Atheists in Quran (28) Noah and their Recycled History

The ignorant Atheists among Noah’s people said Noah has invented that which he has brought us.

The ignorant Arabs among Muhammad’s people said Muhammad has invented that which he has brought us.

Interestingly, the “Today” intellectual Atheists deny Noah and say that Muhammad has invented that which he has brought of Quran.

———————————

The Atheists’ pride and arrogance are limitless.

The Atheists who were the council, notables, respected elders and chieftains of Noah’s people claim many false and nasty statements about the great Prophet Noah.

They had many rotten arguments with Noah.

Noah did his job patiently and perfectly; he kept advising his people all the time and he never ever put.

However, the Atheists’ pride veiled their hearts.

The verses 11:34-36 describe the scene.

Noah said:

1) If I sincerely desire to counsel you, my sincere counsel will not benefit you if Allah wants to lead you astray (because of your limitless pride). He is your lord, and to him you shall return

2) My invitation and warning to you from Allah’s chastisement will not benefit you if I were to warn you and call you to profess Allah’s divine Oneness

3) If Allah’s law determines that, you will proud fully perish because of your rejection of the truth, Allah’s law has to be fulfilled, regardless of my advice. It is not that Allah will deprive you of benefiting by my advice.

4) According to Allah’s law, It is what you do with yourselves that will, take you away from the right path.

5) You cannot defy Allah or make yourselves immune from Him. You are always within His reach. He has absolute power over you and over your lives. You cannot escape meeting Him when He brings you to account and decides your reward; He will reward you according to your works.

 “He is your Lord and to Him you shall return.”

Prophets Act on Their Instructions

At this stage in Noah’s story, the Quran has a remarkable pause.

The verse makes brief reference to the reception of a similar message by the Atheists among the Arabs at the time of the Prophet Muhammad.

The significance of this pause:

There is a remarkable similarity of attitudes, as the Atheists among the Arabs claim that Muhammad too has invented the Quran.

The Atheists among the Arabs have too limitless pride.

A Recycled History?

The Atheists among Noah’s people said Noah has invented that which he has brought us.

The ignorant skeptic Arabs among Muhammad’s people said Muhammad has invented that which he has brought us.

The verse quickly refutes their claim before returning to Noah:

“Do they claim that he (i.e. Muhammad] has invented it? Say: ‘If I have invented it, upon me be this crime of mine, but I am innocent of the crimes you perpetrate.’” (Verse 35)

To fabricate a falsehood is to commit a crime.

Hence, Allah instructed His Prophet Muhammad to tell the unbelievers:

1) If I have made any such fabrication, I will bear the responsibility for it. It is a great sin to do that; however, the punishment for my sin will be upon me

2) Since I am aware that it is a crime to make such fabrications, it is highly unlikely that I would do so.

3) However, I am, innocent of all your:

• Crimes, including your false allegations,
• Misconduct, when you attribute invention to me.
• Rejection of Allah’s message
• Associating partners with Allah.

It is interesting that the “Today” intellectual Atheists deny Noah and say that Muhammad has invented that which he has brought of Quran.

This interjecting overlap however does not interrupt the Quranic story; rather it serves the purpose of the verse.

In the next sight, we see Noah receiving Allah’s revelations and commandments.

“Noah received this revelation: “none of thy people will believe except those who have believed already! So grieve no longer over their (evil) deeds.”

Do not be in distress over anything they may do.

None of your people will believe except those who have already believed.

Do not be distressed, grieved, because of what they do and do not be saddened for their destruction

Everything has ended:

• The advocacy of Allah’s message,
• The advice
• The warning,
• The arguments.
• Their pride

Then what?

“None of your people will believe now apart from those who have already accepted the faith.”

Those who are susceptible to faith have already accepted it. The others are hopeless.

Allah, who knows best what is feasible and what is not, and knows His servants well, has informed Noah of this.

Hence, it is pointless to continue with the argument.

Allah told Noah not to grieve at their rejection or their mockery.

“Do not be in distress over anything they may do.”

Allah’s will has happened.

