Al-Quran, Chapter 71 Nuh, Verse 23
	In the Name of Allah, The Benevolent, The Merciful "And they have said (to each other), 'Abandon not your gods: Abandon neither Wadd nor Suwa', neither Yaguth nor Ya'uq, nor Nasr';

Originally these were the names of good people who had lived among them. After their deaths, statues of them were erected to keep their memories alive. After sometime, however, people began to worship these statues. Later generations did not even know why they had been erected; they only knew their parents had prayed to them. That is how idol worshipping developed. Since they had no understanding of Allah the
Almighty Who would punish them for their evil deeds, they became cruel and immoral.

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Various Hadith describing the Origin of Idolatry

Ibn Abbas explained: "Following upon the death of those righteous men, Satan inspired their people to erect statues in the places where they used to sit. They did this, but these statues were not worshiped until the coming generations deviated from the right way of life. Then they worshipped them as their idols."

In his version, Ibn Jarir narrated: "There were righteous people who lived in the period between Adam^(pbuh) and Noah^(pbuh) and who had followers who held them as models. After their death, their friends who used to emulate them said: 'If we make statues of them, it will be more pleasing to us in our worship and will remind us of them.' So they built statues of them, and , after they had died and others came after them, Iblis crept into their minds saying: 'Your forefathers used to worship them, and through that worship they got rain.' So they worshipped them."

Ibn Abi Hatim related this story: "Waddan was a righteous man who was loved by his people. When he died, they withdrew to his grave in the land of Babylonia and were overwhelmed by sadness. When Iblis saw their sorrow caused by his death, he disguised himself in the form of a man saying: 'I have seen your sorrow because of this man's death; can I make a statue like him which could be put in your meeting place to make you remember him?' They said: 'Yes.' So he made the statue like him. They put it in their meeting place in order to be reminded of him. When Iblis saw their interest in remembering him, he said: 'Can I build a statue of him in the home of each one of you so that he would be in everyone's house and you could remember him?'

They agreed. Their children learned about and saw what they were doing. They also learned about their remembrance of him instead of Allah. So the first to be worshipped instead of Allah was Waddan, the idol which they named thus."

The essence of this point is that every idol from those earlier mentioned was worshipped by a certain group of people. It was mentioned that people made picture sand as the ages passed they made these pictures into statues, so that their forms could be fully recognized; afterwards they were worshipped instead of Allah.

It was narrated that Umm Salmah^(pbuh) and Umm Habibah^(pbuh) told Allah's Prophet Muhammad^(pbuh) about the church called "Maria" which they had seen in the land of Abyssinia. They described its beauty and the pictures therein. He said: "Those are the people who build places of worship on the grave of every dead man who was righteous and then make therein those pictures. Those are the worst of creation unto Allah." (Sahih al Bukhari).

Commentary - Idolatry

Worshipping anything other than Allah is a tragedy that results not only in the loss of freedom; its serious effect reaches man's mind and destroys it as well. Almighty Allah created man and his mind with its purpose set on achieving knowledge the most important of which is that Allah alone is the Creator and all the rest are worshippers (slaves). Therefore, disbelief in Allah, or polytheism, results in the loss of freedom, the destruction of the mind, and the absence of a noble target in life. (By worshipping anything other than Allah, man becomes enslaved to Satan, who is himself a creature and becomes harnessed to his own baser qualities).

Into this environment Allah sent Noah^(pbuh) with His message to his people. Noah^(pbuh) was the only intellectual not caught in the whirlpool of man's destruction which was caused by polytheism.

Noah's^(pbuh) Reasoning with his People

Allah is His Mercy sent His messenger Noah^(pbuh) to guide his people. Noah^(pbuh) was an excellent speaker and a very patient man. He pointed out to his people the mysteries of life and the wonders of the universe. He pointed out how the night is regularly followed by the day and that the balance between these opposites were designed by Allah the Almighty for our good. The night gives coolness and rest while the day gives warmth and awakens activity. The sun encourages growth, keeping all plants and animals alive, while the moon and stars assist in the reckoning of time, direction and seasons. He pointed out that the ownership of the heavens and the earth belongs only to the Divine Creator.

