This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi's book Sahi Fazail Amaal.
All the noble Prophets, peace be upon them, were chosen by Allah Almighty and were servants with tender hearts. In times of trials and hardships, they would turn to their Creator and true Owner, supplicate to Him, and by weeping and crying before Him, they would strengthen their relationship and connection, considering this as the success of both religion and the world. Accordingly, Allah Almighty says:
﴿أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ مِن ذُرِّيَّةِ آدَمَ وَمِمَّنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْرَائِيلَ وَمِمَّنْ هَدَيْنَا وَاجْتَبَيْنَا ۚ إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُ الرَّحْمَٰنِ خَرُّوا سُجَّدًا وَبُكِيًّا﴾
“These are the Prophets on whom Allah bestowed favor, from among the descendants of Adam, and of those We carried with Noah in the Ark, and from among the descendants of Abraham and Jacob; and those whom We guided, and chose; when the verses of the Most Merciful were recited to them, they fell down in prostration and weeping.”
Reference: (19-Maryam:58)
After mentioning the good news of Zakariya, Yahya, Isa, Ibrahim, Musa, Ismail, and Idris, peace be upon them, in Surah Maryam, the above verse refers to them, indicating that Allah Almighty had given them many worldly and religious blessings. Allah had guided these noble Prophets, peace be upon them, to the path of truth and had chosen them for the great status and rank of prophethood. When these people heard the words of Allah, which contained proofs and evidences of monotheism and other admonitions, they would prostrate before Allah and, out of humility and reverence, weep and cry.
Hafiz Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “That is why the command to perform prostration upon reciting this verse is a matter agreed upon by scholars, so that the followers may emulate these Prophets.”
Reference: (Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 3/367)
The Commander of the Faithful, Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, recited Surah Maryam and when he reached this verse, he prostrated and then said: “What is prostration, but where do they find the tears to weep?”
Reference: Tafsir al-Tabari: 1/354 - Tafsir Ibn Abi Hatim: 7/2412.
Allah Almighty honored Sayyiduna Adam (peace be upon him) with many distinctions. Allah created him with His own hands. He made the angels prostrate to him, and He placed him in Paradise. Whoever enters Paradise will do so in his form and appearance. Accordingly, the noble Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
خلق الله آدم وطوله ستون ذراعا فلما خلقه قال اذهب فسلم على اولئك من الملائكة فاستمع ما يحيونك تحيتك وتحية ذريتك فقال السلام عليكم فقالوا السلام عليك ورحمة الله فزادوه ورحمة الله فكل من يدخل الجنة على صورة آدم فلم يزل الخلق ينقص حتى الآن
When Allah created Adam (peace be upon him), He made him sixty cubits tall, then He said: Go and greet the angels, and see with what words they respond to your greeting, for that will be the way of greeting for you and your descendants. Sayyiduna Adam (peace be upon him) went and said: "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you). The angels replied: "Wa alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullah" (And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah). They added the phrase "wa barakatuh" (and His blessings). So whoever enters Paradise will enter in the form, appearance, and stature of Adam.
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of the Prophets' Hadiths, No: 3326.
◈ Sayyiduna Adam (peace be upon him) in Paradise and the deceit and trickery of the accursed Iblis:
Allah Almighty expelled Iblis from Paradise, and made all the blessings and fruits of Paradise lawful for Sayyiduna Adam (peace be upon him) and his wife Hawwa, except forbidding them from eating from one tree, warning them that if they approach it, they would be wronging themselves. When the accursed Satan saw them in this state, the fire of envy flared up in him, and he devised deceit and trickery against them so that they would be deprived of the blessings they were enjoying and the beautiful garments they were wearing. Accordingly, he slandered Allah Almighty by saying that your Lord forbade you from this tree because if you eat from it, you will become angels, and then you will no longer need to eat or drink, nor will you die, and you will live forever in Paradise. And Iblis swore by the Almighty's name to convince them of his sincerity, saying that I am your utmost well-wisher, which is why I have revealed this secret to you.
Hafiz Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) states: "Iblis swore and deceived Sayyiduna Adam and Hawwa (peace be upon them). Indeed, a believer is deceived only when an impure person involves Allah in between. Thus, the Salaf said that a believer lays down his arms after invoking the name of Allah."
Reference: Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 2/334
◈ The Expulsion of Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) from Paradise:
Satan encouraged them to commit the sin, so when they ate from the forbidden tree deceived by Satan, the consequence of this disobedience immediately became apparent to them: their garments separated from their bodies, and they began to see their private parts. They started to stick leaves from the trees of Paradise onto their bodies to cover themselves. Then Allah said to them: "Did I not forbid you from that tree and say to you that Satan is your clear enemy?"
Reference: (Al-A'raf:20-22)
◈ Expression of Regret:
At that time, they admitted their sin and wept tears of remorse.
It is narrated in traditions:
ولو أن دموع أهل الأرض ودموع داود علیہ السلام جميع ما عدل دموع آدم علیہ السلام حين أهبط من الجنة
"When Adam (peace be upon him) was sent down from Paradise to the earth, he wept so many tears of regret that the tears shed by the people of the earth and even those shed by Prophet Dawud (peace be upon him) cannot compare to his."