———————————

The verses 11:34-36 in different translations:

QARIB:

34-Nor will my sincere counsel benefit you if I sincerely desire to counsel you if Allah desires to lead you astray. He is your lord, and to him you shall return. ‘

35-Or do they say: ‘he has fabricated it (himself)? ‘Say: ‘if i had fabricated it, then the sin rests upon me. I reject the sins you do. ‘

36-And it was revealed to Noah: ‘none of your nation will believe except whosoever has already believed. Do not distress yourself with what they may do.

SHAKIR:

34-And if I intend to give you good advice, my advice will not profit you if Allah intended that he should leave you to go astray; he is your lord, and to him shall you be returned

35-Or do they say: he has forged it? Say: if I have forged it, on me is my guilt, and i am clear of that of which you are guilty

36-And it was revealed to nuh: that none of your people will believe except those who have already believed, therefore do not grieve at what they do:

PICKTHAL:

34-My counsel will not profit you if I were minded to advise you, if Allah’s will is to keep you astray. He is your lord and unto him ye will be brought back.

35-Or say they (again): he hath invented it? Say: if i have invented it, upon me be my crimes, but i am innocent of (all) that ye commit.

36-And it was inspired in Noah, (saying): no one of thy folk will believe save him who hath believed already. Be not distressed because of what they do.

YUSUFALI:

34-“Of no profit will be my counsel to you, much as I desire to give you (good) counsel, if it be that Allah willeth to leave you astray: he is your lord! and to him will ye return!”

35-Or do they say, “he has forged it”? Say: “if I had forged it, on me were my sin! And I am free of the sins of which ye are guilty!

36-It was revealed to Noah:”none of thy people will believe except those who have believed already! so grieve no longer over their (evil) deeds.

Atheists in Quran (27) Noah’s values vs. their values

Noah presents his message clearly, free of all falsehood. He makes a gentle and friendly description of the truth. In Noah’s presentation, there were no flattery, no attempt to win any favor with anyone at the expense of the message. The Atheists stiffened their attitude became determined not to accept any proof of Noah’s case; they said: Noah! You have argued with us, and argued to excess. Bring upon us that with which you have been threatening us, if you are a truthful man.

———————————

In the previous articles, the Atheists who were the council notables and the respected elders of Noah’s people claim that Noah is just looking for wealth and they said:

• We will never ever sit with Noah and listen to him unless he drives away those who are the most abject, lowly, and weak and the riffraff among us.
• Why have such lowly men followed Noah before us?

This was a part of their rotten arguments

They said such nasty statements to testify their unbelieving thoughts

The Atheists’ pride and arrogance are limitless.

In this article, the Atheists continue their stubborn arguments with Noah.

The meanings of the verses 11:31-33

The Atheists demanded that they would never believe Noah unless:

• Noah tells them that he possess the treasure houses of Allah
• Noah tells them that he has the keys to Allah’s stores of provision
• Noah tells them that he has knowledge of the Unseen
• Noah tells the lowly men who followed him that Allah will not give them any good

However, you know what Noah (they said), we cannot believe in human being, tell your Lord to send us an Angel or to convert you to an Angel

Noah remains unaffected by the false accusations, insolence and blind rejection with which his people have received his message.

He applies his own values and maintains his own standards. He does not make false claims or accusations as they have done. Nor does he try to give himself any false image or impart anything alien to his message.

However, Allah inspired Noah the answers for their rotten arguments.

Peacefully, Noah introduces himself and his message. His presentation is simple, devoid of any ornament and decoration, free of all false standards and values.

Noah reminds them of the true values, looking with contempt on all superficial ones. He renounces all superficiality and states his message as it is, pure and simple, with no false claims. He, who wants it, let him take it, as it is as pure as Allah made it.

Noah said:

I do not say to you that God’s treasures are with me.

I do not claim that I am rich or that I can make any of you rich. “Or that

I know what lies beyond the reach of human perception.

I do not make any claim of any super-human status or

I do not allege that my relationship with Allah exceeds the fact that I am a messenger conveying Allah’s message.

Nor do I say: I am an angel.

I do not claim to have a position, which you think to be higher than that of man, so that I may gain favor or high position from you.

I cannot say to those whom you scorn that Allah will never grant them any good, so that I satisfy your pride or accommodate your standards and values.

Allah knows best what is in their hearts (those whom you scorn).

