The Wife of Prophet Nuh (as)

ALLAH the Exalted, made the wife of Sayyidina Nuh (as) an example for the disbelievers. She was wife of a Messenger who preached to his people for nine hundred and fifty years.

Sayyidina Nuh as invited his people for nine hundred and fifty years to believe in the unity of God. But they were unmoved, except for a few people who believed during this long period of time. The believers numbered about eighty - or, according to some, lesser than that. It is worth considering why such a lengthy effort bore no result. Why did the people not accept their Prophet's invitation? Every thinking intelligent person is liable to get this question into his mind.

One of the several reasons was the mischievous attitude of his wife.

The Quran speaks elaborately on the refusal of this woman to accept the invitation of her husband and her becoming a hindrance in his mission.

ضَرَ‌بَ اللَّـهُ مَثَلًا لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُ‌وا امْرَ‌أَتَ نُوحٍ وَامْرَ‌أَتَ لُوطٍ ۖ كَانَتَا تَحْتَ عَبْدَيْنِ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا صَالِحَيْنِ فَخَانَتَاهُمَا فَلَمْ يُغْنِيَا عَنْهُمَا مِنَ اللَّـهِ شَيْئًا وَقِيلَ ادْخُلَا النَّارَ‌ مَعَ الدَّاخِلِي
ALLAH has struck a similitude for those who disbelieve - the wife of Nuh and the wife of Lut. They were under two of Our righteous servants, but they betrayed them, so that they (their husband's availed them nothing whatsoever against ALLAH: so it was said (to them), "enter the fire along with the enterers." (66:10)

In human history, the wife of Sayyidina Nuh was a very bad example among the wives of the Prophets. In fact, she was also a lesson and example for the disbelievers.

The Quran has described her sin and disbelief as betrayal. However we must remember that her batroyal was not in their marital life. Rather, it was in belief of tawhid (monotheism) and - her husband's invitation. She betrayed him by inciting the people not to accept his invitation.

Why did she reject his call? There is no answer to this question in books of history and the Quran. Nevertheless, history books do record her biography. This discloses that she was a resolute, strong woman. She did try to achieve a distinct position in the manner of women of this generation who seek to win liberation.

She was a champion of women's liberation movement. Thus one of the reason to reject her husband was her arrogance about her own person. She hindered her husband all through the nine hundred and fifty years of his energetic preaching merely to hold out that she was and independent woman. The result was that her arrogance took her to Hell.

WHO WAS SHE
The biographers and historians have given Prophet Nuh's as wife's different names: Umzrah (or Awzrah) bint Barakil, (Wahilah or Waghilah).

Sayyidah ayshah Ra narrated that Sayyidina Jibril as came to the Prophet and said that the name of Prophet Nuh as wife was Waghilah and of Prophet Lut's as Walihah. (Tafsir Qurtubi (Surah at-Tahrim)

Sayyidina Abdullah Ibn Abbas Ra narrated: "The wife of Nuh as used to tell the people that he was insane. She did not commit treachery in their marital life." Never has any Prophet's wife committed adultery and all exegeltes are unanimous on this issue. Also, she did not betray him in his honor and nobility, but she did betray him in religion. Not only did she refuse to believe but she also incited others to reject and not to listen to him.

How thought provoking! The wife of a great Prophet and preacher stood at a very blameworthy station. How she ridiculed her husband! Her conduct made her worthy of Hell,, and other women like her.

Her fate is a caution for every woman who is an obstacle to religion. It is also a warning for all women who instigate women to shun the veil on the pretext of female liberation. Indeed we see the likes of Nuh's as wife in every era. They are the women who work to remove all religious restrictions for women. ALLAH says:

Enter the fire along with the entereres. (66:10)

This divine command applies not only to the wives of Prophet Nuh as and Prophet Lut as but to all women who follow in the footsteps of the wife of Prophet Nuh as. Observe! their marital relationship with Prophets could not save them form Hell and Divine punishment. The Prophet SAWW made it very clear that everyone must rectify his or her conduct, for relationship with a Prophet will not help any body. He had said to Sayyidah Fatimah Ra..

Perform your deeds, for, I will be of no avail to you with ALLAH.


He had said the same thing to his uncle, Sayyidin Abbas Ra and aunt, Sayyidah Safiyah Ra.

Making Fun of the Quran and Sunnah

With the increase of hypocrisy in him, the hypocrite finds the Islamic ordinances and teachings a burden on him and he brings to abandon them. He begins to make fun of them. He cares not for the Quran or the Sunnah the pious people or the hereafter. He as a plethora of excuses with him.

