the Name of Allāh ﷻ

When he went on the Ark, what did he say? Bismillah! Whenever we start something, we say Bismillah. “Wa Qāla Arkabū Fīhā Bismillāh – Allāh ﷻ says,

And he [Nūh (Noah)] said: “Embark therein, in the Name of Allah will be its moving course and its resting anchorage. Surely, my Lord is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful.”(Hūd 11:41, 42) So we start everything in the name of Allāh ﷻ. We start Salāh in the name of Allāh ﷻ, we start eating in the name of Allāh ﷻ, when we go to bed – [we do it] in the name of Allāh ﷻ, when we go in our cars – in the name of Allāh ﷻ. We start everything in the name of Allāh ﷻ, Bismillah. Allāh ﷻ is saying that this ark is on these waves and what description was given to the waves? Allāh ﷻ says,

So it (the ship) sailed with them amidst the waves like mountains.(Hūd 11:41, 42) We are talking here about waves like mountains! What is a mountain? 1000ft [304 meter], 2000ft [609 meter]? Imagine waves 1000 feet or 2000 feet high. Not even the biggest U.S aircraft carrier can sustain these waves. (Some of the biggest mountains on earth reach up to 25.000ft (7600 m), e.g., the Mount Everest is about 29.000ft (8840 meter). So, the Sheikh was very generous talking about mountains with 1000ft and 2000ft. Only Allāh جل جلاله knows how high and huge these waves have been, that destroyed the people of Nūh السالم ع)

3.11 Do Your Part Then Rely on Allāh ﷻ

So, it is not the Ark, it is not this ship that Nūh عليه السالم  built, that gave them safety. It is not this ark that saved them from these waves. These are only the Asbāb [means] – this is the part that Allāh ﷻ told Nūh to do. Otherwise, that ark would be like a matchbox in these waves. It would not be able to survive at all. Allāh ﷻ wants Nūh to do his part; just build the ark! But it’s not the Ark that will do you anything. It is the will of Allāh ﷻ, and the care of Allāh ﷻ that will take care of you and save you! So, Allāh ﷻ told Nūh to build the Ark because you have to do your part. You have to do your part! And you have to take the first step because Allāh ﷻ says, “In Mashayta Ilayya Harwaltu Ilayk, – If you walk towards Me, I will run towards you”.(Sahih al-Bukhari 7405, 7536, – Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3603, – Sahih Muslim 2675) You have to take the first step.

“Wa Al-Ladhīna Ahtadaw Zādahum Hudá – While as for those who accept guidance, He increases their guidance” [Muhammad – 47:17].

The ones who seek guidance, you seek it, you look for it, Allāh ﷻ will guide them. The victory of Allāh ﷻ comes after you do your part and that is what Nūh عليه السالم  is able to do – build an ark, but the rest is on Allāh ﷻ.

3.12 The Son of Nūh عليه السالم  

The waves picked up this Ark and Nūh عليه السالم  is seeing his son in front of his eyes. He is telling his son, “Come and join us!” So it (the ship) sailed with them amidst the waves like mountains, and Nuh (Noah) called out to his son, who had separated himself (apart), “O my son! Embark with us and be not with the disbelievers.”(Hūd – 11:42) His son, thinking in the terms of this material world, said,

The son replied: “I will betake myself to a mountain, it will save me from the water.”(Hūd – 11:43) He thought that a mountain will save him. I mean, rain cannot cover mountains, we never saw that in our life. Thinking in terms of the material world, he thought that this mountain will save him. His father told him,

“This day there is no saviour from the Decree of Allah except him on whom He has mercy.”(Hūd – 11:43) He refused. Allāh ﷻ says,

And a wave came in between them, so he (the son) was among the drowned.(Hūd – 11:43) Imagine standing, and you see your son in front of your eyes and the waves are separating between you and him slowly. And in front of your eyes, you know that that’s the end of your son, it’s the end of it. What a difficult situation. Subhān’Allāh hal-‘Adhim!

