Wednesday, July 11, 2012

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.

35 comments:

  1. Shame on the writer to suggest that the reason for Prophet Nuh's (AS) wife's disbelief was that she was a strong woman who believed in women's liberation. Shame on you!

    I am a strong Muslim woman who believes in women's liberation and independence. And I apply my strength to my faith.

    I am guessing the writer is a male because I would hate to think a woman would be low enough to have a view like this.

    If you men were adequate, competent descent Muslim husbands then you wouldn't be so afraid of the concept of strong independent women. You wouldn't need a wife to be weak and dependent on you in order for her to stay with you.

    Think about it.

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    1. i think he is right the wife wanted her so called liberation may ALLAH bless the writer. The cursed wife did not want restrictions which ALLAH place on women this is what the writer meant.

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    2. I agree, maybe the wording could have been better but the author's message is still pretty clear and I do not think that the author is being sexist as you accuse him/her of being. They are just explaining the context of this example and this particular example emphasizes how Nuh (as)'s wife disbelieved, why she might have done so, and what people can learn from it. The irony that I find is that right after you start your rant about how shameful the author's stance is, you try and refute the claim by declaring that you believe in liberation and independence and then go directly to bashing Muslim men as if they are inadequate that are terrified of women. This is exactly the arrogance that the author points out, led the wife of Nuh (AS) to disbelieve. If you had come out and said something like, "The author should clarify what is meant by a strong, resolute woman. It was the arrogance stemming from her sense of independence from anyone else that led her to deny the message of her husband, not her strength and belief in women's liberation". This would have helped your case. Instead your comment sounds like something that Nuh's wife would have posted if she were alive today. Allahu A'alam.

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    3. Very well and articulately put by the lady who commented on 28 September. The person who replied on 20 February does no favours to the cause of the Muslim religion. Like it or not your religion has been used to justify terrible killings of innocent people (the obvious example being the poor aid worker that was beheaded yesterday .... a good man killed by mad sadists) It has also been used to justify the horrific treatment of women and young girls (how can anything justify any human being being stoned to death and what sort of vile person would mutilate an innocent fragile girl by carrying out female circumcision. What are these "restrictions" that Allah put on women (is this about covering up their bodies and faces?) - Why to these restrictions not apply to men? I have read sections of the Koran hoping to find that people had twisted what was written but it does have direct quotes concerning punishing women and disbelievers with death! How can this book be used as a basis for any kind of sane guide to life?

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    4. Peace anonymous, I was not going to comment but what you wrote here ..are you sure your reading the Qur'an... first you have a lot of culture practices in your statement, and being a Muslim women of 4 years I have not witness nothing belittling at all.. actually the women follow Jesus teaching to the utmost in Islam... I found I am totally liberated more then being Muslim then I was Christian ... I found that all people give me much respect, open doors, give greetings, helpful, people watch what they say and how they talk around me, apologetic just treated much different since I have be covering... There is a statement from Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stating that Paradise is at the feet of Your Mother.We have some many rights in Islam it is beautiful... one is that the Women can pick her husband base on the criteria God set for us ...that we have a right to be taken care of Physically, Financially , Mentally and Spiritually.. in all this was the best gift God can give to a person... the easy way to heaven... Did you know that the Qur'an states that if you kill one person it is like killing all humanity.. This way of life do not justify murders..do you know if an innocent person is murder unjustly that all his sins is place on the murder... I really need you to read more.. and study... before you quote this kind of wrong information...

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    5. أم صلاح الدينJanuary 1, 2022 at 1:39 PM

      Imamul Muslimeen,

      You cannot tell someone that they will go to hell or curse a Muslim and innocent people (their parents)! Do you know what curse means? It means to be cast away from the mercy of Allah. How can you wish that upon a Muslim and their parents?! Perhaps she and her family will be in Jannah and you will be in the hellfire, so humble yourself!!! You need to make tawbah!

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    6. I think you misunderstood his explanation, I am a woman too but I get it ,whatever he is trying to explain, He is not saying liberated or strong woman is wrong but he means she (prophet nuhs wife)was arrogant and did not believe in Allah...because she did not wish to bow over her strong mind to please Allah ,the unseen...that's why she was declared among to the inhabitants of hell and you are too poor in faith as you want to even argue about this which Allah declared...

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  2. Lovely article. I am sure to bookmark it. Very interesting. Looking forward for your posts.
    Recitation Quran

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  3. The writer is very much focused on the betrayal of the prophet wife in religion but not in there relation as if one is more serious than the other,but fails to see that the prophet let this women be his wife without forcing her to do otherwise and being married to her inspite of her betrayal in religion for hundreds of years,but if you look at present Muslim men they treat women as there slaves and have become there god on earth,Allah says there is no compulsion in religion but the men have become the moral police of the women in the Islamic world as if Allah depends on this men to keep there wife straight,when in reality they are breaking the law for themselves by indulging every vice which is prohibited in the Quran.

