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Nuh (Noah), the prophet of the ark and the flood
Nuh (Noah)
The Long Preaching
His Call to His People
The Building of the Ark
The Flood
His Son
The End of the Flood
The Patience of Nuh
The Covenant and the Promise
Important Note
This collection brings together a selection of authentic texts about the Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him). The English translations are given as a guide.
- Refer to the original Arabic texts
- Consult the commentaries of the scholars
- Study the historical context of each account
- Check the authentic sources
The story of the Prophet Nuh in Islamic tradition, explained
Nuh is among the most important prophets of Islam. His story teaches us patience and perseverance in the face of hardship. Allah chose Nuh to guide his people to the straight path, but they refused to listen to his counsel.
The Prophet Nuh preached for nearly 950 years according to the Islamic sources. He called his people tirelessly to abandon the worship of idols and turn to Allah alone. Despite his constant efforts, only a small part of his community accepted his message.
The story of the great flood remains the best-known episode of Nuh's life. Allah ordered him to build an immense ark to save the believers and the animals. That building took long years, under the mockery of his people. By the time the waters began to rise, it was already too late for the disbelievers.
The Quran mentions Nuh in several surahs. These verses recall how important obedience to Allah is, and what disobedience leads to. Nuh's ark stands for divine mercy towards those who believe sincerely.
Muslims draw many lessons from this story. Patience in adversity, trust in Allah and perseverance in dawah are all precious teachings. Nuh shows us that a prophet never loses heart, even in the face of rejection.
To deepen your knowledge of the prophets of Islam, you can also read the hadiths that tell their stories in more detail. These accounts enrich our spiritual understanding and guide us in our daily faith.
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ReadYou may be wondering…
Who is the Prophet Nuh in Islam?
Nuh (Noah) is one of the five great messengers known as Ulu al-Azm. The Quran devotes a whole surah to him (Surah Nuh) and relates that he was sent to a people who worshipped idols, to call them to worship Allah alone. Surah Al-Isra describes him as a deeply grateful servant.
How long did Nuh preach?
According to Surah Al-Ankabut (verse 14), Nuh stayed among his people a thousand years less fifty, that is 950 years of preaching night and day. Despite this extraordinary patience, only a small part of his community believed in him; most went on mocking him and rejecting his call.
Why did Nuh build an ark?
Allah ordered Nuh to build the ark under His eyes and according to His revelation (Surah Hud, 37), in order to save the believers and the animals from the flood decreed against the wrongdoers. He built it over long years under the mockery of his people, until the gates of heaven opened and the earth burst forth with springs.
What happened to Nuh's son?
One of Nuh's sons refused to board the ark, thinking he would take refuge on a mountain. Nuh called to him in vain: that day there was no protector against the command of Allah, and the son was drowned (Surah Hud, 42-43). This episode teaches that faith is a personal choice that not even a prophet father can impose.
Where did Nuh's ark come to rest?
The Quran states that when the earth was told to swallow its water and the sky to stop raining, the ark came to rest on Mount Judi (Surah Hud, 44). The believers saved with Nuh repopulated the earth, and Allah reminds mankind that they are the descendants of those He carried with him.