Perished Nations-An Article About Archaeology in the Qu'ran

[Idris]

NUH?S FLOOD
We (once) sent Nuh to his people, and he tarried among them
a thousand years less fifty but the Deluge
Overwhelmed them while they (persisted in) sin.
(Surat al-Ankaboot 14)

Referred to in nearly all cultures, Nuh?s Flood is one of the instances most widely eluded in the Qur?an. The indifference of the prophet Nuh?s people to his advice and warnings, their reactions and how the event took place are told in detail in many verses.

The prophet Nuh was sent to warn his people who had turned away from Allah?s verses and were associating partners with Him and to urge them to worship Allah only and abandon their rebellion. Despite the messenger Nuh advising his people many times to submit to Allah?s commands and warning them of the wrath of Allah, they still denied him and continued associating partners with Allah. In Surat al-Mumenoon, how the affair developed is described as follows;

(Further, We sent a long line of prophets for your instruction). We sent Nuh to his people He said, "O my people! serve Allah! Ye have no other god but Him. Will ye not fear (Him)?"
The chiefs of the Unbelievers among his people said "He is no more than a man like yourselves his wish is to assert his superiority over you if Allah had wished (to send messengers), He could have sent down angels; never did we hear such a thing (as he says), among our ancestors of old."
(And some said) "He is only a man possessed wait (and have patience) with him for a time."
(Nuh) said "O my Lord! Help me for that they accuse me of falsehood!" (Surat al-Mumenoon 23-26)

As told in these verses, the chiefs of the community tried to accuse the prophet Nuh of trying to assert his superiority over them, that is, of seeking personal interests such as status, leadership and wealth, and they tried to identify him as "possessed", and they decided to bear with him for a while, and keep him under pressure.

Upon this, Allah told the messenger Nuh that those who rejected faith and did wrong would be punished by drowning and that those who believed would be saved.

Indeed when the time of punishment came, waters and overflowing springs burst from the ground and which, together with excessive rains, caused a huge flood. Allah told Nuh to "take on board pairs of every species, male and female, and his family- except those of them against whom the Word has already gone forth". All the people in that land were drowned in water - including Nuh?s "son" who thought that he could be saved by taking refuge in a nearby mountain. All were drowned except those who embarked on the Ark with the prophet Nuh. When the waters abated at the end of the Flood, and "the matter was ended", the Ark came to rest on Judi - that is, on a high place - as the Qur?an informs us.
Archaeological, geological and historical studies show that this incident took place just as it is related in the Qur?an. The Flood is also very similarly described in many records of past civilisations and in many historical documents, although character and place-names vary, and "all that happened to an astray people" is presented to contemporary people as a warning.

Apart from the Old and New Testaments, the account of the Flood is told in a very similar manner in Sumerian and Assyrian-Babylonian records, in Greek legends, in the Shatapatha, Brahmana and Mahabharata epics of India, in some Welsh legends of the British Isles, in the Nordic Edda, in Lithuanian legends and even in some Chinese-rooted stories.
How could such detailed and pertinent information be gathered from such geographically and culturally distant lands, which are quite far from each other and from the flood region?

The answer is clear the fact that the same incident is related in the records and inscriptions of all those communities which have little possibility of communicating with each other, is in fact a clear evidence that these people received knowledge from a divine source. It seems that the Flood, one of the biggest and most destructive events in history, was narrated by many prophets sent to various civilisations for the purpose of setting an example. Thus news about the Flood has spread out to various cultures.

Besides, despite being narrated in many cultures and religious sources, the story of the Flood incident and of the prophet Nuh have been greatly altered and so have diverged from the original version because of falsification of sources, or incorrect transmission and maybe even wrong intentions. Research reveals that, among all the Flood narrations which relate basically the same event with various differences, the only consistent description is the one in the Qur?an.

The Prophet Nuh and the Flood in the Qur?an
Nuh?s Flood is mentioned in many verses of the Qur?an. Below are found the verse arranged according to the sequence of events;

The Prophet Nuh?s Inviting His People to the Religion of truth

We sent Nuh to his people. He said "O my people! worship Allah! ye have no other god but Him. I fear for you the punishment of a dreadful day!" (Surat al-Araf 59)
(Nuh) "I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust So fear Allah, and obey me. No reward do I ask of you for it my reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds So fear Allah, and obey me." (Surat ash-Shuara 107-110)
(Further, We sent a long line of prophets for your instruction). We sent Nuh to his people He said, "O my people! worship Allah! Ye have no other god but Him. Will ye not fear (Him)?" (Surat al-Mumenoon 23)

The Prophet Nuh?s Warning His People Against the Punishment of Allah

We sent Nuh to his People (with the Command) "Do thou warn thy People before there comes to them a grievous Penalty." (Surah Nuh 1)
(Nuh) "But soon will ye know who it is on whom will descend a penalty that will cover them with shame - on whom will be unloosed a penalty lasting" (Surah Hud 39)
(Nuh) "That ye serve none but Allah Verily I do fear for you the penalty of a grievous day." (Surah Hud 26)

Denial of Nuh's People
The leaders of his people said "Ah! we see thee evidently wandering (in mind)." (Surat al-Araf 60)
They said "O Nuh! thou hast disputed with us, and (much) hast thou prolonged the dispute with us now bring upon us what thou threatenest us with, if thou speakest the truth!?" (Surah Hud 32)
Forthwith he (starts) constructing the Ark Every time that the chiefs of his people passed by him, they threw ridicule on him. He said "If ye ridicule us now, we (in our turn) can look down on you with ridicule likewise!" (Surah Hud 3
The chiefs of the Unbelievers among his people said "He is no more than a man like yourselves his wish is to assert his superiority over you if Allah had wished (to send messengers), He could have sent down angels; never did we hear such a thing (as he says), among our ancestors of old." (And some said) "He is only a man possessed wait (and have patience) with him for a time." (Surat al-Mumenoon 24-25)
Before them the People of Nuh rejected (their messenger) they rejected Our servant, and said, "Here is one possessed!", and he was driven out. (Surat al-Qamar 9)