Reference: Kitab al-Zuhd, by Imam Ahmad, p. 73.
◈ Guidance from Allah Almighty:
Then Allah Almighty guided them and taught them to pray for forgiveness of their mistake:
﴿فَتَلَقَّىٰ آدَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ﴾
Adam (peace be upon him) learned a few words from his Lord, and Allah accepted his repentance. Indeed, He is the One who accepts repentance and is Most Merciful."
Reference: (2-Al-Baqarah:37)
◈ The Repentance of Adam and Eve (peace be upon them):
Thus, they repented to their Lord and prayed:
﴿رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ﴾
"O our Lord! We have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will surely be among the losers."
Reference: (7-Al-A'raf:23)
Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) was honored by Allah, the Lord of Glory, with many distinctions. He was sent as the first messenger to the world, was called the second Adam, was the first to prepare a sea (water) vehicle, and he will be the witnessed prophet of the Last Age, peace be upon him.
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Hadiths, No: 3339.
◈ The Call to Monotheism by Noah (peace be upon him) and the Ignorance of the People:
At the time of the mission of Sayyiduna Nuh (peace be upon him), the earth was filled with disbelief, polytheism, evil, and corruption. Therefore, he said to his people, "I have been sent to warn you of Allah's punishment. O people! Do not worship anyone besides Allah, otherwise I fear that Allah's painful punishment will seize you."
﴿أَن لَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا اللَّهَ ۖ إِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ أَلِيمٍ﴾
Reference: (11-Hud:26)
Accordingly, the leaders of the people of Nuh rejected his invitation and expressed various doubts about his prophethood. Nuh (peace be upon him) continued to preach persistently. Through arguments and proofs, he invited them to monotheism. When the people had no reason left to persist in disbelief and obstinacy, and they found themselves completely helpless before the arguments and proofs of Nuh (peace be upon him), they said, "O Nuh! We are tired of your debates. If you are truthful, then bring the punishment you promise." Nuh (peace be upon him) replied, "This is not in my control; when Allah wills, the punishment will come, and at that time you will not be able to avert it." Finally, Allah informed Nuh (peace be upon him) that those who have believed so far, no one else will believe now.
Hasan Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "When Allah informed Sayyiduna Nuh (peace be upon him) through revelation, he lost hope in their belief and prayed against them, saying, 'O Allah! Do not let any disbeliever remain on the earth now.'"
Reference: (Taseer al-Rahman: 643-644)
◈ The Command to Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) to Build the Ark and the Arrangement of the Passengers:
When the coming of the punishment became certain, Allah Almighty commanded Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) to build the ark and taught him how to do so, so that the believing Muslims could be saved from the flood. He was also forbidden from interceding for the disbelievers, because Allah's decree had already been issued that they were to be destroyed by the flood.
◈ Finally, the Flood Came:
When the command for the destruction of the nation came, and the water began to boil with full intensity, Allah Almighty commanded Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) to take pairs of all animals and birds found on earth into the ark, and to take only relatives who believed in him along with other Muslims. According to Qatadah and Ibn Jarir, their number was eight: Noah (peace be upon him), his wife, his three sons, and their wives. His son Canaan and Canaan's wife Umm Canaan were not believers, so they did not board the ark.
Reference: (Tafsir al-Tabari:12/57)
◈ The Severity of the Punishment and the Misfortune of the Son:
When Noah (peace be upon him) and his companions boarded the ship saying "Bismillah," the ship began to sail amidst towering waves like mountains. At that time, Noah (peace be upon him) called out to his son, who had not boarded the ship due to disbelief, saying, "O my son! There is still an opportunity for you to enter our religion and board the ship with us, and abandon the company of the disbelievers."
◈ The beloved was helpless and could not get his son on the ship:
Prophet Noah (peace be upon him), moved by paternal compassion, prayed to his Lord and said, "O my Lord! My son is of my family, and Your promise is true. You said to take your family on the ark so that all may be saved from the flood. So today, grant him the ability to believe and board the ark with us."
﴿وَنَادَىٰ نُوحٌ رَّبَّهُ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنَّ ابْنِي مِنْ أَهْلِي وَإِنَّ وَعْدَكَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنتَ أَحْكَمُ الْحَاكِمِينَ﴾
Reference: (11-Hud:45)
Allah Almighty then informed Noah of His final decision, saying, "O Noah! He will not believe, for he is not of your family. Your family are those who adhere to religion and law and are reformers, but he is not righteous, so he will not be saved from the flood."
﴿يَا نُوحُ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ ۖ إِنَّهُ عَمَلٌ غَيْرُ صَالِحٍ﴾
"O Noah! He is not of your family because he is not righteous."
Reference: (11-Hud:46)
◈ Warning to Noah (peace be upon him):
After that, Allah Almighty warned Noah (peace be upon him) not to ask about something whose purpose he did not fully know from Allah, because doing so is the way of the ignorant:
﴿فَلَا تَسْأَلْنِ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ ۖ إِنِّي أَعِظُكَ أَن تَكُونَ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ﴾
So do not ask Me about that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, I advise you, lest you be among the ignorant.”
