Noah
Noah is a significant character both in the Bible and the Quran. In both books, he was saved by God or Allah from the flood that wiped out the human race and the world they are living in. Noah in the Bible and in the Quran has a similarity and a few differences in personality which shall be discussed in this essay.
Noah of the Old Testament found favor in the eyes of the Lord because of his obedience. When God decided to put an end to mankind along with all living creatures on earth by flood, he asked Noah to build an ark where he will put two, male and female, of every creature and store food of every kind. Furthermore, he said, “I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you. Noah obeyed all of God’s commands.
In the Quran, Allah’s favor for Noah was reflected when he was sent to the people with a command, “Do thou warn thy People before there comes to them a grievous Penalty.” His obedience of this command may be gleaned when he said, “O my Lord! I have called to my People night and day” and “I have spoken to them in public and secretly in private…”
In this obedience underlies the difference in personality between the two depictions of Noah. While in the Bible, it was said that Noah obeyed everything that God commanded showing his humility and the low self-importance which he befits himself. In contrast, in the Quran, Noah showed through his words his opinion or his belief of how important he is to wit, "O my People! I am to you a Warner, clear and open; "That ye should worship Allah, fear Him and obey me.”; and “O my Lord! They have disobeyed me, but they follow (men) whose wealth and children give them no increase but only Loss.” Instead of saying that it is Allah who is to be obeyed, his words showed that it is himself that is to be followed and not Allah. This character is not evident in the other Noah. In fact, he was described as a righteous man who walked with God.
Furthermore, the Quran depicts a Noah who deems it upon himself to set judgment on other people and tells God to punish them. This is mirrored when he said to God after he was unable to dissuade the people from their evil ways, “"O my Lord! Leave not of the Unbelievers, a single one on earth! "For, if Thou dost leave (any of) them, they will but mislead Thy devotees, and they will breed none but wicked ungrateful ones. In addition, he said to Allah, “to the wrong-doers grant Thou no increase but in perdition.” Being described as someone who is blameless, Noah of the Bible did not exhibit the trait depicted above.
It is also noteworthy that Noah of the Bible did not appeal to God that his family be saved from the impending worldwide catastrophe. He accepted everything which God told him and obeyed all of His commands. Noah in the Quran, however, asked for forgiveness for his family, all who enter his “house in Faith” and all believers. Although, this is not to say that asking forgiveness is a bad thing, it is, however, apparent that he asked forgiveness for a few select people which means that he already marginalized those whom he thinks have been disobedient to the ways of Allah and he already assumed that his family has not been so.
Though united by the same fate and their obedience to the Creator, the two Noah’s are divided by personality traits which are of significance because of their impact on the message of the Bible or Quran. From this personal evaluation, issues about the character of those who will be saved may be in question. But, of course, evaluations are relative ideas. Being relative, they may differ from one person to the next. The story of Noah in the Bible and the Quran imparts the message of deliverance through faith, obedience coupled with good actions.
Noah of the Old Testament found favor in the eyes of the Lord because of his obedience. When God decided to put an end to mankind along with all living creatures on earth by flood, he asked Noah to build an ark where he will put two, male and female, of every creature and store food of every kind. Furthermore, he said, “I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you. Noah obeyed all of God’s commands.
In the Quran, Allah’s favor for Noah was reflected when he was sent to the people with a command, “Do thou warn thy People before there comes to them a grievous Penalty.” His obedience of this command may be gleaned when he said, “O my Lord! I have called to my People night and day” and “I have spoken to them in public and secretly in private…”
In this obedience underlies the difference in personality between the two depictions of Noah. While in the Bible, it was said that Noah obeyed everything that God commanded showing his humility and the low self-importance which he befits himself. In contrast, in the Quran, Noah showed through his words his opinion or his belief of how important he is to wit, "O my People! I am to you a Warner, clear and open; "That ye should worship Allah, fear Him and obey me.”; and “O my Lord! They have disobeyed me, but they follow (men) whose wealth and children give them no increase but only Loss.” Instead of saying that it is Allah who is to be obeyed, his words showed that it is himself that is to be followed and not Allah. This character is not evident in the other Noah. In fact, he was described as a righteous man who walked with God.
Furthermore, the Quran depicts a Noah who deems it upon himself to set judgment on other people and tells God to punish them. This is mirrored when he said to God after he was unable to dissuade the people from their evil ways, “"O my Lord! Leave not of the Unbelievers, a single one on earth! "For, if Thou dost leave (any of) them, they will but mislead Thy devotees, and they will breed none but wicked ungrateful ones. In addition, he said to Allah, “to the wrong-doers grant Thou no increase but in perdition.” Being described as someone who is blameless, Noah of the Bible did not exhibit the trait depicted above.
It is also noteworthy that Noah of the Bible did not appeal to God that his family be saved from the impending worldwide catastrophe. He accepted everything which God told him and obeyed all of His commands. Noah in the Quran, however, asked for forgiveness for his family, all who enter his “house in Faith” and all believers. Although, this is not to say that asking forgiveness is a bad thing, it is, however, apparent that he asked forgiveness for a few select people which means that he already marginalized those whom he thinks have been disobedient to the ways of Allah and he already assumed that his family has not been so.
Though united by the same fate and their obedience to the Creator, the two Noah’s are divided by personality traits which are of significance because of their impact on the message of the Bible or Quran. From this personal evaluation, issues about the character of those who will be saved may be in question. But, of course, evaluations are relative ideas. Being relative, they may differ from one person to the next. The story of Noah in the Bible and the Quran imparts the message of deliverance through faith, obedience coupled with good actions.
