Nuh(Alaih Assalaam) was a prophet who lived many years after Adam(Alaih Assalaam). The people with whom Nuh(Alaih Assalaam) lived refused to listen to him. When he said that they should worship only Allah (swt) and do good, they paid no attention. Nuh (Alaih Assalaam) told them they would be severely punished for ignoring him and the message he brought from Allah. Even so, the people did not believe what Nuh(Alaih Assalaam) told them. They laughed at him and said, “You are only a man like us. Only poor, weak people believe you. If you are telling truth, then show us the punishment you threaten. You are nothing but a liar!”
“I do not want anything from you,” Nuh (Alaih Assalaam) answered, “and I shall never send away the poor or the weak. As far as the punishment is concerned, Allah will bring it upon you whenever he pleases. Don’t imagine you can stop Allah’s plans!”
Nuh (Alaih Assalaam) was both sad and angry that people would not heed his message. But Allah informed Nuh (Alaih Assalaam) that he should not feel this way. There was much more important work to do. Nuh(Alaih Assalaam) must build a big ship.
In obedience to Allah’s instructions, Nuh(Alaih Assalaam) began to build the ship on land. The people who saw it when they were passing made fun of him and his ship. But Nuh(Alaih Assalaam) had a warning for them. “You are making fun of us now,” he said, “but soon we will know who has to suffer the severe punishment!”
When the ship was completed, it started to rain without ceasing and the waters on earth began to rise. Allah(swt) told Nuh(Alaih Assalaam) to go into the ship, together with his family and all his friends who believed. Nuh(Alaih Assalaam) should also take one male and female from each kind of animal on earth.
Nuh(Alaih Assalaam) did as he was told and then he said, “In the name of Allah, we shall now sail away, and when the time is right, we shall return again to the land.”
The waters rose higher and higher until all the valleys were flooded. Nuh(Alaih Assalaam) saw one of his sons who had not yet boarded the ship and anxiously called out to him, “O my son, climb on board with us so that you will not belong to the unbelievers.” But his son refused. Instead, he told Nuh: “I shall go up to the high mountain. The water cannot reach me there.”
Nuh(Alaih Assalaam) became even more anxious. “Only those who listen to Allah can find protection!” he cried out to his son. But just then a huge wave came and many people were drowned. Nuh(Alaih Assalaam)’s son was among them.
It continued to rain for a long, long time. The water rose so high that it covered all the mountains. But at last the rain stopped falling and the floods went down. Now, Nuh(Alaih Assalaam)’s ship landed safely at the side of a mountain and all the people and animals who had been on the ship came out. Nuh(Alaih Assalaam) and his family and his friends thanked Allah with all their hearts, because they had been saved by Him.