Are you curious to know about the prophet who preached to people for 950 years? You are in the right place.
Nabi Nuh (A.S.), also known as Noah, is one of the greatest and earlier prophets in Islam; His story is the greatest example of patience, perseverance, and unwavering faith in Allah's message! His story, the miracle of the Ark, and the great flood are well known to many of us, but the question is, how can we explain them to our children? That’s our role in the Islamic galaxy.
Welcome back to our series of Quran stories. Together, we get to know the lives of our prophets, the stories of the Quran, and pass them down to our kids in a simple way, along with the valuable lessons these stories offer.
And today’s story is the prophet Nuh (Noah) for kids, it’s filled with challenges and incredible miracles, and more importantly, valuable lessons we can teach our little ones. Let's get started.
Prophet Nuh's Story in the Quran for Children
Prophet Nuh (Noah), peace be upon him, holds a significant place in Islam as one of the five prophets known as Ulul Azm (Prophets of Firm Resolve). Ulu l-ʿAzm (Arabic: أولو العَزم, literally: the determined or steadfast).
They are recognized for their exceptional perseverance and utmost patience, determination, and firm resolve in spreading Allah's message despite facing immense challenges and opposition. The other four prophets are
- Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham)
- Prophet Musa (Moses)
- Prophet Isa (Jesus)
- Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon them all)
Nabi Nuh's story is mentioned in the Quran many times; actually, there are a total of 47 different instances where Allah directly refers to Prophet Noah in the Qur'an.
However, you can mainly find his story in Surah Hud (11:25-49), Surah Al-Mu’minun (23:23-30), and Surah Nuh (71:1-28).
The people of Noah were the first to invent idol worship. You may wonder how this happened. 5 good men lived among people and reminded people of the teachings of prophets and to stay on the right path of worshiping Allah; they were named Waddan, Suwa'an, Yaghuthah, Ya'augah, and Nasran.
When these men passed away, people thought to make statues for them to honor and remember them and their teachings.
With time and generation after generation, people started to make wishes, give sacrifices, ask for help, and pray for these statues, and eventually, they began to worship them and forget about Allah! That's how idol worship began and continued for generations with Noah’s people.
Allah sent Prophet Nuh to guide his people back to Allah and bring them back towards monotheism (the Oneness of Allah). He began to invite them to worship Allah alone and leave this sinful idol worship.
"Verily, we sent Noah to his people, saying, 'Warn your people before there comes to them a painful torment.' Surah Nuh (71:1)
إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦٓ أَنْ أَنذِرْ قَوْمَكَ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۭ ١
But instead of listening to him, the people rejected his message. Prophet Nuh, however, persisted for centuries—950 years to be precise! He showed the utmost patience and trust in Allah. In Surah Nuh (71:1-28), Allah tells us how Nuh tirelessly called his people to the truth.
Can you imagine preaching for hundreds of years and still having people refuse to listen? That’s exactly what happened to Nuh.
Let's dig a bit deeper into the story and how he faced years of mocking and sarcasm.
How Prophet Nuh Warned His People - Kids' Version
Prophet Nuh’s message was simple: worship Allah alone and abandon idol worship. Day after day, year after year, Nabi Nuh explained to his people that we were all created by Allah; he is the one true god we should all worship.
He even tried to warn them of the consequences of their wrongdoing and to warn them against Alla's punishment. He invited them in private and in public, and he used kind words and wisdom.
قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ إِنِّى لَكُمْ نَذِيرٌۭ مُّبِينٌ ٢ أَنِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱتَّقُوهُ وَأَطِيعُونِ ٣يَغْفِرْ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرْكُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍۢ مُّسَمًّى ۚ إِنَّ أَجَلَ ٱللَّهِ إِذَا جَآءَ لَا يُؤَخَّرُ ۖ لَوْ كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ٤
He said, "O my people, indeed, I am to you a clear warner—to worship Allah, fear Him, and obey me. He [i.e., Allāh] will forgive you of your sins and delay you for a specified term. Indeed, the time [set by] Allāh, when it comes, will not be delayed, if you only knew." Surah Nuh (71:2-4)
But no matter what he did, they wouldn’t listen and refused to believe. Instead, they mocked and laughed at him.