Therefore, he explained to this people, there cannot have been more than one deity. He clarified to them how the devil had deceived them for so long and that the time had come for this deceit to stop. Noah^(pbuh) spoke to them of Allah's glorification of man, how HE had created him and provided him with sustenance and the blessings of a mind. He told them that idol worshipping was a suffocating injustice to the mind. He warned them not to worship anyone but Allah and described the terrible punishment Allah would mete out if they continued in their evil ways.

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Division Among Noah's^(pbuh) People

The people listened to him in silence. His words were a shock to their stagnating minds as it is a shock to a person who is asleep under a wall which is about to fall and who is vigorously awakened. This person may be alarmed and may even become angry although the aim was to save him.

Noah's^(pbuh) people were divided into two groups after his warning. His words touched the hearts of the weak, the poor, and the miserable and soothed their wounds with its mercy. As for the rich, the strong, the mighty and the rulers they looked upon the warning with cold distrust. They believed they would be better off if things stayed as they were. Therefore they started their war of words against Noah^(pbuh).

The Disbelievers' Arguments

First they accused Noah^(pbuh) of being only human like themselves. 'The chiefs of the disbelievers among his people said: "We see you but a man like ourselves."'

	Al-Quran, Chapter 11 Hud, Verse 27
	In the Name of Allah, The Benevolent, The Merciful But the chiefs of the Unbelievers among his people said: "We see (in) thee nothing but a man like ourselves: Nor do we see that any follow thee but the meanest among us, in judgment immature: Nor do we see in you (all) any merit above us: in fact we think ye are liars!"

He, however, had never said anything other than that. He asserted that, indeed, he was only a human being; Allah had sent a human messenger because the Earth was inhabited by humans. If it had been inhabited by angels Allah would have sent an angelic messenger.

The contest between the polytheists and Noah^(pbuh) continued. The rulers had thought at first that Noah's^(pbuh) call would soon fade on its own. When they found that his call attracted the poor, the helpless and common laborers, they started to verbally attack and taunt him: 'You are only followed by the poor, the meek and the worthless.'

Allah the Almighty told us:

	Al-Quran, Chapter 11 Hud, Verse 25-27
	In the Name of Allah, The Benevolent, The Merciful We sent Noah to his people (with a mission): "I have come to you with a Clear Warning: "That ye serve none but Allah: Verily I do fear for you the penalty of a grievous day." But the chiefs of the Unbelievers among his people said: "We see (in) thee nothing but a man like ourselves: Nor do we see that any follow thee but the meanest among us, in judgment immature: Nor do we see in you (all) any merit above us: in fact we think ye are liars!"

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The Disbelievers Attempt to Bargain

Thus the conflict between Noah^(pbuh) and the heads of his people intensified. The disbelievers tried to bargain: "Listen Noah, if you want us to believe in you, then dismiss your believers. They are meek and poor, while we are elite and rich; no faith can include us both." Noah^(pbuh) listened to the heathens of his community and realized they were being obstinate. However, he was gentle in his response. He explained to his people that he could not dismiss the believers as they were not his guests but Allah's.

Noah^(pbuh) appealed to them:

	Al-Quran, Chapter 11 Hud, Verse 29-31
	In the Name of Allah, The Benevolent, The Merciful "And O my people! I ask you for no wealth in return: my reward is from none but Allah: But I will not drive away (in contempt) those who believe: for verily they are to meet their Lord, and ye I see are the ignorant ones! "And O my people! who would help me against Allah if I drove them away? Will ye not then take heed? "I tell you not that with me are the treasures of Allah, nor do I know what is hidden, nor claim I to be an angel. Nor yet do I say, of those whom your eyes do despise that Allah will not grant them (all) that is good: Allah knoweth best what is in their souls: I should, if I did, indeed be a wrong-doer."

