Question 526 - The Enlightening Answer Across the Ether, Vol 6

Ahmed al-Hasan Response:

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, the Imams and the Mahdis, and grant them peace. May Allah grant you success in every good. He was not Noah’s biological son; rather, he was his stepson, the son of his wife. He did not live with Noah (a) in his house, and he did not believe in Noah (a), as was also the case with his mother. Noah (a) did not ask about his wife or say that she was of his family, because she openly confronted Noah (a) with disbelief in his call. As for his son or stepson-the son of his wife-he felt shy before Noah (a) and did not openly display disbelief in Noah’s call. But when the flood came and the time of separation arrived, he chose to accompany his mother and turned away from the prophet of Allah Noah (a), so he perished. Noah (a) asked about him because he had shown sympathy toward Noah (a), so Allah explained to Noah (a) that he was not a sincere believer. Rather, he was a hypocrite who concealed disbelief in Noah’s call, and what prevented him from openly declaring his disbelief in Noah (a) was his shyness before Noah (a), because Noah had raised him. Thus, the Exalted’s statement that he was apart means that he was apart from the religion of Noah (a)-that is, he was not upon Noah’s religion. He was also apart from Noah’s location, because he did not live with him. He was not of Noah’s family, because Noah’s family are those who believe in his call. The Exalted said: ‘It sailed with them amid waves like mountains, and Noah called to his son, who was apart, “O my son, embark with us and do not be with the disbelievers.” He said, “I will take refuge on a mountain that will protect me from the water.” He said, “There is no protector today from Allah’s command except one upon whom He has mercy.” The waves came between them, and he was among the drowned. And it was said, “O earth, swallow your water, and O sky, withhold.” The water subsided, the command was fulfilled, and it rested upon al-Judi. And it was said, “Away with the wrongdoing people.” Noah called to his Lord and said, “My Lord, my son is of my family, and Your promise is true, and You are the wisest of judges.” He said, “O Noah, indeed he is not of your family; indeed, he is an unrighteous deed. So do not ask Me about that of which you have no knowledge. I admonish you lest you be among the ignorant.” He said, “My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking You about that of which I have no knowledge. Unless You forgive me and have mercy upon me, I will be among the losers”’ (^[16]). Ahmed Alhasan Mid-Sha‘ban, 1431 AH