What's more, they accused him of being crazy and deluded and suggested that only the weak and poor believe him! They even refused to listen, to the point that they used to cover their ears so they wouldn't hear him!
In Surah Nuh (71:5-9), Nuh tells Allah of his efforts:
"He said, 'My Lord, indeed, I invited my people [to truth] night and day. But my invitation increased them, not except in flight. And indeed, every time I invited them that You may forgive them, they put their fingers in their ears, covered themselves with their garments, persisted, and were arrogant with [great] arrogance.'"
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى دَعَوْتُ قَوْمِى لَيْلًۭا وَنَهَارًۭا ٥فَلَمْ يَزِدْهُمْ دُعَآءِىٓ إِلَّا فِرَارًۭا ٦وَإِنِّى كُلَّمَا دَعَوْتُهُمْ لِتَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ جَعَلُوٓا۟ أَصَـٰبِعَهُمْ فِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَٱسْتَغْشَوْا۟ ثِيَابَهُمْ وَأَصَرُّوا۟ وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ ٱسْتِكْبَارًۭا ٧ ثُمَّ إِنِّى دَعَوْتُهُمْ جِهَارًۭا ٨ثُمَّ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَنتُ لَهُمْ وَأَسْرَرْتُ لَهُمْ إِسْرَارًۭا ٩
But Nuh didn’t give up, he stayed patient and committed to his mission. which brings us to the next question: How many years did he live and continue to preach?
How Many Years Did Prophet Nuh Live?
One of the remarkable aspects of Prophet Nuh’s story is how long he continued to call and invite his people to the truth. According to the Quran, Nuh lived among his people for 950 years. Yes, you read it right.
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ فَلَبِثَ فِيهِمْ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ إِلَّا خَمْسِينَ عَامًۭا فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱلطُّوفَانُ وَهُمْ ظَـٰلِمُونَ ١٤
"And we certainly sent Nuh to his people, and he remained among them a thousand years minus fifty years, and the flood seized them while they were wrongdoers." Surah Al-Ankabut (29:14)
This verse isn't really about how long he lived; it's about showing his unprecedented patience and dedication.
For nearly a millennium, he endured stubbornness and mockery. People tell their children not to believe, so kids grow up refusing to believe in Noah.
This shows how important it is to teach your kids from a young age what’s important, such as what’s halal and haram. It grows with them, and it becomes difficult to change over time.
Think about this: How often do we ignore advice, thinking it doesn’t apply to us? Nuh’s people were arrogant, and that ultimately led to their downfall. Let's find out how
The Amazing Ark of Prophet Nuh - Islamic Story for Kids
The number of disbelievers keeps increasing. One day, Allah revealed to Noah that no other person would believe him. Noah prayed that the disbelievers be destroyed.
وَقَالَ نُوحٌۭ رَّبِّ لَا تَذَرْ عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ دَيَّارًا ٢٦ إِنَّكَ إِن تَذَرْهُمْ يُضِلُّوا۟ عِبَادَكَ وَلَا يَلِدُوٓا۟ إِلَّا فَاجِرًۭا كَفَّارًۭا ٢٧
And Noah said, "My Lord, do not leave upon the earth from among the disbelievers an inhabitant. Indeed, if you leave them, they will mislead Your servants and not beget except [every] wicked one and [confirmed] disbeliever. (Nuh: 71:26-27)
Allah accepted Noah's prayer. Allah decided to send a great flood as a punishment. You may think about how the prophet Noah and those who believed would survive such punishment; they are all in the same place, right?