I have to go by what I see.

To me, they appear deserving of honor and hope that Allah will grant them of His bounty.

If I made such false claims, saying to them that Allah will never grant them any good, I would be unjust

• I would be unjust to the very truth I have come to convey.
• I would also be unjust to myself, exposed to Allah’s wrath,
• I would be unjust to other people to whom I gave a status other than that given them by Allah.

Thus, Noah presents his message clearly, free of all falsehood. He faces them with the clarity and strength of the truth. Meanwhile, he makes a gentle and friendly description of the truth so that they may look it in the face and decide upon their line of action.

In Noah’s presentation, there were no pretense, no flattery, no attempt to win any favor with anyone at the expense of the message and its simple nature.

In this, Noah sets an example for all advocates of the Allah’s message in all generations and provides them with a lesson in how to confront the people of authority with the truth, without any attempt to compromise, or flatter, but with the sort of friendliness, which is not associated with submission.

At this point, it was clear to the notables that they had no chance of winning the argument. They stiffened their attitude, became determined not to accept any proof of Noah’s case, logical and natural as it certainly was.

Then they finally rallied themselves in order to deliver a challenge to Noah. They said:

Noah! You have argued with us, and argued to excess. Bring upon us that with which you have been threatening us, if you are a man of truth.

This is nothing short of deceit, an attempt to cover up their weakness by putting on a display of strength. It is a challenge made in order to mask their dread of the truth’s strength.

Noah, however, remains unaffected by their outright rejection and challenge. He maintains the noble attitude befitting a great prophet. He continues to explain to them the truth and the facts, which they have ignored

He restates the fact that he is only a messenger whose task is to deliver a message. Their punishment is left to Allah who has absolute control over their destiny.

Allah alone decides, at His own discretion, whether it is appropriate to punish them here and now or to delay their punishment until a later date. Allah’s will must happen, as it is and Noah has no power over it.

As a messenger, he has to continue to explain the truth to his people until the last moment. Their rejection and challenge must not deter him from fulfilling his task.

Hence, he says to them:

Only Allah can bring it upon you, if He so wills. You cannot be immune. Nor will my counsel benefit you, much as I desire to give you good counsel, if it is Allah’s will to let you remain in error. He is your Lord and to Him you shall return.

If He will to punish you, none can by no means escape His chastisement.

———————————

The verses 11:31-33 in different translations:

QARIB:

31- I do not say to you that i possess the treasuries of Allah, and i do not know the unseen. I do not say I am an angel, nor do I say to those whom you despise, Allah will not give them any good. Allah knows best what is in their hearts. indeed, if this were so then I would be amongst the harmdoers. ‘

32- They said: ‘o Noah, you have disputed, and disputed too much, with us. bring (down) upon us that which you promised us, if what you say is true! ‘

33- He replied: ‘Allah will bring it (down) upon you if he will; you will never frustrate him.

SHAKIR:

31- And I do not say to you that i have the treasures of Allah and I do not know the unseen, nor do I say that i am an angel, nor do I say about those whom your eyes hold in mean estimation (that) Allah will never grant them (any) good– Allah knows best what is in their souls– for then most surely I should be of the unjust

32- They said: o nuh! indeed you have disputed with us and lengthened dispute with us, therefore bring to us what you threaten us with, if you are of the truthful ones

33- He said: Allah only will bring it to you if he please, and you will not escape:

PICKTHAL:

31- I say not unto you: “I have the treasures of Allah” nor “I have knowledge of the unseen,” nor say I: “lo! I am an angel!” nor say I unto those whom your eyes scorn that Allah will not give them good – Allah knoweth best what is in their hearts – lo! Then indeed, I should be of the wrong-doers.

32- They said: o Noah! thou hast disputed with us and multiplied disputation with us; now bring upon us that wherewith thou threatenest us, if thou art of the truthful.

33- He said: only Allah will bring it upon you if he will, and ye can by no means escape.

YUSUFALI:

31- “I tell you not that with me are the treasures of Allah, nor do I know what is hidden, nor claim I to be an angel. Nor yet do I say, of those whom your eyes do despise that Allah will not grant them (all) that is good: Allah knoweth best what is in their souls: I should, if I did, indeed be a wrong-doer.”

