IN THE STORY of Nuh (as) there is one scene that Allah describes that resonates with me again and again.
It is the scene where Nuh and the few who followed him are in the Ark. The water had risen and the waves are crashing around them thunderously. Danger everywhere. The only safety was on the very planks of that boat.
Amidst this Nuh (as) sees his son. Not on the boat. Not safe. Amidst the storm that surrounds them.
He calls out to his son:
يَـٰبُنَىَّ ٱرْكَب مَّعَنَا وَلَا تَكُن مَّعَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
‘O my son, come aboard with us and do not stay with the disbelievers.’ (Hud 42)
But his call fell on heedless ears and a heart already corrupted:
قَالَ سَـَٔاوِىٓ إِلَىٰ جَبَلٍۢ يَعْصِمُنِى مِنَ ٱلْمَآءِ ۚ
But he replied, ‘I will seek refuge on a mountain to save me from the water.’ (Hud 43)
Nuh (as) knew better. Nothing was going to save him from this torment. The only safety was on that Ark that was built on iman. So he said:
قَالَ لَا عَاصِمَ ٱلْيَوْمَ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ ۚ
‘Today there is no refuge from Allah’s command, except for those on whom He has mercy.’ (Hud 43)
The waves cut them off from each other and his son was among the drowned.
I can’t help but feel at times (like many parents across the world) that we are like small boats afloat in perilous waters, surrounded by the trials and evils of the modern world, and desperately trying to hold onto our families.
And like Nuh (as) realised, through this storm the only hope of salvation is iman and holding on to our deen. Without it, we are bound to be drowned, as many have indeed drowned in the fitan.
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