That's where Nabi Nuh's miracle comes in. Allah SWT didn't leave him stranded; He gave Nuh a task: build a massive ark to save the believers.
In Surah Hud (11:37), Allah commands Nuh:
"And construct the ship under Our observation and Our inspiration, and do not address Me concerning those who have wronged; indeed, they are [to be] drowned."
وَٱصْنَعِ ٱلْفُلْكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَوَحْيِنَا وَلَا تُخَـٰطِبْنِى فِى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُم مُّغْرَقُونَ
The construction of the ark itself was an act of faith. Imagine watching someone build a ship in the middle of the desert!
Nuh built it in the middle of the land, far from any sea or river, with the disbelievers mocking him at every step.
"O Noah! Does carpentry appeal to you more than prophethood? Why are you building an ark so far from the sea? Are you going to drag it to the water, or is the wind going to carry it for you?" But Nuh remained obedient; he had faith in Allah, and he knew he would fulfill his promise and save him and his people.
Finally, when the ark was ready, Noah waited for Allah's command. His sign for the beginning of the flood was that the oven at his house was gushing water; he knew it was time. Allah told Nuh (AS) to board the ark with the believers alongside a pair (male and female) of each animal, bird, and insect.
People laughed at him again, saying, “Nuh must have gone out of his head! What is he going to do with the animals?” Little did they know that the end was coming for them.
"So it was till then that there came Our Command, and the oven gushed forth (water like fountains from the earth). We said, 'Embark therein, of each kind two (male and female), and your family, except him against whom the Word has already gone forth, and those who believe.' And none believed him except a few." [Al-Qur'an 11:40]
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا وَفَارَ ٱلتَّنُّورُ قُلْنَا ٱحْمِلْ فِيهَا مِن كُلٍّۢ زَوْجَيْنِ ٱثْنَيْنِ وَأَهْلَكَ إِلَّا مَن سَبَقَ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْقَوْلُ وَمَنْ ءَامَنَ ۚ وَمَآ ءَامَنَ مَعَهُۥٓ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌۭ ٤٠
When the flood came, it was unlike anything anyone had ever seen. Heavy rain poured from the sky, and water began to rise from every crack on earth. The entire Earth was submerged.
In Surah Qamar (54:11-12), Allah describes the flood:
"So we opened the gates of heaven with rain pouring down and caused the earth to gush forth with springs, so the waters met for a matter already predestined."
فَفَتَحْنَآ أَبْوَٰبَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ بِمَآءٍۢ مُّنْهَمِرٍۢ ١١ وَفَجَّرْنَا ٱلْأَرْضَ عُيُونًۭا فَٱلْتَقَى ٱلْمَآءُ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرٍۢ قَدْ قُدِرَ ١٢
We should also mention that Noah's son was among the people who were destroyed. But why? He refused to believe in his father's message (can you even imagine your son refusing to believe you?). He even sought refuge on a mountain instead of the ark.
“O my son! Embark with us and be not among the disbelievers.” But his son replied, “I will get to the mountain; it will save me from the water.”
وَهِىَ تَجْرِى بِهِمْ فِى مَوْجٍۢ كَٱلْجِبَالِ وَنَادَىٰ نُوحٌ ٱبْنَهُۥ وَكَانَ فِى مَعْزِلٍۢ يَـٰبُنَىَّ ٱرْكَب مَّعَنَا وَلَا تَكُن مَّعَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ٤٢ قَالَ سَـَٔاوِىٓ إِلَىٰ جَبَلٍۢ يَعْصِمُنِى مِنَ ٱلْمَآءِ ۚ قَالَ لَا عَاصِمَ ٱلْيَوْمَ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ ۚ وَحَالَ بَيْنَهُمَا ٱلْمَوْجُ فَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُغْرَقِينَ ٤٣
But as the Quran mentioned, there is only one who can save people from this great flood: Allah SWT.
