Nuh (as)
Nuh (as) was the Prophet of all the people of earth at that time.
Ayah 57:26
Prophethood, the Book & Two Outcomes
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ وَجَعَلْنَا فِي ذُرِّيَّتِهِمَا النُّبُوَّةَ وَالْكِتَابَ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مُّهْتَدٍ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ
“And We had indeed sent Nuh and Ibrahim and placed in their descendants prophethood and Al-Kitaab; Then from among them (i.e., the descendants of Nuh (as) and Ibrahim (as)) there were those who followed the guidance, but many of them are defiantly disobedient”.
Two major prophets
Nuh and Ibrahim
Nuh (as) and Ibrahim (as) are two major Prophets mentioned in the Old Testament. Both stand as Prophets for humanity.
Ibrahim (as)
Ibrahim (as) was made a leader for the people and was tasked with building the Ka’bah, a place for all humanity to worship Allah.
A mission reaching humanity
The lives of both Prophets embody Da’wah, perseverance through its challenges, and reliance upon Allah for change and victory.
إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا
“Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people”
وَأَذِّن فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ
“And proclaim to the people the Hajj [pilgrimage]; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass”
The challenges of Da’wah
Perseverance without control of the outcome
Victory belongs to Allah
Change and victory do not lie in human hands. They come from Allah.
Guidance cannot be forced
No one can win over every person they desire, including those they love.
Isolation demands resolve
Da’wah may lead to isolation and require the ability to persevere alone.
The mission requires sacrifice
Da’wah may demand sacrifices as severe as being made to leave one’s home.
Placed among their descendants
Prophethood and Al-Kitaab
وَجَعَلْنَا فِي ذُرِّيَّتِهِمَا النُّبُوَّةَ وَالْكِتَابَ
“And We placed among their descendants the Prophethood and the Book”.
Beginning
Nuh and Ibrahim
Allah sent both Prophets and established a continuing legacy among their descendants.
Among their descendants
Prophethood
Prophethood was placed within the lines descending from Nuh (as) and Ibrahim (as).
The singular Book
الْكِتَابَ — Al-Kitaab
The Book is expressed in the singular and refers to the Tawrah.
One lineage, two responses
Guidance and defiant disobedience
فَمِنْهُم مُّهْتَدٍ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ
مُّهْتَدٍ — Muhtadd
A Muhtadd is committed to following and seeking guidance, or is actively upon guidance. The word carries the active effort of the person.
مُّهْتَدٍ — Muhtadd
Actively follows, seeks, and remains upon guidance.
المَهْدِي — Al-Mahdiy
Means “the Guided one” without the same emphasis on the person’s active effort.
فَاسِقُونَ — Faasiqoon
The Faasiq (فَاسِق) is the one whose defiant disobedience manifests outwardly.