Noah’s father was Lamekh, and his mother was Sakha, the daughter of Enoch. Noah belonged to Iraq, known in those days as Chaldea. People liked and respected Noah, but they were unwilling to give up worshipping the representations of their imaginary gods. They had made five colossal statues to represent them. According to researchers, the names of these gods were Wadd, Suwa, Yaguth, Ya’uq, and Nasr. Wadd was in the form of a tall man, Suwa resembled a woman, Ya’uq was depicted as a horse, Yaguth as a lion, and Nasr as an eagle.
Before Noah was appointed as a prophet, his people were completely oblivious to the concept of One God, worshipping idols that represented forces and elements of nature. God sent Noah to teach them the correct way of thinking and guide them on the straight path.
Noah invited them to the true religion of God, but they refused to listen, showing disdain and hatred for his message. Their chiefs and leaders insulted and abused him, while materialistic people hurled false accusations to disgrace him. They argued that Noah was no better than they were by worldly standards — he was neither wealthy nor well-off, nor was he an angel — so why should they obey him or accept him as a leader?
Despite their rejection, Noah remained steadfast in preaching the Oneness of God. When he refused to accept their logic for idol worship and invited them to worship the true God, they blocked their ears and shouted at him, insisting he had no right to insult the gods their forefathers had worshipped. They said, “You insult our ancestral religion and threaten us with punishment when we are better off than you in every way.”
When they saw that the poor and downtrodden were following him, they said, “We will not acknowledge you as our leader like them.” They considered his followers lowly and weak, without vision, and claimed they followed Noah blindly. They demanded that Noah expel these poor companions, as they felt disgust towards them.
Noah responded:
“If I were to fulfill your demand, I would have no refuge from the grievous penalty of God. God values sincerity above all. They are all God’s creatures, and He does not love arrogance or pride. He prefers humility in manners and conduct. God has sent me to you as His messenger and prophet; my mission is to preach His Oneness. Capitalism is a human system; it has nothing to do with God’s order. God never sends angels for the guidance of mankind. You detest these poor believers because they have no wealth, but remember — worldly riches bring no reward in the Hereafter. Blessed are those who do virtuous deeds with sincerity, who have peace in their hearts, and who seek God’s pleasure.”
The arrogant leaders disrupted his gatherings, tortured participants, and used every deceit to stop him from preaching God’s message. They threatened, “If you do not desist, O Noah, you will be stoned to death.” (Qur’an 26:116)
The Qur’an states:
“Before them, the people of Noah rejected their apostle: they rejected Our servant, saying, ‘Here is one possessed!’ and he was driven out.” (54:9)
Even his wife turned against him and sided with the unbelievers.
The chiefs said, “He is only a man like yourselves, seeking to assert his superiority over you. If God had wished to send messengers, He could have sent down angels. We have never heard such a thing from our ancestors. He is only possessed — wait and be patient with him for a while.” Noah prayed, “O my Lord! Help me, for they accuse me of falsehood!” (23:24–26)
Noah told them he sought no wealth, position, or reward from them — his reward was with God alone.
For 950 years, Noah preached to his people, but only a small number accepted his message — some say forty, others say eighty. When he lost all hope, God told him not to grieve for the disbelievers, for he had fulfilled his duty.
Noah prayed:
“O my Lord! Leave not a single unbeliever on earth. If You leave them, they will mislead Your servants and produce only wicked, ungrateful offspring. O my Lord! Forgive me, my parents, anyone who enters my house in faith, and all believing men and women — and increase not the wrongdoers except in destruction.” (71:26–28)
The Ark of Noah
God accepted Noah’s prayer and instructed him to build a great wooden ark so the believers could be saved from the punishment destined for the disbelievers.
According to the Torah, the ark was 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. The exact length of a cubit is uncertain, but based on proportions and modern conversion, the ark would have been approximately 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 30 feet high. Ancient Torah scrolls describe its sides slanting inward so that only one cubit of space remained overhead between the sides. The floor was rectangular, 450 by 75 feet, with multiple decks.
Modern shipbuilders confirm that this ratio provides maximum stability against storms, waves, and grounding in shallow waters. In 1844, a ship built to similar proportions by I.K. Bruvel survived severe storms without damage. Even today, large oil tankers are designed using this same ratio.
The Qur’an says:
“And a sign for them is that We bore their race through the flood in the loaded Ark; and We have created for them similar vessels on which they ride.” (36:41–42)
From this verse, we understand that humans were not familiar with shipbuilding before Noah’s time — his ark was the first vessel ever made. God Himself taught Noah the knowledge of ship construction thousands of years ago, and the principles He revealed are still used today.
