Why Did Allah Instruct Nuh to Build a Ship?
لماذا أمر الله نوحًا عليه السلام ببناء سفينة؟
His people were disbelievers and they transgressed, so Allah wanted to drown them all. He instructed Nuh to build a ship and take a pair, male and female, of each kind of animal on the ship with him, as well as the believers from his people. "So We inspired him: 'Build the Ark under Our ˹watchful˺ Eyes and directions. Then when Our command comes and the oven bursts ˹with water˺, take on board a pair from every species along with your family, except those against whom the decree ˹to drown˺ has already been passed. And do not plead with Me for those who have done wrong, for they will surely be drowned.'" (Surah Al-Muminun 23:27). Nuh's people mocked their Prophet again when they saw him build a ship. "And it was revealed to Noah, 'None of your people will believe except those who already have. So do not be distressed by what they have been doing. And build the Ark under Our ˹watchful˺ Eyes and directions, and do not plead with Me for those who have done wrong, for they will surely be drowned.' So he began to build the Ark, and whenever some of the chiefs of his people passed by, they mocked him. He said, 'If you laugh at us, we will ˹soon˺ laugh at you similarly.'" (Surah Hud 11:36-38). Nuh was not affected by this ridicule, but he remained steadfast in his position and trust in Allah, and he warned them about the punishment that would come to them.
إن قومه كفروا وطغوا وأراد الله أن يغرقهم جميعا، فأمر الله تعالى نوحا عليه السلام أن يصنع سفينة ويأخذ عليها المؤمنين من قومه، ويأخذ من كل حيوان زوجين، أنثى وذكرًا، قال الله تعالى: فَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِ أَنِ اصْنَعِ الْفُلْكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَوَحْيِنَا فَإِذَا جَاءَ أَمْرُنَا وَفَارَ التَّنُّورُ فَاسْلُكْ فِيهَا مِن كُلٍّ زَوْجَيْنِ اثْنَيْنِ وَأَهْلَكَ إِلَّا مَن سَبَقَ عَلَيْهِ الْقَوْلُ مِنْهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تُخَاطِبْنِي فِي الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا ۖ إِنَّهُم مُّغْرَقُونَ (سورة المؤمنون: 27). وقد سخر قوم نوح من نبيهم مرة أخرى حين رأوه يبني السفينة، قال الله تعالى: وَأُوحِيَ إِلَىٰ نُوحٍ أَنَّهُ لَن يُؤْمِنَ مِن قَوْمِكَ إِلَّا مَن قَدْ آمَنَ فَلَا تَبْتَئِسْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْعَلُونَ ﴿٣٦﴾ وَاصْنَعِ الْفُلْكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَوَحْيِنَا وَلَا تُخَاطِبْنِي فِي الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا ۚ إِنَّهُم مُّغْرَقُونَ ﴿٣٧﴾ وَيَصْنَعُ الْفُلْكَ وَكُلَّمَا مَرَّ عَلَيْهِ مَلَأٌ مِّن قَوْمِهِ سَخِرُوا مِنْهُ ۚ قَالَ إِن تَسْخَرُوا مِنَّا فَإِنَّا نَسْخَرُ مِنكُمْ كَمَا تَسْخَرُونَ ﴿٣٨﴾ (سورة هود: 36-38). ولم يتأثر نوح بتلك السخرية، وإنما ثبت على موقفه من الدعوة والثقة بالله عز وجل، وتوعدهم بما سيأتيهم من عقوبة.
1. A Ship Built Under Divine Supervision | سفينةٌ صُنعت بعين الله ووحيه
The Quran's phrase "under Our Eyes and Our Revelation" indicates this was no ordinary construction project; Allah Himself guided every stage of the ship's building. This detail explains how a single vessel could reliably carry Nuh, the believers, and a pair of every animal safely through the flood covered in What Punishment Did Allah Send to the People of Noah?
يدل قوله تعالى: (اصْنَعِ الْفُلْكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَوَحْيِنَا) (المؤمنون 23: 27) على أن صنع هذه السفينة لم يكن عملًا معتادًا، بل كان بتوجيه الله ورعايته في كل مرحلة منه. وبهذا يُفهم كيف حملت سفينة واحدة نوحًا عليه السلام والمؤمنين وزوجين من كل حيوان، فنجوا بها من الطوفان الذي بيّناه في جواب: بمَ عاقب الله قوم نوح عليه السلام؟
2. Mockery Aimed at an Absurd Sight | سخريةٌ من مشهد غريب
Ibn Kathir explains that as Nuh built the ship, his people mocked him and denied the drowning he warned them of, giving them fresh material for ridicule beyond the accusations already covered in How Did Nuh's People React to His Call?
بيّن ابن كثير أن قوم نوح كانوا يسخرون منه وهو يصنع السفينة، ويكذّبون بما يتوعدهم به من الغرق، فوجدوا في ذلك سببًا جديدًا للسخرية منه، زيادةً على التهم التي بيّناها في جواب: كيف قابل قوم نوح عليه السلام دعوته إلى الله؟
3. A Warning Answered With a Warning | تحذير قوبل بتحذير
Nuh's response to their mockery, "If you laugh at us, we will ˹soon˺ laugh at you similarly," was not an idle retort but a direct statement of what was coming. Ibn Kathir calls Nuh's reply a severe threat and a firm warning; he met their ridicule with calm certainty in Allah's promise, letting the outcome itself vindicate the warning.
لم يكن جواب نوح عليه السلام على سخريتهم: (إِن تَسْخَرُوا مِنَّا فَإِنَّا نَسْخَرُ مِنكُمْ كَمَا تَسْخَرُونَ) (هود 11: 38) ردًّا عابرًا، بل كان إخبارًا صريحًا بما سيقع. وقد وصفه ابن كثير بأنه وعيد شديد وتهديد أكيد؛ فقد قابل نوح سخريتهم بيقين هادئ بوعد الله، وترك العاقبة تشهد بصدق ما أنذرهم به.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Why did Allah instruct Nuh to build a ship?
To save the believers and a pair of every animal from the coming flood that would destroy the disbelievers.
How did Nuh's people react to him building the ship?
They mocked him whenever they passed by and denied the drowning he warned them of (Surah Hud 11:38).
How did Nuh respond to their mockery?
He remained steadfast, telling them that just as they laughed at him, they would soon see the truth of his warning.