This day there is no savior from the Decree of Allah except him on whom He has mercy.” Before long, Nuh's son was engulfed by the angry waves, never to be seen again.
After a few days, Allah commanded the rain to stop and the water to return to earth; the ark eventually rested on Mount Judi.
وَقِيلَ يَـٰٓأَرْضُ ٱبْلَعِى مَآءَكِ وَيَـٰسَمَآءُ أَقْلِعِى وَغِيضَ ٱلْمَآءُ وَقُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ وَٱسْتَوَتْ عَلَى ٱلْجُودِىِّ ۖ وَقِيلَ بُعْدًۭا لِّلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ٤٤
And it was said, “O earth! Swallow up your water. And O sky! Withhold ˹your rain˺.” The floodwater receded, and the decree was carried out. The Ark rested on Mount Judi, and it was said, “Away with the wrongdoing people!”
The flood had cleansed the earth of the disbelievers and polytheists. Noah released the birds and the beasts, which scattered over the earth.
After that, the believers disembarked. Noah put his forehead to the ground in prostration. The survivors kindled a fire and sat around it.
The miracle of the Ark isn't only about the power of Allah but also about his mercy to the believers.
The flood was not only a punishment but also a fresh start for humanity after it cleansed the earth from the disbelievers and polytheists. The story and the miracle are filled with powerful lessons; let's explore them.
What Can We Learn from Prophet Nuh’s Story?
Kids love stories; they keep them entertained and interested. Our responsibility as parents is to ensure it's fruitful, safe, and pure. This story carries timeless lessons that we can reflect on today for ourselves and our little kids.
Patience and perseverance
Sabr (patience) is a sign of a good Muslim. But who can be patient for 950 years? Only a prophet, right? Nuh’s unwavering dedication to his mission, despite centuries of rejection, teaches us the value of patience.
Of course, we won't be living as much as Alyeh Alslam did, but we can take a hint, can't we? Many times, despite all our efforts, we may not see immediate results or reach our goal.
This can be frustrating. But let's take a moment and remember Nabi Nuh's story. His astonishing patience can remind us that when we’re doing something for the sake of Allah, we should keep going, even if we don't see the results right away!
Trust in Allah's plan
Besides preaching for all those years with no hope or results, Allah ordered Noah to build an ark! Where? In the middle of the desert.
At a time, it seems illogical; how can this arch float? However, in the Nabi Nuh story, he didn't ask this; he obeyed Allah and did the task. Why? Simple: he trusted Allah's plan, he had strong faith, and Allah didn't ask him to do something in vain.
Many times, our minds play the games of "What is the point?" and " Why do certain things happen when they just cause us pain?" The truth is, we may not know, but the good news is, it is for the best!
Why? Because it's according to Allah's will, who is a better protector, savior, and planner than Allah SWT? NO ONE. Instilling this concept in your children is crucial because it will help them face the challenges that come their way as they grow.
Teach them that they must be patient and trust Allah's plan even if they cannot understand the wisdom behind it. He is the All-Knowing with the perfect timing for our good.
The consequences of arrogance
Nuh’s people were destroyed because they refused to humble themselves before Allah. Pride and arrogance blinded them to the truth.
They were afraid that if they believed, they would lose money and wealth; they thought they knew better!
Ask your kids this: How often do we let pride or ego stop us from accepting the truth? We should always remember to be humble and obey the commands of Allah. We should think and be open to new ideas and to obeying.
The Importance of Family
Even though Nuh’s son didn’t believe, Nuh still tried to guide him. Although this shows us that faith is a personal responsibility, everyone is responsible for their decisions.
We must teach our children about faith and guide them toward the truth, but ultimately, they must choose to follow the right path. Parents can find many valuable lessons in this story to teach their children about obedience, faith, and trust in Allah.
In final words, the story of Nuh offers many valuable lessons to share with children. It’s a way to teach them about the power of perseverance, how to stay strong in the face of challenges, and how to trust in Allah’s plan.
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