When the disbelievers saw Noah building the ark, they mocked him, but he ignored their taunts. Once it was completed, the signs of God’s decree began: water gushed from the earth and clouds poured rain. God commanded Noah to board the ark with his followers and a pair of every species of animal.
Torrential rain and fierce winds continued until every disbeliever was wiped from the earth. The ark floated safely amid the storm.
Noah’s Son
During the flood, Noah prayed to God for the safety of his son Yam, who had refused to join him. The Qur’an narrates:
“Noah called upon his Lord and said: ‘O my Lord, my son is of my family, and Your promise is true, and You are the most just of judges.’ He said: ‘O Noah, he is not of your family — his conduct is unrighteous. So ask Me not of that which you have no knowledge. I advise you lest you be among the ignorant.’ Noah said: ‘O my Lord, I seek refuge with You from asking that of which I have no knowledge. Unless You forgive me and have mercy on me, I will be among the losers.’” (11:45–47)
God reminded Noah that salvation is based on faith, not family ties, wealth, or social position. Yam arrogantly replied that he would climb a mountain to escape the flood, but Noah told him that nothing could save anyone that day except God’s mercy. A wave came between them, and Yam was drowned.
“The son replied: ‘I will take refuge on a mountain to save me from the water.’ Noah said: ‘This day there is no protector from God’s command except those on whom He has mercy.’ And the waves came between them, and he was among those drowned.” (11:43)
The Flood
Rain fell for forty continuous days, and water rose until it covered even the highest mountains. The ark floated for six and a half months before coming to rest on Mount Ararat (also known as Judi).
The Torah says:
“The flood was forty days upon the earth; the waters increased and lifted up the ark above the earth. And the waters prevailed exceedingly; all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered… and all flesh died that moved upon the earth.” (Genesis 7:17–21)
When the waters receded, Noah and his companions disembarked. Every living creature outside the ark had perished; the survivors became the ancestors of all who live today.
Second Adam
For this reason, Noah is called the “Second Adam” or “Second Father of Mankind,” for all humanity traces back to him after the flood. In a hadith, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ referred to him as “the first of the messengers of God.”
Flood legends exist in the ancient traditions of Greece, Egypt, India, China, Burma, the Malay world, the Pacific islands, Australia, New Guinea, the Americas, and Europe. Archaeological excavations, such as those in 1929 at Ur in southern Mesopotamia, have uncovered thick layers of flood sediment, confirming a massive deluge in the region.
Scientists note that the floodwaters must have risen suddenly, submerging even mountain peaks. Watermarks on the Himalayas, Andes, Alps, and Rockies, as well as preserved animal remains (like a mammoth in Siberia with warm-climate grass still in its mouth), support this conclusion.
The flood of Noah was indeed a great deluge that erased one of the most developed civilizations of its time from the face of the earth, leaving behind only faint traces that have been discovered by chance. One question remains unanswered: how was that ark built in such a way that it withstood the battering of stormy waves and fierce winds, resisted collisions with rocks, avoided structural faults, and carried all its passengers to safety? No disease spread among them during the voyage, and despite the differences of species, temperaments, and needs, no harm came to one another.
According to the Old Testament, Noah was six hundred years old at the time of the flood and lived for three hundred years afterward, though the scripture does not explain where or how he spent that period. Muslim scholars suggest that the term “Sabine” mentioned in the Qur’an refers to the followers of Noah. Shah Waliullah identified the Arians as the Sabine, and Singh Agarwal writes in his work on the Arians that those whom their forefather Manu led did not worship idols.
Hindu religious texts tell of Vishnu warning a devoted worshipper that in seven days a flood would come to destroy all who had dishonored Him, and that he should board a boat with seven chosen righteous people and take pairs of all animals with him. According to Arian tradition, this prophecy was fulfilled precisely, and the worshipper is named Mahanuvu — “Mahan” meaning great and “Nuvu” being Noah.
Some researchers believe the Vedas were revealed to Noah. They consist of four books: Rig-Veda, Sama-Veda, Yajur-Veda, and Athar-Veda. Within them are verses that foretell the coming of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, naming him Narashis (Much Praised) and Agni (Mohammedan Reality). Passages speak of a man protected from vast numbers of enemies, riding a camel, honored by the heavens, and endowed with great blessings.
The Qur’an recounts that thousands of years ago, the people insisted on disobedience to God and rejected His messenger Noah. When they refused the truth and clung to falsehood, the divine laws of justice were set into motion, and the rebellious were erased from the earth. Yet, despite the ferocity of the flood that reshaped the land, a small group survived in honor because they were steadfast in faith and belief.