Noah^(pbuh) refuted the arguments of the disbelievers with the noble knowledge of the prophets. It is the logic of intellect that rids itself of personal pride and interests.

The Disbelievers Remain Ignorant

The rulers were tired of Noah's^(pbuh) arguments. Allah the Exalted related their attitude:

	Al-Quran, Chapter 11 Hud, Verse 32-34
	In the Name of Allah, The Benevolent, The Merciful They said: "O Noah! thou hast disputed with us, and (much) hast thou prolonged the dispute with us: now bring upon us what thou threatenest us with, if thou speakest the truth!?" He said: "Truly, Allah will bring it on you if He wills, and then, ye will not be able to frustrate it! "Of no profit will be my counsel to you, much as I desire to give you (good) counsel, if it be that Allah willeth to leave you astray: He is your Lord! and to Him will ye return!"

The battle continued; the arguments between the disbelievers and Noah^(pbuh) became prolonged. When all the refutations of the disbelievers collapsed and they had no more to say, they began to be rude and insulted Allah's prophet:

	Al-Quran, Chapter 7 Al-A'raf, Verse 60
	In the Name of Allah, The Benevolent, The Merciful The leaders of his people said: "Ah! we see thee evidently wandering (in mind)."

Noah^(pbuh) responded in the manner of the prophets:

	Al-Quran, Chapter 7 Al-A'raf, Verse 61-62
	In the Name of Allah, The Benevolent, The Merciful He said: "O my people! No wandering is there in my (mind): on the contrary I am a messenger from the Lord and Cherisher of the worlds! "I but fulfill towards you the duties of my Lord's mission: Sincere is my advice to you, and I know from Allah something that ye know not.

Noah^(pbuh) continued appealing to his people to believe in Allah hour after hour, day after day year after year. He admonished his people and called them to Allah day and night, in secret and openly. He gave them examples, explained Allah's signs and illustrated Allah's ability in the formation of His creatures. But whenever he called them to Allah, they ran away from him. Whenever he urged them to ask Allah to forgive them, they put their fingers in their ears and became too proud to listen to the truth.
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Noah's^(pbuh) Appeal to His People

Allah the Almighty related what Noah^(pbuh) faced:

	Al-Quran, Chapter 71 Nuh, Verse 1-25
	In the Name of Allah, The Benevolent, The Merciful We sent Noah to his People (with the Command): "Do thou warn thy People before there comes to them a grievous Penalty." He said: "O my People! I am to you a Warner, clear and open: "That ye should worship Allah, fear Him and obey me: "So He may forgive you your sins and give you respite for a stated Term: for when the Term given by Allah is accomplished, it cannot be put forward: if ye only knew." He said: "O my Lord! I have called to my People night and day: "But my call only increases (their) flight (from the Right). "And every time I have called to them, that Thou mightest forgive them, they have (only) thrust their fingers into their ears, covered themselves up with their garments, grown obstinate, and given themselves up to arrogance. "So I have called to them aloud; "Further I have spoken to them in public and secretly in private, "Saying, 'Ask forgiveness from your Lord; for He is Oft-Forgiving; "'He will send rain to you in abundance; "'Give you increase in wealth and sons; and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers (of flowing water). "'What is the matter with you, that ye place not your hope for kindness and long-suffering in Allah,- "'Seeing that it is He that has created you in diverse stages? "'See ye not how Allah has created the seven heavens one above another, "'And made the moon a light in their midst, and made the sun as a (Glorious) Lamp? "'And Allah has produced you from the earth growing (gradually), "'And in the End He will return you into the (earth), and raise you forth (again at the Resurrection)? "'And Allah has made the earth for you as a carpet (spread out), "'That ye may go about therein, in spacious roads.'" Noah said: "O my Lord! They have disobeyed me, but they follow (men) whose wealth and children give them no increase but only Loss. "And they have devised a tremendous Plot. "And they have said (to each other), 'Abandon not your gods: Abandon neither Wadd nor Suwa', neither Yaguth nor Ya'uq, nor Nasr'; "They have already misled many; and grant Thou no increase to the wrong-doers but in straying (from their mark)." Because of their sins they were drowned (in the flood), and were made to enter the Fire (of Punishment): and they found- in lieu of Allah- none to help them.