32- They said: “o Noah! thou hast disputed with us, and (much) hast thou prolonged the dispute with us: now bring upon us what thou threatenest us with, if thou speakest the truth!?”

33- He said: “truly, Allah will bring it on you if he wills,- and then, ye will not be able to frustrate it!

Atheists in Quran (26) Noah vs. their limitless pride

The Atheists’ pride and arrogance are limitless. In their rotten arguments with Noah, they said nasty statements to testify their unbelieving thoughts. Noah remains unaffected by their false accusations; He applies his own values and maintains his own standards. Noah does not make false claims or accusations as they have done.

———————————

The Atheists’ pride and arrogance are limitless.

The Atheists who were the council, notables, the respected elders and the chieftains of Noah’s people claim that:

• Noah wants to force us to accept his religion
• Noah claims his religion and his prophet hood to gain money
• We will never ever sit with Noah and listen to him unless he drives away those who are the most abject, lowly, and weak and the riffraff among us, who have followed him before us. We commanded Noah to drive them away

This is an example of the Atheists’ Rotten arguments

They said such nasty statements to testify their unbelieving thoughts

Noah remains unaffected by the false accusations, insolence and blind rejection with which his people have received his message.

He applies his own values and maintains his own standards. He does not make false claims or accusations as they have done. Nor does he try to give himself any false image or impart anything alien to his message.

However, Allah inspired Noah the answers for their rotten arguments.

Noah addresses his Atheists people with kindness and friendliness stressing his relationship to them:  O My people

O my people, have you considered if I am acting upon a clear proof from my Lord and He has given me the mercy of prophet hood and it has been obscured from you

Bethink you, if I rely on a clear exposition, which has come down from my Lord

Allah favored me with his mercy that come unto me.  It is the prophet hood and the religion.

• Can we compel you to it, while you are averse to it?
• Are we able to force you to accept it, while you are antagonistic to it?
• can we inspire it or teach it to when you are deniers of it

We are not able to do that.

Noah continued, O my people,

• I do not ask of you any wealth that you should give me for conveying the Allah’s Message.
• I ask of you no wealth, no price in exchange for believing in Allah’s divine Oneness.
• My wage, my reward, falls only upon God
• I will not drive away those who believe, as you have commanded me.
• I am not going to thrust away those who believe because of what you say. Lo! they have to meet their Lord and report me to Him,
• Those believers shall surely meet their Lord, at the Resurrection, and
• Allah will requite them and exact vengeance for them from those who wronged them, mocked them and drove them away.
• I see you are a people who are ignorant, of the consequence of your affair.
• I see you a folk that are ignorant of the command of Allah.

Moreover, Noah said:

O my people, who would help, defend and save me against Allah’s chastisement, if I drive the believers away due to what you say?

There is none to help, defend and save me.

Will you not then remember?

When you admonished by what I say and hence believe?

———————————

Some of the important lessons of this story:

• I seek no financial gain for my call
• Noah’s reward rests with none but Allah
• Noah cannot favor the rich over the poor
• All people are equal; Allah does not make any distinction based on their wealth, power, race, color, position

Herein, one has to be alert about the relationship between preaching and money.

The true and real relationship between preaching and money is that they are not related.

The true honest genuine preacher never ever asks for money or accept money for his job; he knows that his reward rests with none but God.

Hence, any preacher asks for donation is relying on the money not on the Lord of the universe.

I have to tell you that some kind readers who are interested in my posts keep blaming me that I do not have a donation button to donate my website.

In fact, I do not have any answer but that of the great Prophet Noah: “My reward rests with none but Allah”

———————————

The verses 11:28-30 in different translations:

QARIB:

28-He said: ‘what do you think my nation? If I have a clear proof from my lord and he has given me mercy from him, though it is hidden from you, can we compel you to accept it when you hate it?

29-My nation, for this I do not ask you for your wealth for my wage is only with Allah. Nor will I drive away the believers, for they will surely meet their lord. but, I can see that you are ignorant.

30-Were i to drive you away my nation, who would help me from Allah? Will you not remember?