Their Disregard of Those Who Followed the prophet Nuh
But the chiefs of the Unbelievers among his people said "We see (in) thee nothing but a man like ourselves Nor do we see that any follow thee but the meanest among us, in judgment immature Nor do we see in you (all) any merit above us in fact we think ye are liars!" (Surah Hud 27)
They said "Shall we believe in thee when it is the meanest that follow thee?" He said "And what do I know as to what they do? Their account is only with my Lord, if ye could (but) understand. I am not one to drive away those who believe. I am sent only to warn plainly in public." (Surat ash-Shuara 111-115)

Allah?s Reminding Nuh Not to Grieve
It was revealed to Nuh "None of thy people will believe except those who have believed already! So grieve no longer over their (evil) deeds." (Surah Hud, 36)

Prayers of the prophet Nuh
(Nuh) "Judge Thou, then, between me and them openly, and deliver me and those of the Believers who are with me." (Surat ash-Shuara 11
Then he called on his Lord "I am one overcome do Thou then help (me)!" (Surat al-Qamar 10)
(Nuh) He said "O my Lord! I have called to my People night and day But my call only increases (their) flight (from the Right)." (Surah Nuh 5-6)
(Nuh) said "O my Lord! help me for that they accuse me of falsehood!" (Surat al-Mumenoon 26)
(In the days of old), Nuh cried to Us, and We are the best to hear prayer. (Surat as-Saaffat 75)

The Construction of the Ark
But construct an Ark under Our eyes and Our inspiration, and address Me no (further) on behalf of those who are in sin for they are about to be overwhelmed (in the Flood). (Surah Hud 37)

The Destruction of the prophet Nuh?s People by Drowning
But they rejected him, and We delivered him, and those with him, in the Ark but We overwhelmed in the flood those who rejected Our signs. They were indeed a blind people! (Surat al-Araf 64)
Thereafter We drowned those who remained behind. (Surat ash-Shuara 120)
We (once) sent Nuh to his people, and he tarried among them a thousand years less fifty but the Deluge overwhelmed them while they (persisted in) sin. (Surat al-Ankaboot 14)
We saved him and those who adhered to him. By Our mercy, and We cut off the roots of those who rejected Our signs and did not believe. (Surat al-Araf 72)

The Destruction of the Prophet Nuh?s "Son"
The Qur?an relates a dialogue between Nuh and his son, in the early stages of the Flood;

So the Ark floated with them on the waves (towering) like mountains, and Nuh called out to his son, who had separated himself (from the rest) "O my son! embark with us, and be not with the unbelievers!" The son replied "I will betake myself to some mountain it will save me from the water." Nuh said "This day nothing can save, from the command of Allah, any but those on whom He hath mercy!" And the waves came between them, and the son was among those overwhelmed in the Flood. (Surah Hud 42-43)

Saving the Believers from the Flood
So We delivered him and those with him, in the Ark filled (with all creatures). (Surat ash-Shuara 119)
But We saved him and the companions of the Ark, and We made the (Ark) a Sign for all peoples! (Surat al-Ankaboot 15)

The Physical Nature of the Flood
So We opened the gates of heaven, with water pouring forth. And We caused the earth to gush forth with springs, so the waters met (and rose) to the extent decreed. But We bore him on an (Ark) made of broad planks and caulked with palm-fibre (Surat al-Qamar 11-13)

At length, behold! there came Our command, and the fountains of the earth gushed forth! We said "Embark therein, of each kind two, male and female, and your family - except those against whom the word has already gone forth - and the Believers." but only a few believed with him.
So the Ark floated with them on the waves (towering) like mountains, and Nuh called out to his son, who had separated himself (from the rest) "O my son! embark with us, and be not with the unbelievers!"(Surah Hud 40-42)

So We inspired him (with this message) "Construct the Ark within Our sight and under Our guidance then when comes Our Command, and the fountains of the earth gush forth, take thou on board pairs of every species, male and female, and thy family- except those of them against whom the Word has already gone forth And address Me not in favour of the wrong-doers; for they shall be drowned (in the Flood)." (Surat al-Mumenoon 27)

The Resting of the Ark on a High Place
Then the word went forth "O earth! swallow up thy water, and O sky! Withhold (thy rain)!" and the water abated, and the matter was ended. The Ark rested on Mount Judi, and the word went forth "Away with those who do wrong!" (Surah Hud 44)

The Instructional Aspect of the Flood Incident
We, when the water (of Nuh's Flood) overflowed beyond its limits, carried you (mankind), in the floating (Ark), That We might make it a Message unto you, and that ears (that should hear the tale and) retain its memory should bear its (lessons) in remembrance. (Surat al-Haaqqa 11-12)

Allah?s Praise of the Prophet Nuh
Peace and salutation to Nuh among the nations! Thus indeed do we reward those who do right. For he was one of our believing Servants. (Surat as-Saaffat 79-81)

Was the Flood a Local Disaster or was It Global?
Those who deny the reality of Nuh?s Flood, support their stance with the assertion that a worldwide flood is impossible. However, their denial of any flood whatsoever is also directed as an attack on the Qur?an. According to them, all the revealed books including the Qur?an, appear to defend the reality of a worldwide flood and are thus mistaken.
Yet this denial of the Qur?an is not true. The Qur?an was revealed by Allah and is the sole unaltered divine book. The Qur?an looks at the Flood from a very different viewpoint than do the Pentateuch and the other flood legends narrated in various cultures. The Pentateuch, a name for the first five books of the Old Testament, says that the flood was cosmic and that it covered the whole world. Yet the Qur?an does not offer such as assertion, indeed on the contrary, the relevant verses imply that the Flood was regional and did not cover the whole world but only drowned Nuh?s people who had been warned by Nuh and so were punished.
When the Flood narrations of the Old Testament and the Qur?an are examined, this difference is plain. The Old Testament, which has been subject to so many alterations and additions throughout its history that it can truly be said that almost nothing of the original remains, describes how the Flood began as follows;

And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD (Genesis, 65-

However, in the Qur?an, it is clearly shown that it was not the whole world, but only Nuh?s people who were destroyed. Just as Hud was sent only to ?Ad (Surah Hud 50), Salih was sent to Thamud (Surah Hud 61) and all the other prophet prior to Muhammad were sent only to their own peoples, Nuh was sent only to his people and the flood caused only Nuh?s people to disappear;

