Unveiling 5 Attributes of Prophet Nuh عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام in the Quran

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 Prophet Nūḥ عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام in the Quran

Numan Attari (6^th year student, Jamiat al-Madina, Faizan e Madina, Nawabshah, Sindh)

After the passing of Prophet Ādam عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام, Allah sent one of His messengers, Prophet Nūḥ عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام, to the world to continue the call to Allah. Allah blessed Prophet Nūḥ عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام with many praiseworthy traits and immense bounties. He is the first Messenger of Allah.^[1]  He also holds the title of the “Second Ādam,” as only some members of his nation boarded the ark and survived the Great Flood. From them, the human race continued. He was also someone who fasted every day except the days of Eid al-Fiṭr and Eid al-Aḍḥa.^[2] His name was Yaskhur or ʿAbd al-Ghaffār^[3], and his title was Nūḥ. He was named such because he would shed tears abundantly in the court of Allah, out of fear of Him. Allah has mentioned Prophet Nūḥ عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام at various places in the Quran. Let us now read 5 attributes of Prophet Nūḥ عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام, as found in the Quran.

1. Steadfastness in calling towards the religion:

He stayed amongst his nation for more than 950 years, inviting them to Islam with unwavering commitment. During this time, he encountered great hardships and struggles. Allah has mentioned in the Quran:

وَ لَقَدۡ  اَرۡسَلۡنَا نُوۡحًا  اِلٰی قَوۡمِہٖ فَلَبِثَ فِیۡہِمۡ  اَلۡفَ سَنَۃٍ  اِلَّا خَمۡسِیۡنَ عَامًا ؕ فَاَخَذَہُمُ  الطُّوۡفَانُ  وَ ہُمۡ  ظٰلِمُوۡنَ (۱۴)

“We indeed sent Nūḥ to his nation, he hence stayed with them for a thousand years, minus fifty years. So, the flood seized them, and they were unjust.”^[4]  

This attribute of his is clearly apparent from this verse of the Holy Quran.

2. Grateful slave of Allah:

Allah declared in the Quran:

ذُرِّیَّۃَ مَنۡ حَمَلۡنَا مَعَ نُوۡحٍ ؕ اِنَّہٗ  کَانَ عَبۡدًا  شَکُوۡرًا (۳)

“O descendants of those whom We carried ˹in the Ark˺ along with Nūḥ; he was indeed a grateful bondsman.”^[5]

3. Prophethood and scripture:

Allah bestowed prophethood and scripture to the descendants of Prophet Nūḥ. All the prophets after him were from his offspring, and all heavenly books were also granted to renowned personalities from his descendants. The Quran says:

وَ لَقَدۡ  اَرۡسَلۡنَا  نُوۡحًا وَّ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ وَ جَعَلۡنَا فِیۡ  ذُرِّیَّتِہِمَا النُّبُوَّۃَ  وَ الۡکِتٰبَ

“Indeed, We sent Nūḥ and Ibrāhīm, and placed prophethood and the Book amongst their offspring.”^[6]

4. Beautiful recollection:

Allah preserved his name amongst the prophets, messengers, and nations that appeared after him, ensuring that he is never forgotten. Allah says:

وَ تَرَکۡنَا عَلَیۡہِ  فِی الۡاٰخِرِیۡنَ (ۖ۷۸)

“We kept his praise amongst the latter generations.”^[7]

5. Perfect and complete faith:

اِنَّہٗ  مِنۡ عِبَادِنَا الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ (۸۱)

“He (Nūḥ) is indeed one of Our high ranking, perfectly-believing bondsmen.”^[8]

Dear readers, we should study the biographies of the Prophets عَـلَـيْهِمُ السَّلَام with passion and enthusiasm, as well as take on their noble attributes and practices. In this way, our souls themselves will begin to exhibit love for them.