SHAKIR:

28-He said: o my people! tell me if I have with me clear proof from my lord, and he has granted me mercy from himself and it has been made obscure to you; shall we constrain you to (accept) it while you are averse from it?

29-And, o my people! I ask you not for wealth in return for it; my reward is only with Allah and i am not going to drive away those who believe; surely they shall meet their lord, but i consider you a people who are ignorant:

30-And, o my people! Who will help me against Allah if i drive them away? Will you not then mind?

PICKTHAL:

28-He said: o my people! bethink you, if I rely on a clear proof from my lord and there hath come unto me a mercy from his presence, and it hath been made obscure to you, can we compel you to accept it when ye are averse thereto?

29-And o my people! i ask of you no wealth therefor. my reward is the concern only of Allah, and I am not going to thrust away those who believe – lo! they have to meet their lord! – but I see you a folk that are ignorant.

30-And, o my people! Who would deliver me from Allah if i thrust them away? Will ye not then reflect?

YUSUFALI:

28-He said: “o my people! see ye if (it be that) I have a clear sign from my lord, and that he hath sent mercy unto me from his own presence, but that the mercy hath been obscured from your sight? Shall we compel you to accept it when ye are averse to it?

29-“And o my people! I ask you for no wealth in return: my reward is from none but Allah: but I will not drive away (in contempt) those who believe: for verily they are to meet their lord, and ye i see are the ignorant ones!

30-“And o my people! Who would help me against Allah if I drove them away? Will ye not then take heed?

Atheists in Quran (25) Atheists of Noah vs. Atheists today

All the Prophets sent by Allah to guide humankind to the right path are liars in the eyes of the Atheists. Thousands of years later (after Noah), such standards and values still gain the upper hand in the today Atheists’ mind.

———————————

The verses 11:25-27 of the Noble Quran say:

Verily Allah sent Noah to his people [and he said]: ‘I am a clear warner for you, one whose warning is plain.

I am a warning Messenger who speaks a language you understand that you worship none but Allah; you confess the divine Oneness of none save Allah

Lo! I fear for you, should you worship other than Him, the chastisement of a painful day that is painful in this world and in the Hereafter.

I know that there shall come upon you if you do not believe the retribution of a painful Day, which is drowning.

The Atheists who were the council, notables, the respected elders and the chieftains of Noah’s people said:

1. We see you but a mortal like us, you eat and drink just as we do eat and drink
2. You have no merit over us, for which you would deserve our following you
3. We see that your followers are but the vilest among us
4. Those who follow you are the riffraff among us, such as the weavers and the shoemakers
5. Those who follow you are the most abject, the lowly and the weak among us
6. Those who follow you are impulsively without thinking; their bad judgment lead them to believe in you.
7. Nay, we deem you liars with regard to your claim to be bringing a Message

The Atheists among Noah’s people apply here the erroneous standards that make

• Honor = wealth,
• Understanding = influence
• Position = bank balance
• Knowledge = power.

Thousands of years later, such standards and values still gain the upper hand in the today Atheists’ mind

Finally, they accused Noah as a Liar.

The same happened to the entire prophets from Noah to Muhammad.

All the Prophets sent by Allah to guide humankind to the right path are liars in the eyes of the Atheists.

This is the attitude of people who have full pockets but empty hearts and minds.

Their pride and arrogance are limitless.

———————————

The verses 11:25-27 in different translations:

QARIB:

25-We sent Noah to his nation. (he said:) ‘i am a warner for you, and a bearer of glad tidings.

26-Worship none except Allah. i fear for you the punishment of a painful day. ‘

27-The unbelieving council of his nation said: ‘we do not see you other than a human like ourselves. we see your followers are none but the lowliest amongst us, and their opinion is not to be considered. we do not see you superior to us, rather, we consider you liars. ‘

SHAKIR:

25-And certainly we sent nuh to his people: surely i am a plain warner for you:

26-That you shall not serve any but Allah، surely i fear for you the punishment of a painful day

27-But the chiefs of those who disbelieved from among his people said: we do not consider you but a mortal like ourselves, and we do not see any have followed you but those who are the meanest of us at first thought and we do not see in you any excellence over us; nay, we deem you liars

PICKTHAL:

25-And we sent Noah unto his folk (and he said): lo! i am a plain warner unto you.