We sent Nuh to his people (with a mission) "I have come to you with a Clear Warning That ye serve none but Allah Verily I do fear for you the penalty of a grievous day." (Surah Hud 25-26)

Those who perished were people who totally disregarded Prophet Nuh?s proclamation of the message and persisted on rebellion. Relevant verses are explicit enough to leave no room for discussion

But they rejected him, and We delivered him, and those with him, in the Ark but We overwhelmed in the flood those who rejected Our signs. They were indeed a blind people! (Surat al-Araf 64)
We saved him and those who adhered to him. By Our mercy, and We cut off the roots of those who rejected Our signs and did not believe. (Surat al-Araf 72)

Besides, in the Qur?an, Allah remarks that He does not destroy a community unless a messenger has been sent to it. Destruction can only take place if a warner has already arrived among a particular people and the warner is belied. Allah states in Surat al-Qasas;

Nor was thy Lord the one to destroy a population until He had sent to its centre a messenger, rehearsing to them Our Signs; nor are We going to destroy a population except when its members practice iniquity. (Surat al-Qasas 59)

It is not Allah?s Way to destroy people whom He has not sent any messengers. As a warner, Nuh had been sent only to his people. Therefore, Allah did not destroy the communities who had not been sent a warner, but only Nuh?s people.
From these statements in the Qur?an, we can be certain that Nuh?s flood was a regional disaster, not a cosmic one. The excavations made in the archaeological region where the flood is supposed to have happened - which we will examine here below - show that the flood was not a cosmic event affecting the whole world, but a very broad catastrophe which affected a certain part of Mesopotamia.

Were all the Animals Taken on Board?
The interpreters of the Bible believe that Nuh took all animal species on earth on board the Ark and that animals were saved from extinction thanks to Nuh. According to this belief, a pair of every animals species on earth were brought together and put on board.
Those who defend this assertion doubtless have to face serious difficulties in many respects. The question of how the animal species taken aboard were fed, how they were housed on the Ark, or how they were isolated from each other are impossible to answer. Moreover, the question remains how were animals from different continents brought together - mammals in the poles, kangaroos in Australia or the bison peculiar to America? Moreover, there follow more questions as to how very dangerous animals - venomous ones like snakes, scorpions and wild animals - were caught and how they could be sustained away from their natural habitats until the flood abated.
These are the questions which the Old Testament faces. In the Qur?an, there is no statement implying that all the animal species on earth were taken on board. As we have noted before, the Flood took place in a certain region. Therefore, the animals taken on board could only have been those living in the region where Nuh?s people resided.
However, it is evident that it is impossible even to collect all the animal species living in that region. It is difficult to think of Nuh and a few number of believers beside him (Surah Hud 40) going in all directions and setting out to collect two each of hundreds of animal species in their surroundings. It is even more highly improbable for them to have collected specimens of the insect species living in their region, and, moreover, to discriminate the males from the female! This is the reason why it is more probable that the animals collected were those that could easily be caught and sustained, and were, therefore, domestic animals especially useful to man. The prophet Nuh was most likely to have taken on board such animals as cows, sheep, horses, poultry camels and the like, because these were the primary animals that would have been needed for establishing a new life in a region which would have lost a great deal of its livestock because of the Flood.
Here the important point is that the divine wisdom in Allah?s command to Nuh to collect the animals lies in its being directed to the collecting of the animals required for the new life to be established after the flood rather than to protecting the genus of animals. Since the flood was regional, the extinction of animal species could not have been a possibility. It is most likely that after the flood, animals from other regions would have migrated to that area in the course of time, and re-populated the region with its old liveliness. What was important was the life to be established in the region right after the flood, and the animals gathered would have been collected basically for this purpose.

How High Did the Waters Arise?
Another debate around the Flood is whether the waters rose high enough to cover the mountains. As acknowledged, the Qur?an informs us that the Ark came to rest on "al-Judi" after the flood. The word "Judi" is generally referred to as a specific mountain site, whereas the word appears to mean "high setting or hill" in Arabic. Therefore it should not be forgotten that in the Qur?an, "Judi" could have been used not as a name for a specific mountain site but to indicate that the Ark had come to rest on a high site. Besides, the aforementioned meaning of the word "Judi" may also show that the waters had reached to a certain height, but not as high as mountaintop level. That is to say that the flood most probably did not engulf the whole earth and all the mountains as described in the Old Testament, but only covered a certain region.

The Location of Nuh?s Flood
The Mesopotamian Plains have been suggested as the location of the Flood. In this region were the oldest civilizations known to history. Besides, being between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, this region geographically is a suitable setting for a great deluge. One of the contributory factors to the effect of the flood is most probably that these two rivers overflowed their beds and overwhelmed the region.
The second reason why this region is regarded as the location for the Flood is historical. In the records of many civilizations of the region many documents are to be found referring to a flood that took place in the same period. Having witnessed the destruction of Nuh?s people, these civilizations must have felt the need to record how this disaster came about and in what it resulted. It is known that most of the legends on the flood are of Mesopotamian origin. More important to us are the archaeological finds. These show that a big deluge did indeed once befall this region. As we will examine in detail in the following pages, this flood caused civilisation to be suspended for a period. In the excavations, apparent traces of such an enormous disaster have been unearthed.
The excavations made in the Mesopotamian region disclose that many times in history, this region suffered from various disasters as a result of deluges and the overflow of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. For instance around 2nd millennium BC, at the time of Ibbi-sin, ruler of the large nation of Ur situated to the south of Mesopotamia, a year is marked as "coming after a Flood that annihilated the borders between the heavens and the earth"1 . Around 1700 BC, at the time of the Babylonian Hammurabi, a year is marked as being that in which occurred the incident of "the ruining of the city of Eshnunna with a deluge".
In the 10th Century BC, at the time of the ruler Nabu-mukin-apal, a deluge occurred in the city of Babylon.2 After ?Isa (Jesus), in the 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th, and 12th centuries, important deluges took place in the region. In the 20th Century, the same happened in 1925, 1930 and 1954.3 It is clear that the region has always been subject to the disaster of flooding and, as indicated in the Qur?an, it is very likely that a massive flood could have destroyed an entire people.

