[Editor’s Note: This article is a reprint that was published online on Oct. 28, 2003.]
“As it was in the days of Noah … so shall it be when the Son of Man comes … .” This is being written on the Day of Atonement.
Mr. N. J. Dawood’s translation of Surah 71, titled ‘Noah’ in the Holy Qur’an, reads: “In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
“We sent forth Noah to his people, saying: ‘Give warning to your people before a woeful scourge overtakes them.’
“He said: ‘My people, I come to warn you plainly. Serve God and fear Him, and obey me. He will forgive you your sins and give you respite for an appointed term. When God’s time arrives, none shall put it back. Would that you understood this!’
“ ‘Lord’ said Noah, ‘night and day I have pleaded with my people, but my pleas have only aggravated their aversion. Each time I call on them to seek Your pardon, they thrust their fingers into their ears and draw their cloaks over their heads, persisting in sin and bearing themselves with insolent pride. I called out loud to them, and appealed to them in public and in private.
“ ‘Seek forgiveness of your Lord,’ I said. ‘He is ever ready to forgive. He sends down abundant water from the sky for you and bestows upon you wealth and children. He has provided you with gardens and with running brooks. Why do you deny the greatness of God when He created you in gradual stages? Can you see not how God created the seven heavens one above the other, placing in them the moon for a light and the sun for a lantern? God has brought you forth from the earth a vast expanse for you, so that you may roam its spacious paths.’
“And Noah said: ‘Lord, my people disobey me, and follow those whose wealth and offspring will only hasten their perdition. They have devised an outrageous plot, and said to each other: ‘Do not renounce your gods. Do not forsake Wadd or Suwa’ or Yaghuth or Ya’uq or Nasr.’ They have led numerous men astray. You surely drive the wrongdoer to further error.’
“And because of their sins they were overwhelmed by the Flood and cast into the Fire. They found none besides God to help them.
“And Noah said: ‘Lord, do not leave a single unbeliever on earth. If you spare them, they will mislead your servants and beget none but sinners and unbelievers. Forgive me, Lord, and forgive my parents and every true believer who seeks refuge in my house.
“Forgive all the faithful, men and women, and hasten the destruction of the wrongdoers.”
The Honorable Elijah Muhammad made very clear the relationship between Noah and his people and the bearing that history has on us. He taught on this significant prophet of Allah in his books, namely, “Message to the Blackman,” “Our Saviour Has Arrived,” “The Fall of America” and “How to Eat to Live” Books One and Two.
He said some things of Noah and his times that are not in his books. Here, I’ll touch what seems to be lightweight, but which is very weighty for us all.
The Honorable Elijah Muhammad told me one day that he actually experienced a person putting their fingers in their ears, as was done to Noah, so that he/she could not hear his words. He did not tell me the gender of that person.
On another occasion he told me of an experience he had in the 1930s in the Congressional Library. He struck up a conversation with an intelligent looking Black woman. She seemed very interested in what he was saying, which he did in a respectful manner, of what Allah taught him.
He said she seemed so interested and seemed to be listening so intently that he began to think he was getting a convert for the Lord. So he went deeper and deeper into God’s truths.
After about two hours had passed, he asked her what she thought of what he said. He said she said, “Do you expect me to believe that stuff?”
He told me that he was “out-done.” He said he was so surprised at hearing her words. But despite such experiences–even attempts on his life for this truth by the envious–he would not give up loving us nor give up his mission put on him by the Lord of the worlds. Then his Lord called him in to give him the next part of his mission in 1975. Yes, he is very much alive.
Muhammad Ali translates verse seven of this Surah this way: “And whenever I call to them Thou may forgive them, they thrust their fingers in their ears … and are big with pride.”
Then, in verse thirteen, are these words, in the Muhammad Ali translation: “What is the matter with you that you hope not for greatness from Allah?”
Let us look well or as deep as we can into these words. Do envious people “hope not for greatness from Allah?”
The basis of true greatness is in sincere acceptance of Allah’s truths. Then, what is the condition of those who pay no heed to God’s words coming through His representatives? Is it the sealing of their hearts? What is this? Why does Allah seal a person’s heart against His truth and mercy and how? What happens next? Be it the will of Allah we’ll take this up as we get deeper into envy’s roots and the half-truths it produces, especially those that are directed towards the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.
One day, I read in The Living Bible Ezekiel, 33:32, 33, these words: “You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings lovely songs with a beautiful voice or plays well on an instrument. They hear what you say but don’t pay any attention to it! But when all these terrible things happen to them–as they will–then they will know a prophet has been among them.”
My mind went to my Beloved Brother, Minister Farrakhan, who is more than a prophet and is one blessed and favored of God.
Now, to really appreciate this passage one ought to read that chapter, or better, all of Ezekiel. But, many say, I don’t have that kind of time. That’s what the people of Noah said. At the right time, God shut tight the ark’s door. Then came the flood. Too late.
The Holy Qur’an states that many will say to others: “Wait for us, that we may borrow from your light. It will be said: ‘Turn back and seek a light.’ Then a wall, with a door in it, will be raised between them. Within it shall be mercy, and outside of it chastisement. They will cry out to them: ‘Were we not with you?’ They will say: ‘Yea, but … .’ ” [57:13, 14]
Does this remind you of Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins in the 25th chapter of Matthew? What was the issue on which they were separated? Read this prophetic parable, which is being fulfilled today.
Quickly, get and hear Minister Farrakhan’s June 2, 1996 speech: “Fear, Faith & Truth” as soon as you can!
Several have asked where was my article in the last issue of The Final Call. The editors put it on page 4.
More next issue, Allah willing.