The hypocrites who lived with the Prophet SAWW used to pray the Salah with him and also to fast, make the pilgrimage, pay the Zakah and even wage jihad with him. When they did something wrong, ALLAH bracketed their evil with disbelief. He said:



وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّمَا كُنَّا نَخُوضُ وَنَلْعَبُ ۚ قُلْ أَبِاللَّـهِ وَآيَاتِهِ وَرَ‌سُولِهِ كُنتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِئُونَ 
  لَا تَعْتَذِرُ‌وا قَدْ كَفَرْ‌تُم بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ ۚ إِن نَّعْفُ عَن طَائِفَةٍ مِّنكُمْ نُعَذِّبْ طَائِفَةً بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا مُجْرِ‌مِينَ  
And if you question them, then they will certainly say, "we were only jesting and playing." Say, "what, was it then at ALLAH and His revelations and His Messenger that you have been mocking? Make no excuses. You have indeed disbelieved after your belief. If we forgive a party of you we shall chastise another party, because they have been sinners" 9:65-66

This verse was revealed during the battle of Tabuk concerning the hypocrites. The background is narrated in the Hadith of Abdullah Ibn Umar RA. A man participating in the battle of Tabuk said to a gathering, "I have not seen anyone like these reciters of the Quran more lying with their tongues, more cowardly in the face of the enemy." Another man ejaculated, "you lie. Rather, you are a hypocrite. Indeed, I will inform ALLAH's Messenger SAWW (about it)." So, that was conveyed to ALLAH's
messenger and the Quran was revealed.

Abdullah Ibn Umar RA continued to narrate: I saw him hanging by the rope of the Prophet's SAWW she camel, the stones having wounded his feet and he was pleading, "O Messenger SAWW of ALLAH we were merely jesting and playing." ALLAH's Messenger SAWW was saying, "Is it ALLAH and His verses and His Messenger that you made fun of? Make no excuses. You became disbelievers after
you professed faith. If we forgive some of you, we shall punish some others, because they were guilty." Tafsir Ibn Kathir Surah Tawbah verses 65-66, Tabaari 14:333

There is a second incident too. Qatadah RA said about this particular verse (65 of at-Tawbah): while the Prophet SAWW was engaged in the battle of Tabuk and a unit of the hypocrites was ahead of him, they said, "He presumes that he will conquer the castles of Rome and his forts. Away, away!" ALLAH let his Prophet SAWW know of that which they were saying. So, he said: "It is incumbent on me to reckon with these people" and he summoned them and disclosed to them what they had been saying. They swore, "we were not but merely jesting and playing." Akhtar at-Tabarraj was sufur alal fard wa jamtama (ibn baz)

we must remember that to make fun of anything concerning religion is a sign of hypocrisy be it the veil, the beard, the dress or jihad. The person doing it is an infidel. This is what the verse says and Ibn Baz has ruled, "He who makes fun of a Muslim man or woman because of their conducting themselves on Shariah is a disbeliever." He has drawn his conclusion from the Hadith of Abdullah Ibn Umar RA.
Bukhari #11 6484 Muslim # 41-65 40-64 Tirmidhi # 2627, Nasaie # 4996. (narrated ibn Umar RA)

Ridiculing, Taunting, and Blaming - Making Jokes of Someone

To make jokes or taunt the Muslims is the work of the hypocrites. The hypocrites did that even in the Prophet SAWW times. ALLAH mentioned that in the Quran. And this thing is done in a number of ways.

Taunting those who do religious work:
The muslims were in dire need of monetary help during the battle of Tabuk. When the Prophet SAWW appealed for contribution, Abu Bakar RA brought everything he possessed, Umar RA brought hold of his possessions and Uthman RA donated hundreds of well-equipped camels for ALLAH's cause. The Prophet SAWW remarked that if Uthman RA did nothing after that then that single deed from him was enough. Some of the Sahaba RA engaged in manual labour and contributed their wages to the cause. But, instead of spending for this cause, the hypocrites made fun of the Muslims. ALLAH says about them:

الَّذِينَ يَلْمِزُونَ الْمُطَّوِّعِينَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي الصَّدَقَاتِ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ إِلَّا جُهْدَهُمْ فَيَسْخَرُ‌ونَ مِنْهُمْ ۙ سَخِرَ‌ اللَّـهُ مِنْهُمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
 Those who find fault with the believers who give alms cheerfully and such as find not anything to give but their hard earnings-they deride them. ALLAH derides them and for them is a painful chastisement. (9:79)

Abu Musad RA said about this verse "When we were commanded to give the Sadaqah, we were labourers. Abu Aqil RA came with half a Sa' (of dates) and another man (Abdur Rahman Ibn Awf RA brought more than that the hypocrites exclaimed 'Surely ALLAH is in no need of this Sadaqah, and this second one has not done it but to show off.' This verse 9:79 was then revealed." Bukhari # 1415 4668, Muslim # 72-1018 

There are people today who make fun of Muslims who adhere to the dictates of Islam and give charity, are inclined to piety, offer the Salah, wear garments according to the Shariah, grow the beard or take part in Jihad. If a woman uses the veil, they  taunt her and say that these are old fashioned people. They consider themselves as modern. But they will not hear anything against the disbelievers who are their ideal.

The Muslims should be the careful of those people. The disbelievers do not cause harm to the Muslims are much as these people cause.