Archaeological Evidence of the Flood
It is no coincidence that today we run into traces of most of the communities which are said in the Qur?an to have been destroyed. Archaeological evidence yields the fact that the more suddenly a community disappears, the more likely it is that we will come across some of its remnants.
In the case of a civilisation suddenly disappearing, which can happen as a result of a natural disaster, sudden emigration or war, the traces of this civilisation can often be preserved much better. Houses in which people lived and tools they once used in daily life are buried under the earth in a short time. Thus these are preserved for quite long periods untouched by human hand and they yield important evidence of the past when brought into daylight.
This is how a great deal of evidence for Nuh?s Flood has been uncovered in our day. Thought to have been occurred around the 3rd millennium BC. The Flood put an end to a whole civilization in a moment, and later caused a brand new civilization to be established in its stead. Thus the apparent evidence for the Flood has been preserved for thousands of years so that we may take warning.
Many excavations have been made in investigation of the flood which covered the Mesopotamian plains. In excavations made in the region, in four main cities there are found traces of what must have been a particularly large flood. These cities were the important cities of Mesopotamia Ur, Erech, Kish and Shuruppak.
The excavations made in these cities reveal that all four of these were subjected to a flood around the 3rd millennium BC.
First let?s take a look at the excavations made in the city of Ur.
The oldest remains of a civilisation unearthed in the excavations made in the city of Ur, which has been re-named "Tell al Muqqayar" in our day, date back as far as 7000 BC. As one of the sites which has been home to one of the earliest civilisations, the city of Ur has been a region of settlements in which many cultures succeeded each other.
Archaeological findings from the city of Ur show that here civilisation was interrupted after an enormous flood, and that then new civilisations later emerged. R.H. Hall from the British Museum made the first excavations here. Leonard Woolley, who took upon himself to carry on with excavations after Hall, also supervised an excavation organised collectively by the British Museum and the University of Pennsylvania. Excavations conducted by Woolley, which had a huge effect world-wide, lasted from 1922 to 1934.
Sir Woolley?s excavations took place in the middle of the desert between Baghdad and the Persian Gulf. The first founders of the city of Ur were a people who had come from North Mesopotamia and called themselves "Ubaidian". Excavations originally began to gather information on these people. Woolley?s excavations are described by the German archaeologist Werner Keller as follows;

"The graves of the kings of Ur" - so Woolley, in the exuberance of his delight at discovering them, had dubbed the tombs of Sumerian nobles whose truly regal splendour had been exposed when the spades of the archaeologists attacked a fifty-foot mound south of the temple and found a long row of superimposed graves. The stone vaults were veritable treasure chests, for they were filled with all the costly goblets, wonderfully shaped jugs and vases, bronze tableware, mother of pearl mosaics, lapis lazuli, and silver surrounded these bodies which had mouldered into dust. Harps and lyres rested against the walls. "Almost at once" he wrote later in his diary, "discoveries were made which confirmed our suspicions. Directly under the floor of one of the tombs of the kings we found in a layer of charred wood ash numerous clay tablets, which were covered with characters of a much older type than the inscriptions on the graves. Judging by the nature of the writing, the tablets could be assigned to about 3000 BC. They were therefore two or three centuries earlier than the tombs".
The shafts went deeper and deeper. New strata, with fragments of jars, pots, and bowls, kept appearing. The experts noticed that the pottery remained surprisingly enough unchanged. It looked exactly like that which had been found in the graves of the kings. Therefore, it seemed that for centuries the Sumerian civilisation had undergone no radical change. They must, according to the conclusion, have reached a high level of development astonishingly early.
When after several days some of Woolley?s workmen called out to him, "We are on ground level", he let himself down onto the floor of the shaft to satisfy himself. Woolley?s first thought was "This is it at last". It was sand, pure sand of a kind that could only have been deposited by water.
They decided to dig on and make the shaft deeper. Deeper and deeper went the spades into the ground three feet, six feet - still pure mud. Suddenly, at ten feet, the layer of mud stopped as abruptly as it had started. Under this clay deposit of almost ten feet thick, they had struck fresh evidence of human habitation. The appearance and quality of the pottery had noticeably altered. Here, they were handmade. Metal remains were nowhere to be found. The primitive implement that did emerge was made of hewn flint. It must belong to the Stone Age!
The Flood - that was the only possible explanation of this great clay deposit beneath the hill at Ur, which quite clearly separated two epochs of settlement. The sea had left its unmistakable traces in the shape of remains of little marine organisms embedded in the mud. 4

Microscopic analysis revealed that this great clay deposit beneath the hill at Ur had accumulated here as a result of a flood so big as to annihilate ancient Sumerian civilisation. The epic of Gilgamesh and the story of Nuh were united in this shaft dug deep under the Mesopotamian desert.
Max Mallowan related the thoughts of Leonard Woolley, who said that such a huge mass of alluvium formed in a single time slice could only be the result of a huge flood disaster. Woolley also described the flood layer that separated the Sumerian city of Ur from the city of Al-Ubaid whose inhabitants used painted pottery, as the remains of the Flood.5
These show that the city of Ur was one of the places affected by the Flood. Werner Keller expressed the importance of the aforementioned excavation by saying that the yield of city-remains beneath a muddy layer in the archaeological excavations made in Mesopotamia proves that there was a flood here.6
Another Mesopotamian city carrying traces of the Flood is "Kish of the Sumerians" which is now known as Tall Al-Uhaimer. According to ancient Sumerian sources, this city was the "seat of the first postdiluvian dynasty"7
The city of Shuruppak in South Mesopotamia, which is today named as Tall Fa?rah, likewise carries apparent traces of the Flood. Archaeological studies in this city were headed by Erich Schmidt from the University of Pennsylvania between 1920-1930. These excavations uncovered three layers of habitation extending in time from the late prehistoric period to the 3rd dynasty of Ur (2112-2004 BC). The most distinctive finds were ruins of well-built houses along with cuneiform tablets of administrative records and lists of words, indicating a highly developed society already in being toward the end of the 4th millennium BC. 8
The main point is that a big flood disaster was understood to have occurred in this city around 2900-3000 BC. According to Mallowan?s account, 4-5 metres below the earth, Schmidt had reached a yellow soil layer (formed by flood) made up of a mixture of clay and sand. This layer was closer to the plain level than the tumulus profile and it could be observed all around the tumulus? Schmidt defined this layer made up of a mixture of clay and sand, which remained from the time of Ancient Kingdom of Cemdet Nasr, as "a sand with its origins in the river" and associated it with Nuh?s Flood. 9
In the excavations made in the city of Shuruppak, the remains of a flood were found that corresponded approximately to the years 2900-3000 BC. Probably, the city of Shuruppak was probably as much effected by the flood as the other cities.10
The latest place which is shown to have been affected by the Flood is the city of Erech to the south of Shuruppak which is known as Tall Al-Warka today. In this city just as in others, a flood layer is found. This flood layer is dated between 2900-3000 BC just like the others. 11
As is well known, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers cut across Mesopotamia from one end to the other. It seems that, during the event, these two rivers and many other water resources, big and small, overflowed and, by uniting with rain water, caused a big deluge. The event is described in the Qur?an;