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    1. Speak for yourself, not all men are you claim and not all women are saints.

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  4. Nice Samir, you are a person of sense.

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  5. In no way has the writer suggested or implicated that the wife of Nuh alayhis salam disbelieved or gained her position due to her stance on women's rights, liberation. Her self importance, arrogance and persistent hinderance of Nuh alayhis salams mission is the reason and Allah knows best. Let's leave the misogny and misandry out of this. Yes women do things men dislike and Yes men do things women dislike. I just pray Allah puts you with spouses of equal caliber so to avoid this age old bitterness.

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  6. I don't agree to your line "but if you look at present Muslim men they treat women as there slaves and have become there god on earth" this might be true to some but not to most of today's Muslims.....contrary it is in your religion to touch the husbands feet and serve as Dasi/slave (telling swamy swamy all the time and finally be Sati on husbands death)

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    1. Touching husbands feet?! Islam says nothing of the sort. Seriously people get your facts right about Islam and it's conduct.

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    2. and as far as i know ,in islam both sexes are given equal respect, and muslims dont practice sati its only hindus that can do such a foolish act.

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  7. Absolutely truth and the things is every female in the west knows it and they love being degraded and love receiving the feeling they receive and those that see it and hate will not Reveal skins,they seek to escape it.

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  8. @Anonymous August 5, 2014......
    Lolololol.... swami swami swami...you guys are ignorant and you don't know the difference between religions...
    You know nothing john snow...
    Doubt you follow any religion, thats y you quick to point a finger...lost soul..


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  9. @Anonymous August 5, 2014......
    Lolololol.... swami swami swami...you guys are ignorant and you don't know the difference between religions...
    You know nothing john snow...
    Doubt you follow any religion, thats y you quick to point a finger...lost soul..


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  10. nooh nabi wifes name please??

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  11. She was arrogant, meaning she follow her will and not the husband's desires. Women that seek after liberation married but in marriage. She is against the husband and not supportive of the husband faith. Her mischievousness is her plots to make her husband fail in her mission. Same we have among our wives to day. The question is how patience should one accommodate a wife like this where children are involved.

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  12. But not in marriage
    Her mischievousness are

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  13. I thank you writer first of all for clarifying the state of prophet Nuh's pbih wife. It always lurked in the back of my mind that she was a disbeliever. Thanks for confirming this for me.

    Women of today confuse arrogance and being rebelious to their husbands as being strong. In my opinion a strong muslim woman is the one who stands up against forced FGM as it is a sunna and not obligatory and when conducted voluntarily it should be as per sunna. Trimmed but not mutilated. A strong woman is the muslim woman who fights for her Islamic rights which is to be provided with shelter and nourishment to that of the common standards in the society. A woman has the right to seek employment or enter into business if her husband cannot meet these standards but this all should be done through cordial and casual discourse and not raising of tempers and insulting a man saying he is not man enough to provide what her soul desires. Rizq is from Allah my sisters. It is also for a man to be strong enough to allow his wife to pursue her desires and be patient and not resort to immediate divorce.

    The home is a place of comfort and rest and not a place for fights and mind games. Let us strive to make that of our homes and learn to forgive one another super quickly.

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  14. Any women who have the idea of seeing she is independent of the western world disbeliever and disobey her husband she will end up like the wife of our prophet Noah.

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  15. aysha(May Allah burn her in hell) is more evil than this woman

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    1. Please refer to surah Noor ayah 11-20 and if you're a true believer then never disregard someone's honour!

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  16. ما لكم لا ترجون لله وقارا

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  17. Interesting discussion... but no use...only those women will understand whom Allah will chose...not u and i .... specially after reading the first idiotic comment of some anonnymous and it was the most debated one lolxx... Allah hamaray mardon ko ghayrat aur aurton ko aqal dey... aameeen

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    1. @Coffeemachine HAHAHA. I came across this post after googling Nooh's wife and enjoyed reading the comments section more than reading the entire post. Allah hamare mardo ko HIDAYAT de ta ke woh mard hone ke nate Islam ke naam par apni biwyo, betiyo, behno aur auraton par zulm aur zabardasti na kare. This appears to be the major complain(which needed a dua) in the comments section 😄

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  18. Thank you so much for this insightful content. As a Muslim woman in the modern world I’m truly humbled by this article. Islam should always come first. Women are losing their Islamic values in the name of Westernism and feminism. This is truly a great warning for us to come closer to the path that Allah swt has chose for us and to leave behind what we believe is right in order to fuel our own egos or in order to compete with men. Unfortunately so many women fall victim to this complex and feigning independence and it truly leads to arrogance in us. May Allah swt guide us and save us from the punishment of the Hellfire, Ameen.

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