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The Length of Noah's^(pbuh) Preaching

Noah^(pbuh) continued to call his people to believe in Allah for nine hundred fifty years. Allah the Almighty said:

	Al-Quran, Chapter 29 Al-Ankabut, Verse 14
	In the Name of Allah, The Benevolent, The Merciful We (once) sent Noah to his people, and he tarried among them a thousand years less fifty: but the Deluge overwhelmed them while they (persisted in) sin.

It happened that every passing generation admonished the succeeding one not to believe Noah^(pbuh) and to wage war against him. the father used to teach his child about the matter that was between himself and Noah^(pbuh) and counsel him to reject his call when he reached adulthood. Their natural disposition rejected believing and following the truth.

Noah^(pbuh) saw that the number of believers was not increasing, while that of the disbelievers was. He was sad for his people, but he never reached the point of despair.

Noah^(pbuh) Prays for the Disbelievers' End

There came a day when Allah revealed to Noah^(pbuh) that no others would believe. Allah inspired him not to grieve for them at which point Noah^(pbuh) prayed that the disbelievers be destroyed. He said:

	Al-Quran, Chapter 71 Nuh, Verse 27
	In the Name of Allah, The Benevolent, The Merciful "For, if Thou dost leave (any of) them, they will but mislead Thy devotees, and they will breed none but wicked ungrateful ones.

Allah accepted Noah's^(pbuh) prayer. The case was closed, and He passed His judgment on the disbelievers in the form of a flood. Allah the Exalted ordered His worshipper Noah^(pbuh) to build an ark with His knowledge and instructions and with the help of angels. Almighty Allah commanded:

	Al-Quran, Chapter 11 Hud, Verse 37
	In the Name of Allah, The Benevolent, The Merciful "But construct an Ark under Our eyes and Our inspiration, and address Me no (further) on behalf of those who are in sin: for they are about to be overwhelmed (in the Flood)."

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Noah^(pbuh) Builds the Ark

Noah^(pbuh) chose a place outside the city, far from the sea. He collected wood and tools and began to day and night to build the ark. The people's mockery continued: "O Noah! Does carpentry appeal to you more than prophet hood? Why are you building an ark so far from the sea? Are you going to drag it to the water or is the wind going to carry it for you?" Noah^(pbuh) replied: "You will come to know who will be put to shame and suffer."

Allah the Almighty narrated:

	Al-Quran, Chapter 11 Hud, Verse 38-39
	In the Name of Allah, The Benevolent, The Merciful Forthwith he (starts) constructing the Ark: Every time that the chiefs of his people passed by him, they threw ridicule on him. He said: "If ye ridicule us now, we (in our turn) can look down on you with ridicule likewise! "But soon will ye know who it is on whom will descend a penalty that will cover them with shame; on whom will be unloosed a penalty lasting:"

The Flood begins

The ship was constructed, and Noah^(pbuh) sat waiting Allah's command. Allah revealed to him that when water miraculously gushed forth from the oven at Noah's^(pbuh) house, that would be the sign of the start of the flood, and the sign for Noah^(pbuh) to act.

The terrible day arrived when the oven at Noah's^(pbuh) house overflowed. Noah^(pbuh) hurried to open the ark and summon the believers. He also took with him a pair, male and female, of every type of animal, bird and insect. Seeing him taking these creatures to the ark, the people laughed loudly: "Noah^(pbuh) must have gone out of his head! What is he going to do with the animals?"

Almighty Allah narrated:

	Al-Quran, Chapter 11 Hud, Verse 40
	In the Name of Allah, The Benevolent, The Merciful At length, behold! there came Our command, and the fountains of the earth gushed forth! We said: "Embark therein, of each kind two, male and female, and your family - except those against whom the word has already gone forth,- and the Believers." but only a few believed with him.