So We opened the gates of heaven, with water pouring forth. And We caused the earth to gush forth with springs, so the waters met (and rose) to the extent decreed. (Surat al-Qamar 11-12)

When the factors causing the Flood are examined one by one, it is seen that they are all very natural phenomena. What makes the event miraculous is their taking place at the same time and Nuh?s warning his people about such a disaster beforehand.
Assessment of the evidence obtained from the completed studies revealed that the Flood area stretches approximately 160 km. (in width) from east to west, and 600 km. (in length) from north to south. This shows that the Flood covered all the Mesopotamian plains. When we examine the order of the cities Ur, Erech, Shuruppak and Kish which bear the traces of the Flood, we see that these are lined along a route. Therefore, the Flood must have affected these four cities and their surroundings. Besides it should be noted that around 3000 BC, the geographical structure of the Mesopotamian plain was different from what it is now. At those times, the bed of the Euphrates river was more to the east than it is today; this stream-line was matched with a line passing through Ur, Erech, Shuruppak and Kish. With the opening of the "springs of the earth and heaven", it seems that the river Euphrates overflowed and spread thus destroying the four cities cited above.

Religions and Cultures Mentioning the Flood
The Flood has been made known to nearly all peoples through the mouth of prophets conveying the Religion of Truth, but it has been turned into legends by those communities and been both extended and corrupted on the way.
Allah has conveyed news of Nuh?s Flood to people through messengers and books He has sent to different communities so that it may be a warning and example. Yet, each time the texts have been altered from their originals, and the Flood descriptions have been expanded with mythological elements. The Qur?an is the only remaining source that is in substantial agreement with the findings of empirical observation. This is only because Allah has guarded the Qur?an from undergoing even a single change and has not permitted it to be corrupted. According to the following judgment of the Qur?an "We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption)" (Surat al-Hijr 9) the Qur?an is under the special protection of Allah.
In the latest part of this chapter dealing with the Flood, we will see how the incident is envisioned - though quite corrupted - in various cultures and in the Old and New Testaments.

Nuh?s Flood in the Old Testament
The book in truth revealed to the prophet Musa was the Tawrah. Almost nothing at all of this revelation remains, and the biblical book, the "Pentateuch", has long lost its connection to the original revelation over time. Even then most parts of that dubious entity have been altered by the rabbis of the Jewish community. Similarly, the revelations all the other prophets were sent with to the Children of Israel after the prophet Musa were subject to the same behaviour and greatly altered. Therefore, this characteristic, which calls us to rename it the "Altered Pentateuch" because it has lost its connection to its original, drives us to regard it as a product of human beings attempting to record their tribes? history rather than a divine book. Unsurprisingly, the nature of the Altered Pentateuch and the contradictions it contains are well revealed in its telling of the story of Nuh despite it having some parallelisms with the Qur?an in parts.
According to the Old Testament, God proclaimed Nuh that everybody except the believers would be destroyed because the earth was full of violence. To this end, He commanded him to make the Ark and described him in detail how to do it. He also told him to take along his family, his three sons, his sons? wives, two of every living thing and some provisions.
Seven days later, when the time for the Flood came, all the underground sources burst open, the window of the heavens opened and a big flood engulfed everything. This lasted for forty days and nights. The ship sailed over waters covering all mountains and high hills. Thus those who were on board with Nuh were saved and the rest were carried away by the waters of the Flood and were drowned to death. The rain stopped after the Flood, which lasted for 40 days and 40 nights, and the waters started to recede 150 days after that.
Thereafter, on the seventeenth day of the seventh month, the ship came to rest on the Ararat (Agri) mountains. Nuh sent out a dove to see whether the waters had fully receded or not and when finally the dove did not come back, he understood that the waters had totally receded. God told them to disembark from the ship and spread out on the earth.
One of the contradictions in this story in the Old Testament is that, following this summary, in the "Yahwist" version of the text, it is said that God commanded Nuh to take along seven of those animals, males and females, He called "clean" and only pairs of those animals He called "unclean". This contradicts with the text above. Besides, in the Old Testament, the duration of the Flood is also different. According to the Yahwist account the rising of the waters took 40 days whereas it is said to be 150 days according to the account of the laymen.
Some parts of the Old Testament account of Nuh?s Flood are as follows;
And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; .....

........And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein the breath of life, from under heaven; every thing that in the earth shall die. But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep alive with thee; they shall be male and female.....
......Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he. (Genesis, 6 13-22)
And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. (Genesis, 8 4)
Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female and of beasts that not clean by two, the male and his female. Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. (Genesis, 72-3)
And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. (Genesis, 911)

According to the Old Testament, in accordance with the verdict that "every thing that in the earth shall die" in a flood covering all the world, all people were punished, and the only ones who survived were those who embarked on the Ark with Nuh.