26-That ye serve none، save Allah. Lo! I fear for you the retribution of a painful day.

27-The chieftains of his folk, who disbelieved, said: we see thee but a mortal like us, and we see not that any follow thee save the most abject among us, without reflection. we behold in you no merit above us – nay, we deem you liars.

YUSUFALI:

25-We sent Noah to his people (with a mission): “I have come to you with a clear warning:

26-“That ye serve none but Allah: verily I do fear for you the penalty of a grievous day.”

27-But the chiefs of the unbelievers among his people said: “we see (in) thee nothing but a man like ourselves: nor do we see that any follow thee but the meanest among us, in judgment immature: nor do we see in you (all) any merit above us: in fact we thing ye are liars!”

Atheists in Quran (10) they will blame each other

One day, the entire Atheists’ falsehood values have been naked, and they are put face to face with the absolute truth and they blame themselves; however, it is too late!

———————————

The verse 34:31 grabs the Atheists’ attitude of the Prophet Muhammad’s message.

Indeed their attitude established on the fact that they are full of pride and their riches make them having what this life can offer of amusements, thinking that this indicates they are favored.

Therefore, the verse shows them their situation in the life to come, as though it is happening now.

Thus, the verse shows their attitude in the life of this world and in the Afterlife on the Day of Judgment.

Their attitude in the life of this world:

The verse speaks about a determined attitude to reject all divine guidance.

The Atheists say to their followers especially the lowly and weak among people in order to provoke disbelief [in them]:

“We will never believe in this Quran, nor in any earlier revelations.”

They make it clear that they will never believe, neither in the Quran nor in any divine book that preceded the Quran.

They are not prepared to believe in any of this at any time in the future either. They are determined to disbelieve, deliberately refusing even to consider anything that points to faith.

Their attitude in the Afterlife

Then the verse puts before their eyes what happens to them on the Day of Judgment because of their stubborn rejection:

But if you were to see, O Muhammad

If only you O believers could see,

• How the Atheists stand before their Lord, their Almighty Creator
• How they are hurling reproaches at one another.
• How they are blaming each other.

The lowly and weak Atheists in the life of this world will say to those who had deemed themselves mighty:

Had it not been for you, we would certainly have been believers.’

The Atheists made their assertion that they will never believe in any revealed book in this life.

Now, what will they say in a very different situation? If only we could see these Atheists when they are ‘made to stand’, i.e. forced into it against their will. They are guilty, made to stand and await a decision by their Lord, in whose words and scriptures they profess they will never believe.

Yet now they stand before Him. If you could watch them, you would see how they reproach one another, exchanging accusations and trying to blame each other.

“Those of them who were weak on earth will say to those who had deemed themselves mighty: Had it not been for you, we would certainly have been believers.”

The Atheists will blame their leaders and their Media.

The Atheists are now accusing them of being responsible for this humiliation.

The Atheists are now cursing them of what will come next of great and eternal suffering.

Today, all the falsehood values have been naked, and they are put face to face with the absolute truth; however, it is too late!

———————————

The verse 34:31 in different translations:

QARIB:

The unbelievers say: ‘we will not believe in this Koran, nor in (the books) that were before it. ‘If you could only see the harmdoers when they are brought before their Lord! They will argue against each other. Those who had been abased will say to those who were proud: ‘but for you, we would have been believers. ‘

SHAKIR:

And those who disbelieve say: by no means will we believe in this quran, nor in that which is before it; and could you see when the unjust shall be made to stand before their Lord, bandying words one with another! those who were reckoned weak shall say to those who were proud: had it not been for you we would certainly have been believers

PICKTHAL:

And those who disbelieve say: we believe not in this qur’an nor in that which was before it; but oh, if thou couldst see, when the wrong-doers are brought up before their Lord, how they cast the blame one to another; how those who were despised (in the earth) say unto those who were proud: but for you, we should have been believers.

YUSUFALI:

The unbelievers say: “we shall neither believe in this scripture nor in (any) that (came) before it.” couldst thou but see when the wrong-doers will be made to stand before their Lord, throwing back the word (of blame) on one another! Those who had been despised will say to the arrogant ones: “had it not been for you, we should certainly have been believers!”