The Command to Build the Ark
2 min read
After centuries of calling his people with no success, Allah told Nuh (AS) that the time for warning was over. A different kind of command came.
فَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْهِ أَنِ ٱصْنَعِ ٱلْفُلْكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَوَحْيِنَا فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا وَفَارَ ٱلتَّنُّورُ ۙ فَٱسْلُكْ فِيهَا مِن كُلٍّۢ زَوْجَيْنِ ٱثْنَيْنِ وَأَهْلَكَ إِلَّا مَن سَبَقَ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْقَوْلُ مِنْهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تُخَٰطِبْنِى فِى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ ۖ إِنَّهُم مُّغْرَقُونَ
"So We inspired to him, 'Construct the ship under Our observation and Our inspiration, and when Our command comes and the oven overflows, put into it [i.e., the ship] from each [creature] two mates and your family, except him for whom the decree [of destruction] has proceeded. And do not address Me concerning those who have wronged; indeed, they are to be drowned.'"
— Surah Al-Mu'minun 23:27
Allah told Nuh (AS) exactly what to do: build a ship, under Allah's own guidance and protection. When the moment came and water began bursting out everywhere, he was to bring two of every kind of creature onto the ship, along with his family — except those who had already been judged. Nuh (AS) was told not to argue on behalf of the wrongdoers anymore; their fate was already decided.
وَٱصْنَعِ ٱلْفُلْكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَوَحْيِنَا وَلَا تُخَٰطِبْنِى فِى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُم مُّغْرَقُونَ
"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."
— Surah Hud 11:37
Allah repeated this same instruction in another part of the Quran, making the command unmistakably clear — build the ship, and stop pleading for those who had chosen to disbelieve.
As Nuh (AS) began building this massive ship — likely far from any sea or river — his own people walked by and laughed at him.
وَيَصْنَعُ ٱلْفُلْكَ وَكُلَّمَا مَرَّ عَلَيْهِ مَلَأٌۭ مِّن قَوْمِهِۦ سَخِرُوا۟ مِنْهُ ۚ قَالَ إِن تَسْخَرُوا۟ مِنَّا فَإِنَّا نَسْخَرُ مِنكُمْ كَمَا تَسْخَرُونَ
"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.'"
— Surah Hud 11:38
Nuh (AS) did not get discouraged by their mockery. He simply told them that the time would come when they would understand exactly who deserved to be laughed at.