Nuh?s Flood in the New Testament
The New Testament we have today is not a Divine book in the real sense of the word either. Being comprised of the words and deeds of ?Isa (Jesus), the New Testament starts with four "Gospels" written up to one century after ?Isa by people who had never seen him or kept company with him; namely, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. There are very obvious contradictions between these four Gospels. Particularly, the Gospel of John differs to a great extent from the other three (Synoptic Gospels) which are to some degree, but not totally, compatible with each other. The other books of the New Testament comprise the letters written by the Apostles and Saul of Tarsus (later called Saint Paul) describing the deeds of the apostles after ?Isa.
Therefore the New Testament of today is not a Divine text, but rather a semi-historical book.
In the New Testament, Nuh?s Flood is briefly described as follows; Nuh was sent as a messenger to a disobedient community who were astray, but his people did not follow him and went on in their perverseness. Upon this, Allah called those who rejected faith to account with the Flood and saved Nuh and the believers by putting them on the Ark. Some chapters of the New Testament related to the subject are as follows;

But as the days of Noe , so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew, 24 37-39)
And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth , a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly. (Second Peter, 2 5)
And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. (Luke, 17 26-27)
Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. (First Peter, 3 20)
For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished. (Second Peter, 3 5-6)

Accounts of the Flood in Other Cultures
Sumer A god called Enlil told people that other gods intended to destroy humanity, but that he himself was willing to save them. The hero of the story is Ziusudra, the devotee king of the city of Sippur. God Enlil told Ziusudra what to do to be saved from the Flood. The text relating the making of the boat is missing, but the fact that such a part once existed is revealed in the parts in which it is told how Ziusudra is saved. Relying on the Babylonian version of the flood, one reaches the conclusion that in the complete Sumerian version of the event there must have been much more comprehensive details of the reason for the Flood and how the boat was made.
Babylonia Ut-Napishtim is the Babylonian counterpart of the Sumerian hero of the Flood, Ziusudra. Another important character is Gilgamesh. According to the legend, Gilgamesh decided to seek and find his ancestry to obtain the secret of immortality. He was warned against the dangers and difficulties of such a journey. He was told that he is supposed to make a journey in which he should pass over the "Mashu Mountains and waters of death"; and that such a journey had only been accomplished by the sun-god Shamash up until then. Still, Gilgamesh braved all the dangers of the journey and finally succeeded in reaching Ut-Napishtim.
The text is cut off at the point where the meeting of Gilgamesh and Ut-Napishtim is told; and when it next becomes legible, Ut-Napishtim said to Gilgamesh that "the gods reserved the secret of death and life to themselves" (that they did not give it to people). Upon this, Gilgamesh asked Ut-Napishtim how he had acquired immortality; and Ut-Napishtim told him the story of the flood as a reply to his question. The flood is also told in the famous "twelve tables" of the Gilgamesh epic.
Ut-Napishtim started by saying that the story he was about to tell Gilgamesh was "something secret, a secret of the gods". He said that he was from the city of Shuruppak, the oldest among the cities of the Akkad land. According to his account, the god "Ea" had called out to him through the walls of a cane hut and declared that the gods had decided to destroy all the seeds of life with a flood; but the reason of their decision was not explained in the Babylonian Flood account just as it had not been in the Sumerian Flood story. Ut-Napishtim said that Ea had told him to make a ship in which he should bring together and put the "seeds of all living things". He informed him of the size and shape of the ship; according to it, the width, length, and height of the ship were equal to each other. The storm turned everything upside down for six days and nights. On the seventh day it calmed down. Ut-Napishtim saw that on the outside, it had "turned into sticky mud". The ship came to rest on Mt. Nisir.
According to Sumerian and Babylonian records, Xisuthros or Khasisatra is saved from the Flood by a ship of 925 metres in length, along with his family, friends, and some birds and animals. It is said that "the waters outspread towards the heavens, the oceans covered the shores, and rivers overflowed from their beds". The ship then came to rest on the Corydaean mountain.
According to the Assyrian-Babylonian records, Ubar-Tutu or Khasisatra was saved along with his family, servants, flocks and wild animals on a ship which is 600 cubits long, 60 cubits high and wide. The Flood lasted for 6 days and 6 nights. When the ship reached the Nizar Mountain, the dove that was set free came back but the raven did not.
According to some Sumerian, Assyrian and Babylonian records, Ut-Napishtim with his family survived through the Flood which lasted for 6 days and 6 nights. It is said "On the seventh day Ut-Napishtim looked outside. It was all very quite. Man had once more turned to mud.". When the ship came to rest on the Nizar mountain, Ut-Napishtim sent out one pigeon, one raven and one sparrow. The raven stayed to eat the corpses, but the other two birds did not return.
India In the Shatapatha Brahmana and Mahabharata epics of India, the person called Manu is saved from the flood along with Rishiz. According to the legend, a fish which Manu caught and whose life he spared, suddenly grew and told him to make a ship and tie it to its horns. This fish was accepted to be a manifestation of the god Vishnu. The fish drove the ship over huge waves, and brought it to the north, the Hismavat mountain.
Wales According to Welsh legend (from Wales, a Celtic region of Britain), Dwynwen and Dwyfach escaped from the great disaster on ship. When the dreadful deluge that occurred from the bursting of Llynllion, which was called the Lake of Waves, subsided, Dwywen and Dwyfach started to repopulate Britain afresh.
Scandinavia Nordic Edda legends report that Bergalmir and his wife escaped from the flood in a big boat.
Lithuania In Lithuanian legend, it is told that a few pairs of men and animals were saved by taking shelter in a crust up on the top of a lofty mountain. When the winds and floods that lasted for twelve days and twelve nights reached to the high mountain so much as almost to swallow those on it, the Creator threw a giant nut shell to them. Those on the mountain were saved from disaster by sailing in this nut shell.
China Chinese sources relate that a person called Yao with seven other persons or Fa Li with his wife and children, were saved from the deluge and earthquakes on a sailing boat. It is said that "the earth was all in ruins. The waters burst forth and covered everywhere". Finally, the waters receded.
Nuh's Flood in Greek Mythology The god Zeus decided to destroy people, who have become more wrongdoing every day, with a flood. Only Deucalion and his wife Pyrrha were saved from the flood, because Deucalion's father Prometheus had formerly advised his son to make a boat. The couple set foot on Mount Parnassos on the 9th day after embarking on the boat.
All these legends indicate a concrete historical reality. In history, each community received the message, everybody received Divine revelation, and thus many communities learned about the Flood. Unfortunately, as people turned away from the essence of the Divine revelation, the account of the Flood underwent many changes, and turned into legends and myths.
The only source where we can find the real story of Nuh and the people who denied him, is the Qur?an, which is the single unaltered source of Divine revelation remaining.
The Qur?an provides us with correct information not only on Nuh?s Flood, but also about other historical events and peoples. In the following chapters, we will review these true stories.

