950 Years of Calling
2 min read
Nuh (AS) did not call his people for a few years and give up. He kept calling them for centuries, day and night, without rest.
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى دَعَوْتُ قَوْمِى لَيْلًۭا وَنَهَارًۭا
"He said, 'My Lord, indeed I invited my people [to truth] night and day.'"
— Surah Nuh 71:5
He tried every way to reach their hearts. Sometimes he spoke to them openly, in front of everyone.
ثُمَّ إِنِّى دَعَوْتُهُمْ جِهَارًۭا
"'Then I invited them publicly.'"
— Surah Nuh 71:8
Other times he spoke to them privately, one person at a time, and other times he announced his message loudly. He used every method he could think of to help his people understand.
ثُمَّ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَنتُ لَهُمْ وَأَسْرَرْتُ لَهُمْ إِسْرَارًۭا
"'Then I announced to them and [also] confided to them secretly'"
— Surah Nuh 71:9
Allah tells us exactly how long Nuh (AS) continued this mission — a number that shows just how patient he truly was.
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ فَلَبِثَ فِيهِمْ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ إِلَّا خَمْسِينَ عَامًۭا فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱلطُّوفَانُ وَهُمْ ظَٰلِمُونَ
"And We certainly sent Noah to his people, and he remained among them a thousand years minus fifty years, and the flood seized them while they were wrongdoers."
— Surah Al-Ankabut 29:14
Nine hundred and fifty years of calling people to the truth. Most of his people still refused to believe, but Nuh (AS) never stopped trying, never lost hope, and never gave up his duty to Allah.