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The Number of Believers

Noah's^(pbuh) wife was not a believer with him so she did not join him; neither did one of Noah's^(pbuh) sons, who was secretly a disbeliever but had pretended faith in front of Noah^(pbuh). Likewise most of the people were disbelievers and did not go on board.

The Ulama (scholars) hold different opinions on the number of those who were with Noah^(pbuh) on the ship. Ibn Abbas stated that there were 80 believers while Ka'ab Al-Ahbar held that there were 72 believers. Others claimed that there were 10 believers with Noah^(pbuh).

Description of the Flood

Water rose from the cracks in the earth; there was not a crack from which water did not rise. Rain poured from the sky in quantities never seen before on Earth. Water continued pouring from the sky rising from the cracks; hour after hour the level rose. The seas and waves invaded the land. The interior of the earth moved in a strange way, and the ocean floors lifted suddenly, flooding the dry land. The earth, for the first time was submerged.

Noah^(pbuh) Appeals to his Son

Allah told the story thus:

	Al-Quran, Chapter 11 Hud, Verse 41-43
	In the Name of Allah, The Benevolent, The Merciful So he said: "Embark ye on the Ark, In the name of Allah, whether it move or be at rest! For my Lord is, be sure, Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful!" So the Ark floated with them on the waves (towering) like mountains, and Noah called out to his son, who had separated himself (from the rest): "O my son! embark with us, and be not with the unbelievers!" The son replied: "I will betake myself to some mountain: it will save me from the water." Noah said: "This day nothing can save, from the command of Allah, any but those on whom He hath mercy! "And the waves came between them, and the son was among those overwhelmed in the Flood.

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The Flood Ends

It was said:

	Al-Quran, Chapter 11 Hud, Verse 44
	In the Name of Allah, The Benevolent, The Merciful Then the word went forth: "O earth! swallow up thy water, and O sky! Withhold (thy rain)!" and the water abated, and the matter was ended. The Ark rested on Mount Judi, and the word went forth: "Away with those who do wrong!"

And it was said:

	Al-Quran, Chapter 11 Hud, Verse 48
	In the Name of Allah, The Benevolent, The Merciful The word came: "O Noah! Come down (from the Ark) with peace from Us, and blessing on thee and on some of the peoples (who will spring) from those with thee: but (there will be other) peoples to whom We shall grant their pleasures (for a time), but in the end will a grievous penalty reach them from Us."

With the issue of the divine command, calm returned to earth, the water retreated, and the dry land shone once again in the rays of the sun. The flood had cleansed the earth of the disbelievers and polytheists.

The Believers Disembark

Noah^(pbuh) released the birds, and the beasts which scattered over the earth. After that the believers disembarked. Noah^(pbuh) put his forehead to the ground in prostration. The survivors kindled a fire and sat around it. Lighting a fire had been prohibited on board so as not to ignite the ship's wood and burn it up. None of them had eaten hot food during the entire period of the flood. Following the disembarkation there was a day of fasting in thanks to Allah.

Noah's^(pbuh) Death

The Quran draws the curtain on Noah's^(pbuh) story. We do not know how his affairs with his people continued. All we know or can ascertain is that on his deathbed he requested his son to worship Allah alone, Noah^(pbuh) then passed away.

Abdullah Ibn Amru Ibn Al as narrated that the Prophet Mohammed^(pbuh) said: "When the death of the messenger of Allah Noah^(pbuh) approached, he admonished his sons: 'Indeed I would give you far reaching advice, commanding you to do two things, and warning you against doing two things as well. I charge you to believe that there is no God but Allah and that if the seven heavens and the seven earths were put on one side of a scale and the words "there is no god but Allah" were put on the other side, the latter would outweigh the former. I warn you against associating partners with Allah and against pride." (Sahih Al Bukhari)

Some traditions said that his grave is in the sacred mosque in Makkah, while others said that he was buried in Baalabak, a city in Iraq.

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