Reference: (11-Hud:46)
◈ Seeking Forgiveness:
In any case, when Noah (peace be upon him) realized that his question was not according to Shariah, and it was merely his assumption that Canaan might become a Muslim and board the ark, he admitted his mistake and sought forgiveness and mercy from Allah Almighty:
﴿رَبِّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِهِ عِلْمٌ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَغْفِرْ لِي وَتَرْحَمْنِي أَكُن مِّنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ﴾
“O my Lord! I seek refuge in You from asking You that of which I have no knowledge. And if You do not forgive me and have mercy upon me, I will be among the losers.”
Reference: (11-Hud:47)
◈ Allah Almighty’s Favor and Honor:
When Sayyiduna Nuh (peace be upon him) prayed to Allah for forgiveness, how did Allah reward him with honor and respect? It was said:
﴿قِيلَ يَا نُوحُ اهْبِطْ بِسَلَامٍ مِّنَّا وَبَرَكَاتٍ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَىٰ أُمَمٍ مِّمَّن مَّعَكَ ۚ وَأُمَمٌ سَنُمَتِّعُهُمْ ثُمَّ يَمَسُّهُم مِّنَّا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ﴾
"It was said, O Nuh! Now descend in peace from Us and with you are those of the believers. Among their descendants will be communities who will receive Our blessings, and some nations We will grant comfort and ease in this world, then in the Hereafter Our painful punishment will seize them."
Reference: (11-Hud:48)
◈ Sayyiduna Nuh (peace be upon him) and Gratitude:
Allah Almighty has described Noah (peace be upon him) as His most grateful servant. Accordingly, the command of Allah Almighty is:
﴿إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَبْدًا شَكُورًا﴾
"Indeed, he was a grateful servant."
Reference: (17-Al-Isra:3)
Imam Ahmad has narrated from Muhammad bin Ka'b Al-Qurazi that Noah (peace be upon him) used to thank Allah Almighty in every situation—while eating, drinking, wearing clothes, and riding.
Reference: Kitab Al-Zuhd by Imam Ahmad, No: 281
Furthermore, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
فيأتون نوحا فيقولون يا نوح أنت أول الرسل إلى أهل الأرض وسماك الله عبدا شكورا
(When Adam (peace be upon him) will refuse intercession) people will come to Noah (peace be upon him) and say, "O Noah! You are the first messenger on the face of the earth, and Allah Almighty has called you 'Abd Shakoor' (grateful servant)."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of the Prophets' Hadith, No: 3340
Gratitude is a beloved attribute of Allah Almighty. The servant who is grateful will become beloved and favored by Allah Almighty. Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
ان الله عز وجل ليرضى عن العبد أن يأكل الأكلة أو يشرب الشربة فيحمد الله عز وجل عليها
"Indeed, Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, is pleased with His servant when he eats food or drinks water and thanks Allah, the Mighty and Majestic."
Reference: Musnad Ahmad: 3/117. Sahih Muslim, Book of Remembrance and Supplication, No: 2734. Sunan Tirmidhi, Book of Foods, No: 1816. Al-Sunan Al-Kubra by Al-Nasa'i, Chapter on the Reward of Saying Alhamdulillah: 4/202, No: 6899
◈ Our Master Noah (peace be upon him) advice to his son:
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr رضي الله عنهما narrates that once he was sitting with the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم when a Bedouin man came, wearing a coat with buttons made of silk. The Prophet said: This has humiliated your companion Shahsawar bin Shahsawar, or he said: It intends to humiliate Shahsawar bin Shahsawar and wants to honor the shepherd and the shepherd’s son. Then he grabbed his garment and said: Do I not see on your body the clothing of foolish people? Then he said: When the time of Sayyiduna Nuh عليه السلام’s death approached, he said to his son: I advise you and command you with two things and forbid you from two things. I command you to mention لا إله إلا الله, because if the seven heavens and the seven earths are placed on one scale and لا إله إلا الله on the other scale, the scale with لا إله إلا الله will become heavier. If the seven heavens and the seven earths form a ring, then «لا إله إلا الله» will prevail over and outweigh them. And I command you to recite سبحان الله وبحمده, because all of Allah’s creation praises Allah with it and through it, all creation is provided sustenance. And I forbid you from two things: one is shirk (associating partners with Allah) and the other is arrogance. The narrator says: I asked: O Messenger of Allah, we know what shirk is, but what is arrogance? Is it that one of us has fine shoes? He said: No. It was asked: Is arrogance having good clothes to wear? He said: No. It was asked: Is having a good mount arrogance? He said: No. Is it arrogance to have companions sitting with him? He said: No. The narrator says: It was asked: O Messenger of Allah! Then what is arrogance? You replied: Arrogance is to deny the truth and to despise people.”
Reference: Musnad Ahmad: 2/169, 170 – Kitab al-Zuhd, Al-Ahmad, No: 285 – Al-Adab al-Mufrad by Bukhari, No: 548 – Silsilat al-Sahihah, No: 134.
