نوح عليه السلام

Long after Adam, people began to worship idols, statues they made themselves. Allah sent Nuh to tell them: "Worship Allah, you have no god other than Him" (7:59).

Nuh called his people for a very, very long time: the Qur'an says he stayed among them a thousand years less fifty years (29:14). He spoke to them day and night, in public and in private (71:5-9). He told them to ask Allah for forgiveness, and that Allah would give them rain, children and gardens (71:10-12).

But most of them refused to listen. They put their fingers in their ears (71:7) and mocked him. Only a small number of people believed (11:40).

Allah told Nuh to build a great boat, an ark, under His protection (11:37). Each time the leaders of his people passed by, they mocked him (11:38). Nuh carried on patiently.

Then the water came, from the sky and from the earth. Allah told Nuh to bring on board a pair of each kind of animal, his family and those who had believed (11:40). Nuh said: "Get on board! In the name of Allah it sails and it stops" (11:41): [TEXTE ARABE À INSÉRER : sourate 11:41, à partir de « بِسْمِ اللَّهِ »]

The boat moved through waves like mountains. Nuh called his son, who had stayed apart: "My son, come on board with us!" But his son refused, thinking a mountain would protect him. A wave came between them (11:42-43).

When it was all over, Allah ordered the earth to swallow the water and the sky to stop, and the boat came to rest on Mount Al-Judi (11:44).

What I learn: Nuh never gave up, even when people mocked him. When I do good and others make fun of me, I stay patient and carry on. And only Allah can truly protect.

Understanding the lesson

Explanation Nuh called his people for centuries, and he tried every way: by day and by night, in public and in private, with promises of good things. He never said: "I give up." He knew his job was to call gently; it is Allah who guides hearts.

The story of his son is sad, but it teaches us something important: everyone chooses for themselves to follow Allah. Even the son of a prophet had to make that choice. We cannot force anyone to believe, but we can always invite with love and pray for others.

Allah says of Nuh that he was "a very grateful servant" (meaning of part of 17:3). Despite all his difficulties, he thanked Allah.

Building the ark while everyone laughed took a lot of courage. Doing what is right, even when you are the only one, is what Nuh did.

Lessons to draw from it • I stay patient when something takes time, and I don't give up doing good. • I do what is right even if others laugh at me. • I invite others to good gently, and I pray for them. • I thank Allah even when life is hard.

Key points to remember • Nuh called his people for "a thousand years less fifty" (29:14). • Allah saved him, with the believers, in the ark that came to rest on Mount al-Judi (11:44).

The main message Nuh never gave up: with patience and trust in Allah, we keep doing good, even when it is hard.