3.13 Allāh ﷻ Teaches Nūh the True Meaning of Family

Allāh ﷻ says, And it was said: “O earth! Swallow up your water, and O sky! Withhold (your rain).” And the water was diminished (made to subside) and the Decree (of Allah) was fulfilled (i.e. the destruction of the people of Nuh (Noah). And it (the ship) rested on Mount Judi,(Hūd – 11:44-45)

So, this Ark landed on the mountain called Al-Judi, Judi Mountain. It is said that it is in present-day Kurdistan, (Kurdistan generally comprises the following four areas: 1. south-eastern Turkey, 2. northern Iraq, 3. north-western Iran and 4. northern Syria. Al-Judi is located with around 6800 ft (2000 meter) in south-eastern Turkey, which is northern Kurdistan and Allāh ﷻ knows best.) that’s where they say the mountain is, that’s where it landed. And when everything settled, Nūh عليه السالم  wanted to ask Allāh ﷻ about something. Allāh ﷻ says,

And Nūh (Noah) called upon his Lord and said, “O my Lord! Verily, my son is of my family! And certainly, Your Promise is true, and You are the Most Just of the judges.”(Hūd – 11:44-45) Allāh ﷻ has promised Nūh, that you will be saved with your family. So Nūh is asking Allāh ﷻ and saying, ‘Oh Allāh, didn’t you tell me that all of my family will be saved? And my son is from my family and your promise is true.’ Nūh عليه السالم  is saying that I don’t have any doubts in your promise, these are not doubts. He just wants to know and understand. “Wa ‘Inna Wa`daka Al-Haqu Wa ‘Anta ‘Ahkamu Al-Hākimīn – Your promise is true, and You are the Most Wise and the Just of the Judges.”(Hūd – 11:44-45)

Allāh ﷻ taught Nūh a lesson. We use words to mean some things, but Islam comes and gives them a new definition. Salāh, for example, had the definition of ‘supplication’, before Islam. But then Islam gave it Ma’anas Tilaahee – it gave it the meaning of this Salāh. The meaning of happiness for example, we think of happiness in a certain way, but Islam defined happiness in a different way. Family has a definition among us. What is it? Your blood relatives, the blood relation, that’s what we call family. And Nūh عليه السالم  is considering his son to be part of his family, because he is his blood son, but Allāh ﷻ is now going to teach Nūh عليه السالم  the true meaning of family. So Allāh ﷻ is telling Nūh,

He said: “O Nuh (Noah)! Surely, he is not of your family; verily, his work is unrighteous, so ask not of Me that of which you have no knowledge! I admonish you, lest you be one of the ignorants.”(Hūd – 11:46) Because his work is unrighteous, he is not part of your family anymore. He is your family if he is a righteous Muslim. Nūh عليه السالم  understood and he said,

“O my Lord! I seek refuge with You from asking You that of which I have no knowledge.”(Hūd – 11:47) And then he made a Du‘ā:

“And unless You forgive me and have Mercy on me, I would indeed be one of the losers.”(Hūd – 11:47)

3.14 Patience Leads to Victory

The story of Nūh عليه السالم  has been mentioned in many Sūwar of Qur’ān, but the longest version is in Surat Hūd; it starts with Āyāt 25 and goes up till Āyāt 49. After this long version of the story of Nūh عليه السالم  that is revealed to Rasūlullāh ﷺ from Āyāt 25 till 48, Āyāt 49 is telling Rasūlullāh,

This is of the news of the unseen which We reveal unto you (O Muhammad SAW), neither you nor your people knew them before this. So be patient. Surely, the (good) end is for the Muttaqin (pious, godfearing).(Hūd – 11:49) Allāh ﷻ is telling Muhammad ﷺ after this long story – this is the closure, this is the conclusion of the story of Nūh عليه السالم , “Oh Muhammad, this is the true news of Nūh that is revealed to you. Neither you, nor your people knew it before.” So, what’s the lesson? All of this, I’m leading to the next word. What is the lesson? Allāh ﷻ is saying, “Fasbir – be patient.”(Hūd – 11:49) All of the story of Nūh, from Āyāt 25 till 48 is leading to this ‘Ibrā [lesson] – to this meaning. Allāh ﷻ is closing the story of Nūh عليه السالم , telling Rasūlullāh ﷺ, look at the story of Nūh. Nine hundred and fifty years of patience of making Da’wah to his people. He never gave up. He persisted, and he made Da’wah to them in the night and the day, he made Da’wah to them publicly and privately, he made Da’wah to them, and he was alone. He made Da’wah to them, and they were not listening to him. So, what is the lesson to learn? Fasbir – be patient, because,

The end, the end result, the winners in the end are going to be who? The ones who have Taqwā. This is the lesson. “Fasbir, Inna al-‘aaqibata lil- Muttaqeen – Be patient, and remember that in the end, the ones who will win, are the believers.”(Hūd – 11:49) Nūh عليه السالم  did win but he won after 950 years and he couldn’t have won if he didn’t have patience. So, the road is long. The road is long, and it needs a lot of energy, and that energy is Sabr. If you don’t have it, you’re going to fall in the middle of the way. You’re not going to be able to complete it. So, ask Allāh ﷻ to give us this patience that we need. Allāhuma Aj’alnaa min as-Sābirīn.