Basic
Nuh
Surah: Al-Ankabut (14)
Noah — Nine-Hundred and Fifty Years — Steadfastness Without Visible Results
فَلَبِثَ فِيهِمۡ أَلۡفَ سَنَةٍ إِلَّا خَمۡسِينَ عَامٗا
— العنكبوت الآية 14
Verse: "We sent Noah to his people, and he remained among them a thousand years less fifty." (29:14)
950 years: The longest prophetic mission in history — he only succeeded in converting a small number. His own son and wife were among those who rejected.
His preaching methods: "Night and day" "secretly and openly" "individually and in groups" — he tried every method. Yet: "My calling only increased their flight."
His supplication against his people:
"My Lord, do not leave on earth any inhabitant among the disbelievers" — this came after 950 years of patience! Teaching when supplicating against disbelievers is permitted: after exhausting the argument and losing hope.
Lesson: The most patient prophet did not succeed by the metric of numbers. Allah did not judge him on results — but on effort. Your measure in calling to good is the striving, not the fruit.
950 years: The longest prophetic mission in history — he only succeeded in converting a small number. His own son and wife were among those who rejected.
His preaching methods: "Night and day" "secretly and openly" "individually and in groups" — he tried every method. Yet: "My calling only increased their flight."
His supplication against his people:
"My Lord, do not leave on earth any inhabitant among the disbelievers" — this came after 950 years of patience! Teaching when supplicating against disbelievers is permitted: after exhausting the argument and losing hope.
Lesson: The most patient prophet did not succeed by the metric of numbers. Allah did not judge him on results — but on effort. Your measure in calling to good is the striving, not the fruit.
Source: Ibn Kathir (6/258); Al-Sadi; Al-Qurtubi (13/346)
Test Yourself
What lesson is in Nuh calling for 950 years and only a few believing?
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