Prophet Nuh (as)

Prophet Nuh (as)

 

A long time ago in a far away land

Lived a prophet named Nuh - a pious man.

He was good, he was honest and truthful and fair

Prevented the town's folk from going astray.

 

He spoke about Allah, his wonderful Lord

Who spread out the earth; who pegged in  the rocks

Who made rivers flow through green valleys and plain

And raised lofty mountains; brought down the rain.

Who studded the sky with the sun and the stars 

With Jupiter, Uranus, Mercury and Mars

The birds and the flowers, the animals and trees

The wild roaring typhoons and soft gentling breeze.

The towns' folk, they mocked him, 'Be silent!' they said.

'We have our own cool  gods, We love them!' they said.

Nuh, Allah's Prophet, tried hard day and night

To teach them good manners, to do what is right.

Nine hundred and fifty long years - all in vain

Nuh Allah's prophet tried again and again.

Do you think that they changed? No Sir, they did not!

They lied and they cheated, they killed and they fought.

Till Nuh, Allah's Prophet, had had quite enough

He raised his hands high and he call to his Lord:

I've tried my very hardest, o my Lord, I complain

I have begged, I have pleaded - not one man will change. 

'Stand firm, dearest Nuh,' said Allah, 'Have faith,

There will soon come a flood that will swallow the earth.

It's time to prepare now, for the looming deluge

To build a huge ark; and in it take refuge.

 

Nuh, Allah's Prophet said: Let's build an Ark!

That is roomy and ready for us to embark

When ice caps are melting and rain pelting down

We'll be safe in our vessel - no one will drown!

 

But the town's folk? they laughed. 'What do you mean?

Rain, did you say? There's not a cloud to be seen!

And as for the fast melting icecaps you talk of -

The North pole and South pole are a bit too far off!

 

Nuh, Allah's Prophet was patient, he said:

You have time. Think on it - while I plan ahead.

He sowed in the seeds. He waited. He waited.

Saplings soon grew into trees. He waited.

He chopped down foliage; sawed planks. He waited.

Made gables and rafters and floor boards - he waited.

''Let's build it! Time's flying!'' He waited. He waited.

''Is  there any one at all who'll give me a hand?

To build this huge ark and save all mankind???''

Few answered - the ones who were true and honest

They worked day and night until they had done it.

The ark! It was big; it was wide; it was layered

In the exact dimensions that Allah had ordered.

 

Exhausted but pleased Nuh's friends slept that night

And woke up next morning to an amazing sight!

Surrounding the ship were stood big and small

Animals and birds: the tiny, the tall!

Gophers and tigers and geese and flamingos

Beetles and bears, baboons and the rhinos!

All two by two they marched in, they trundled

Into the ark, side by side they were bundled.

 

At last Nuh and his few friends boarded the bark

The doors were shut tight and were bolted fast

The towns folk still laughed though - doubled with mirth

At Nuh and his ark sitting silent on earth.

 

Their laughter dried up soon, theirs smiles slowly froze

When thunder rolled in, It RAINED! Waters rose.

In panic they hurried, climbed mountains and trees

But the waters rose higher; lands turned to seas.

Till all was submerged, and what could be seen

Was the wide ocean's surface - all blue, all green.

 

Wait! What do you think happened to Nuh's big Ark?

With its peacocks, and parrots and pigeons and larks?

It was safe! It was floating high up with the waves!

Nuh and his band of true friends had been saved!

 

When it did stop raining and the water subsided

The ark stopped floating, it silently landed.

The sky once again was bright and blue

And the sun warmed the earth for fresh life anew.

The gates were unbolted - left open wide

 for the travellers to step off the tumultuous ride.

There was peace, there was joy in every heart

In high spirits - ready for a brand new start

They stretched, they crawled, they flew, they ran

Spread, built homes - The Divine Plan!

 

Prophet Nuh and his followers prostrated low

Humbled, amazed; cries rang out in awe:

'There's no god but Allah!' clamoured voices devout.

All Praise is for Him, Him alone - without doubt!

 

Afshan Ali