The modern age has decorated an old snare. Achievements like the discovery of atomic energy, space travel, landing on the moon, organ transplants, and endless new technologies have led many to believe that humanity has reached the height of progress, that this era is the greatest of all. Scientists over the last two centuries have promoted the idea that mankind evolved over millions of years from simple life forms to modern Homo sapiens, but this remains a hypothesis built on limited historical records, perhaps only five thousand years old.
The illusion of progress will not last forever. Evidence will eventually force humanity to recognize that today’s development is a fragile construct, crafted by those who worship wealth. The Qur’an, through the story of Noah, invites reflection on key truths: God grants honor or disgrace to whomever He wills; He loves humility and detests arrogance, and when arrogance exceeds limits, the forces of nature act and the arrogant are destroyed; each person is accountable for their own deeds, so a father’s righteousness cannot save a disobedient son, nor can a son’s virtue atone for a father’s sins; true trust in God means making every possible effort and then leaving the results to Him, as Noah did in building the ark; ungratefulness blinds people to divine blessings, leading them into destruction; and water, which sustains life, can also bring death.
Today, mankind has once again turned from the natural order and placed trust in material resources, bringing itself to the brink of ruin. If humanity persists in greed, disobedience, and arrogance, ignoring the monotheistic path in both thought and practice, a time may come when the seas will overflow, the earth will gush forth springs, the skies will pour down, the mountains will submerge, and all the works of human civilization will be swept away.
The Qur’an asks, do they not see that the control of the heavens and the earth belongs to God, and that their appointed term may be near? If they will not believe in this message, what will they believe in? (7:185)
The tides rise and fall because of the gravitational pull between the sun and the moon. Black holes have such immense gravity that not even light can escape them. If a black hole were to pass near the earth, its pull could raise tides in the molten core of the planet, swelling one side and sinking the other, turning dry land into ocean and oceans into land. The seas would hurl mountain-high waves, storms of unprecedented force would batter the planet, and entire populations could vanish.
In the Atlantic, near Italy, traces of a submerged continent have been found, said to have belonged to a people advanced in industry. Hindu myths also hint that ancient civilizations possessed sophisticated technology, airborne machines, rockets, missiles, and devastating weapons that rained fire from the sky and melted everything in their path.
Environmental scientists, after analyzing 160,000 samples of polar ice, have noted that every ten thousand years, concentrations of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and sulfur compounds peak and then suddenly drop, marking the onset of an Ice Age. This drop occurs even without industrial activity, but modern industry accelerates the buildup. Many believe another such shift is due within thirty years, meaning the last Ice Age would have ended ten thousand years ago — around the time of Noah’s flood. Spiritual scholars say the earth undergoes such transformations every ten thousand years, swapping land for ocean and ocean for land. Around 2006, this cycle would complete again, setting the stage for a flood like Noah’s, reducing the human population to a quarter and returning humanity to a primitive existence.
A great spiritual teacher, Qalandar Baba Auliya, told his disciple (the author) that after every ten thousand years the earth is submerged, and that the completion of this cycle around 2006 would lead to events confirming the reality of Noah’s flood — with floods, landslides leveling mountains, and water overwhelming vast areas. Three-quarters of humanity would perish, and the survivors would start again, living in caves.
Before the flood of Noah, mankind had rebelled against the Creator, worshipping wealth, losing certainty, and letting greed, selfishness, and violence dominate life. Peace had vanished, sincerity had died, courtesy was reserved for the useful, and power was used to enslave others. Wars were waged in the name of peace, and diseases spread widely. Love became a selfish transaction.
Today, the situation is worse than it was before Noah’s flood. The earth is crying out, unwilling to bear the burden of human greed, selfishness, hunger, and exploitation. It is said the earth has already seen seventeen or eighteen such floods and is ready for another. The only way to avoid it is for humanity to shed selfishness, treat others as equals, abandon greed, end usury, leave enmity with God, return to sincerity and sacrifice, and worship none but God. Immorality, shamelessness, and corruption must be abandoned, and the prophetic way of thinking adopted step by step.
This may sound like a beautiful dream, but it is dismissed because everyone wants to reform others while ignoring their own faults. Meanwhile, modern science has armed humanity with weapons that can destroy entire cities, and nature’s law dictates that what is created will eventually be used. When these weapons unleash their destruction, the earth will burn and become barren. Those who build hidden arsenals to dominate others are only building their own path to ruin.
One question must be asked: if no people remain, over whom will you rule?
Scientists and leaders must find mercy within themselves and work for unity, love, and brotherhood. Just as people in a city live together despite many neighborhoods and homes, each country should remain within its own boundaries, working for the prosperity of its people without interfering in others’ affairs.