Surah Al-Mu'minun 23:24

The Story of Nuh, Peace be upon Him; and his people

Allah tells us about Nuh, peace be upon him, whom He sent him to his people to warn them of the severe punishment of Allah and His severe vengeance on those who associated partners with Him, defied His commands and disbelieved His Messengers:

(and he said: "O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other God but Him. Will you not then have Taqwa") Meaning, "Do you not fear Allah when you associate others in worship with Him" The chiefs or leaders of his people said:

(He is no more than a human being like you, he seeks to make himself superior to you.) meaning, `he is putting himself above you and trying to make himself great by claiming to be a Prophet, but he is a human being like you, so how can he receive revelation when you do not'

(Had Allah willed, He surely could have sent down angels.) meaning, `if Allah had wanted to send a Prophet, He would have sent an angel from Him, not a human being. We have never heard of such a thing -- i.e., sending a man to our forefathers' -- their predecessors in times past.

(He is only a man in whom is madness,) means, `he is crazy in his claim that Allah has sent him and chosen him from among you to receive revelation.'

(so wait for him a while.) means, `wait until he dies, put up with him until you are rid of him.'

Seruan Nabi Nuh yang lemah lembut ini dijawab dengan cemoohan kaumnya, bahwa Nuh tidak lain hanya seorang manusia biasa seperti mereka, tidak mempunyai kelebihan apa-apa, baik fisik maupun mental sehingga ia pantas untuk menjadi utusan Allah dan menerima wahyu. Nuh dituduh hanya ingin menjadi orang yang kedudukannya lebih dari mereka, dan ingin lebih berkuasa. Untuk mencapai tujuannya itu, ia mengaku menjadi utusan Allah, padahal sebenarnya ia tidak pantas. Lalu mereka menyebutkan dua hal yang menjadi alasan untuk tidak mengakui Nuh sebagai utusan Allah.

Pertama, seandainya Allah menghendaki mengutus seorang rasul yang memerintahkan beribadah hanya kepada Allah saja, tentu Dia mengutus beberapa malaikat, dan bukan mengutus seorang manusia biasa.

Kedua, mereka belum pernah mendengar dari nenek moyang mereka sendiri apa yang dikemukakan oleh Nuh, tentang penyembahan hanya kepada Allah, Tuhan Yang Esa. Seruan kepada ketauhidan itu tidak ada dalam tradisi nenek moyang mereka, maka mereka menentang keras dakwah Nabi Nuh. Hal demikian menunjukkan bahwa mereka telah terseret dalam taklid buta dan kesesatan.