Not every prophet was believed. The Qur'an tells us about Nuh, Hud, Salih and Lut so we learn how to keep doing right when people laugh or walk away. These lessons stay inside the Qur'anic account, with every ayah shown from the verified Uthmani text.
Lesson 1 · Patience measured in years · ages 5-7
Nuh kept calling
Nuh called his people to worship Allah alone for a very long time. Most of them refused, and he did not give up.
1One simple message
Nuh said: 'O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him.'
2He never stopped
He said he called his people night and day.
3They covered their ears
The Qur'an says they put their fingers in their ears and covered themselves.
4He offered them mercy
He told them to seek forgiveness from their Lord, who is ever-forgiving.
5Long patience
The Qur'an says Nuh stayed among his people for a very long time before the flood.
“We had certainly sent Noah to his people, and he said, "O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a tremendous Day.”
Wa inee kullamaa da'awtuhum litaghfira lahum ja'alooo asaabi'ahum fee aazaanihim wastaghshaw siyaabahum wa asaarroo wastakbarus tikbaaraa
“And indeed, every time I invited them that You may forgive them, they put their fingers in their ears, covered themselves with their garments, persisted, and were arrogant with [great] arrogance.”
Wasna'il fulka bi-a'yuninaa wa wahyinaa wa laa tukhaa tibnee fil lazeena zalamoo; innahum mughraqoon
“And construct the ship under Our observation and Our inspiration and do not address Me concerning those who have wronged; indeed, they are [to be] drowned."”
Wa yasn'ul fulka wa kullamaa marra 'alaihi malaum min qawmihee sakhiroo minh; qaala in taskharoo minnaa fa innaa naskharu minkum kamaa taskharoon
“And he constructed the ship, and whenever an assembly of the eminent of his people passed by him, they ridiculed him. He said, "If you ridicule us, then we will ridicule you just as you ridicule.”
Do this before next time
Do one act of obedience today that your friends might find uncool, like praying on time.
Lesson 3 · Faith is not inherited · ages 8-11
The son who refused
Nuh called his own son to come aboard. His son chose a mountain instead, and was not saved.
1A father's call
Nuh called out: 'O my son, come aboard with us and be not with the disbelievers.'
2The refusal
His son said he would take shelter on a mountain that would protect him from the water.
3No shelter that day
Nuh told him there is no protector today from the decree of Allah.
4Being related is not enough
Allah told Nuh that his son was not of his family in faith, because of his deeds.
5What saves us
Belief and obedience save a person, not whose child they are.
Wa hiya tajree bihim fee mawjin kaljibaali wa naadaa Noohunib nahoo wa kaana fee ma'ziliny yaa bunai yarkam ma'anaa wa laa takum ma'al kaafireen
“And it sailed with them through waves like mountains, and Noah called to his son who was apart [from them], "O my son, come aboard with us and be not with the disbelievers."”
Qaala sa aaweee ilaa jabaliny ya'simunee minal maaa'; qaala laa 'aasimal yawma min amril laahi illaa mar rahim; wa haala bainahumal mawju fakaana minal mughraqeen
“[But] he said, "I will take refuge on a mountain to protect me from the water." [Noah] said, "There is no protector today from the decree of Allah, except for whom He gives mercy." And the waves came between them, and he was among the drowned.”
“He said, "O Noah, indeed he is not of your family; indeed, he is [one whose] work was other than righteous, so ask Me not for that about which you have no knowledge. Indeed, I advise you, lest you be among the ignorant."”
Do this before next time
Name one good thing your family does that you want to keep doing when you are grown up — because you chose it.
Lesson 4 · Power is a gift, not a right · ages 8-11
Hud and the people who trusted their strength
Hud was sent to 'Ad, a strong and proud people. He reminded them that their strength was given by Allah.
1The same message
Hud said: 'O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him.'
2Will you not fear Allah?
He asked them to be conscious of Allah in how they lived.
3Remember who gave it
He reminded them to remember Allah's favours upon them, hoping they would succeed.
4Pride blinded them
The Qur'an describes them as arrogant on the earth, sure that nothing could touch them.
5Strength does not last
Their power did not protect them when Allah's decree came.
awa 'ajibtum an jaaa'akum zikrum mir Rabbikum 'alaa rajulim minkum liyunzirakum; wazkurooo iz ja'alakum khulafaaa'a mim ba'di qawmi noohinw wa zaadakum filkhalqi bastatan fazkurooo aalaaa'al laahi la'allakum tuflihoon
“Then do you wonder that there has come to you a reminder from your Lord through a man from among you, that he may warn you? And remember when He made you successors after the people of Noah and increased you in stature extensively. So remember the favors of Allah that you might succeed.”
Fa ammaa 'Aadun fastak baroo fil ardi bighairul haqqi wa qaaloo man ashaddu minnaa quwwatan awalam yaraw annal laahal lazee khalaqahum Huwa ashaddu minhum quwwatanw wa kaanoo bi Aayaatinaa yajhadoon
“As for 'Aad, they were arrogant upon the earth without right and said, "Who is greater than us in strength?" Did they not consider that Allah who created them was greater than them in strength? But they were rejecting Our signs.”
Do this before next time
Name one thing you are good at, then say: alhamdulillah, Allah gave me this.
Lesson 5 · A clear sign, wasted · ages 12-15
Salih and the she-camel
Thamud asked for a sign and got one. They harmed it instead of honouring it, and the warning came true.
1A prophet from among them
Salih said: 'O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him.'
2The sign
The Qur'an calls the she-camel a sign from Allah for them, and tells them to let her graze.
3A clear warning
Salih told them not to harm her, or a painful punishment would seize them.
4They harmed her anyway
The Qur'an says they hamstrung her and defied the command of their Lord.
5Signs need a soft heart
Seeing a miracle does not help a person who has already decided not to obey.
Wa ilaa Samooda akhaahum Saalihaa; qaala yaa qawmi' budul laaha maa lakum min ilaahin ghairuhoo qad jaaa'atkum baiyinatum mir Rabbikum haazihee naaqatul laahi lakum Aayatan fazaroohaa taakul feee ardil laahi wa laa tamassoohaa bisooo'in fa yaakhuzakum 'azaabun aleem
“And to the Thamud [We sent] their brother Salih. He said, "O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. There has come to you clear evidence from your Lord. This is the she-camel of Allah [sent] to you as a sign. So leave her to eat within Allah 's land and do not touch her with harm, lest there seize you a painful punishment.”
Fa'aqarun naaqata wa'ataw 'an amri Rabbihim wa qaaloo yaa Saalihu' tinaa bimaa ta'idunaaa in kunta minal mursaleen
“So they hamstrung the she-camel and were insolent toward the command of their Lord and said, "O Salih, bring us what you promise us, if you should be of the messengers."”
“He said, "My Lord, support me against the corrupting people."”
Do this before next time
Practise one sentence you can say when friends push you towards something haram.
Every ayah on this page comes from the Tanzil Uthmani text of the Qur'an with the Sahih International translation, and every hadith carries its collection and number so you can check it yourself. Back to the learning path