THE PROPHET IBRAHIM?S LIFE
Ibrahim was not a Jew nor yet a Christian; but he was true in Faith,
and bowed his will to Allah's (Which is Islam), and he joined
not gods with Allah. Without doubt, among men, the nearest of kin to
Ibrahim, are those who follow him, as are also this Prophet and those
who believe And Allah is the Protector of those who have faith.
(Surah Aal-e Imran 67-6

The prophet Ibrahim is often referred to in the Qur?an and is distinguished by Allah as an example to people. He conveyed the message of Allah to his people who worshipped idols and he warned them so that they might fear Allah. His people did not listen to his warnings but, on the contrary, opposed him. When the oppression of his people increased, Ibrahim had to move elsewhere with his wife, the prophet Lut and possibly a few other people who went with them.
Ibrahim was descended from Nuh. The Qur?an states also that he followed the Way of Nuh.

Peace and salutation to Nuh among the nations! Thus indeed do we reward those who do right. For he was one of our believing Servants. Then the rest we overwhelmed in the Flood. Verily among those who followed his Way was Ibrahim. (Surat as-Saaffat 79-83)

At the time of the prophet Ibrahim, many people living on the Mesopotamian plains, and in Middle and East Anatolia were worshipping the heavens and the stars. Their most important god was "Sin", the moon-god. It was personified as a human with a long beard, wearing a dress carrying a moon on it in the shape of a crescent. In addition, these people made embossed pictures and sculptures of these gods and worshipped them. This was quite a widespread belief system which found appropriate soil for itself in the Near East and thus maintained its existence for a long time. People living in that region continued to worship these gods until around 600 AD. As a consequence of this belief, some constructions known as "'ziggurats"' which were used both as observatories and temples, were built in the region stretching from Mesopotamia to the interior of Anatolia and here some gods, primarily the moon-god "'Sin"', were worshipped.12
This way of belief, only discovered in archaeological excavations today, is to be found mentioned in the Qur?an. As mentioned in the Qur?an, Ibrahim rejected the worship of these deities and turned only to Allah, the one true God. In the Qur?an, Ibrahim's conduct is recounted as follows;

Lo! Ibrahim said to his father Azar "Takest thou idols for gods? For I see thee and thy people in manifest error."
So also did We show Ibrahim the power and the laws of the heavens and the earth, that he might (with understanding) have certitude.
When the night covered him over, He saw a star He said "This is my Lord." But when it set, He said "I love not those that set."
When he saw the moon rising in splendour, he said "This is my Lord." But when the moon set, He said "unless my Lord guide me, I shall surely be among those who go astray."
When he saw the sun rising in splendour, he said "This is my Lord; this is the greatest (of all)." But when the sun set, he said "O my people! I am indeed free from your (guilt) of giving partners to Allah.
For me, I have set my face, firmly and truly, towards Him Who created the heavens and the earth, and never shall I give partners to Allah." (Surat al-Anaam 74-79)

In the Qur?an, the birthplace of Ibrahim and where he lived are not told in detail. But it is indicated that Ibrahim and Lut lived close to each other and were contemporaries, by the fact that the angels sent to the people of Lut came to Ibrahim, and announced to his wife the good news of a child, before going on to Lut.
An important issue about Ibrahim in the Qur?an, not mentioned in the Old Testament, is the construction of the Ka?bah. In the Qur?an, we are told that the Ka?bah was constructed by Ibrahim and his son Isma'il. Today, the only thing known by historians about the past of the Ka?bah is that it is accepted to have been a sacred place since very old times. The placing of idols in the Ka?bah during the Age of Ignorance prior to the prophet Muhammad, is a consequence of the degeneration and distortion of the divine religion once revealed to Ibrahim.

Ibrahim According to the Old Testament
The Old Testament is probably the most detailed source on Ibrahim, even though much of what it relates may be unreliable. According to its account, Ibrahim was born around 1900 BC in the city of Ur, one of the most important cities of the time, which was located in the southeast of the Mesopotamia plains. When he was first born, Ibrahim was not named ''Abraham'', but ''Abram''. His name was changed by God - Jehovah (YHWH) afterwards.
One day, the god of the Old Testament, Jehovah, asked Abram to set out on a journey leaving his country and people, to go to an indefinite country and start a new community there. Abram, at the age of 75, listened to this call and set out on the road with his barren wife Sarai - who will later be known as ''Sarah'' which means princess - and his brother's son, Lut. While heading for the Chosen Land, they stayed at Harran for a while, and then continued on their journey. When they arrived in the land of Canaan promised to them by Jehovah, they were told that this place was specifically chosen for them and granted to them. When Abram turned ninety-nine years old, he made a covenant with Jehovah and his name was changed to Abraham. He died when he was one hundred and seventy-five years old and was buried in the cave of Machpelah close to the city of Hebron (el-Khalil) in the West Bank, today under occupation by Israel. This land bought by Ibrahim for a certain sum of money, was his and his family's first property in the Promised Land.

Ibrahim's Place of Birth According to the Old Testament
Where Ibrahim was born has always been an issue of debate. While Christians and Jews say that Ibrahim was born in South Mesopotamia, the prevalent thought in the Islamic world is that his place of birth is around Urfa-Harran. Some new finds show that the Jewish and Christian thesis does not reflect the truth completely.
Jews and Christians depend on the Old Testament for their assertion, because in it, Ibrahim is said to have been born in the city of Ur in South Mesopotamia. After Ibrahim was born and brought up in that city, he is said to have set out on the way to Egypt and to have reached Egypt at the end of a long journey in which he passed through the Harran region of Turkey.
However, a recently found manuscript of the Old Testament generated serious doubts about the validity of this information. In this Greek manuscript from the 3rd century BC, which is accepted to be the oldest copy of the Old Testament yet found, "Ur" is never mentioned. Today, many Old Testament researchers say that the word of "Ur" is inaccurate or a subsequent addition. This implies that Ibrahim was not born in the city of Ur, and may never have been to the Mesopotamian region in his life.
Besides, the names of some locations, and the regions they imply, change by time. In our day, the Mesopotamia plains generally refer to the south banks of the Iraqi land between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. Yet two millennia before our day, Mesopotamia implied a region more northernly, even reaching as far as Harran, and stretching into presentday Turkish lands. Therefore, even if we accept that the expression "Mesopotamian plain" in the Old Testament is right, it would be misleading to think that the Mesopotamia of two millennia earlier and the Mesopotamia of today are exactly the same places.
Even if there are serious doubts and disagreements on the city of Ur being Ibrahim?s birthplace, there is a common agreement on the fact that Harran and its environs region was the place where Ibrahim lived. Moreover, a short research made in the Old Testament itself yields some information supporting the view that Ibrahim's place of birth was Harran. For instance, in the Old Testament, the region of Harran is designated as the "Aram region" (Genesis, 1131 and 2810). It is stated that those who came from Ibrahim's family are "sons of an Arami" (Deuteronomy, 265). The identification of Ibrahim as an Arami shows that he led his life in this region.
In the Islamic sources, there is a strong evidence that Ibrahim's place of birth is Harran and Urfa. In Urfa, which is called the "city of Prophets", there are many stories and legends about Ibrahim.

Why was the Old Testament Altered?
The Old Testament and the Qur?an seem almost to describe two different prophets called Abraham and Ibrahim. In the Qur?an, Ibrahim is sent to an idolatrous people as a messenger. His people worship the heavens, stars, the moon and various idols. He struggles against his people, tries to get them turn away from their superstitious beliefs, and inevitably stirs up the enmity of his whole community including his father.
Actually, none of these are mentioned in the Old Testament. The throwing of Ibrahim into the fire, his breaking his community's idols are not mentioned in the Old Testament. Ibrahim is in general depicted as the ancestor of the Jews in the Old Testament. It is evident that this view in the Old Testament was taken by the chiefs of the Jewish community seeking to bring the concept of "'race"' to the foreground. The Jews believe that they are a people eternally chosen by God and rendered superior. They deliberately and willingly altered their Divine Book and made additions and deletions in accordance with this belief. This is why Ibrahim is merely depicted as the ancestor of the Jews in the Old Testament.
Christians who believe in the Old Testament, think that Ibrahim is the ancestor of the Jews, but with only one difference according to Christians, Ibrahim is not a Jew but a Christian. The Christians, who did not heed the concept of race as much as Jews, took this stand and it is one of the causes of disagreement and struggle between the two religions. Allah brings the following explanation of these arguments in the Qur?an

Ye People of the Book! Why dispute ye about Ibrahim, when the Law and the Gospel Were not revealed Till after him? Have ye no understanding?
Ah! Ye are those who fell to disputing (Even) in matters of which ye had some knowledge! but why dispute ye in matters of which ye have no knowledge? It is Allah Who knows, and ye who know not!
Ibrahim was not a Jew nor yet a Christian; but he was true in Faith, and bowed his will to Allah's (Which is Islam), and he joined not gods with Allah.
Without doubt, among men, the nearest of kin to Ibrahim, are those who follow him, as are also this Prophet and those who believe And Allah is the Protector of those who have faith. (Surah Aal-e-Imran 65-6

In the Qur?an, very differently from what is written in the old Testament, Ibrahim is a person who warned his people so that they might fear Allah and who struggled against them for this end. Starting from his youth, he warned his people, who worshipped idols, to give up this practice. His people reacted to Ibrahim by attempting to kill him. Having escaped from the wickedness of his people, Ibrahim finally emigrated.

THE PEOPLE OF LUT AND
THE CITY WHICH WAS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN
The people of Lut rejected (his) warning. We sent against them a violent Tornado with showers of stones, (which destroyed them), except Lut's household
them We delivered by early Dawn,- As a Grace from Us thus do We reward
those who give thanks. And (Lut) did warn them of Our Punishment,
but they disputed about the Warning.
(Surat al-Qamar 33-36)

Lut lived at the same time as Ibrahim. Lut was sent as a messenger to one of Ibrahim's neighbouring communities. These people, as the Qur?an tells us, practiced a perversion unknown to the world up to then, namely sodomy. When Lut told them to give up this perversion and brought them Allah's warning, they denied him, refused his prophethood, and carried on with their perversion. In the end, these people were destroyed by a dreadful disaster.
The city where Lut resided is referred to as Sodom in the Old Testament. Being situated at the north of the Red Sea, this community is understood to have been destroyed just as it is written in the Qur?an. Archaeological studies reveal that the city is located in the area of the Dead Sea which stretches along the Israel-Jordan border.
Before examining the remains of this disaster, let?s see why the people of Lut were punished in this fashion. The Qur?an tells how Lut warned his people and what they said in reply;

The people of Lut rejected the messengers. Behold, their brother Lut said to them "Will ye not fear (Allah)? I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust. So fear Allah and obey me. No reward do I ask of you for it my reward is only from the lord of the Worlds. Of all the creatures in the world, will ye approach males, And leave those whom Allah has created for you to be your mates? Nay, ye are a people transgressing (all limits)!"
They said "If thou desist not, O Lut! thou wilt assuredly be cast out!"
He said "I do detest your doings." (Surat ash-Shuara 160-16

The people of Lut threatened him in response to his inviting them to the right way. His people detested him because of his showing them the right way, and wanted to banish both him and the other believers beside him. In other verses, the event is told as follows;

We also (sent) Lut He said to his people "Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? For ye practise your lusts on men in preference to women ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds."
And his people gave no answer but this they said, "Drive them out of your city these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!" (Surat al-Araf 80-82)

Lut called his people to an obvious truth and warned them explicitly, but his people did not heed any warnings whatsoever and continued to reject Lut and to deny the penalty of which he told them.
And (remember) Lut "Behold" he said to his people "Ye do commit lewdness, such as no people in Creation (ever) committed before you. Do ye indeed approach men, and cut off the highway? And practise wickedness (even) in your councils?" But his people gave no answer but this they said "Bring us the Wrath of Allah if thou tellest the truth." (Surat al-Ankaboot 28-29)

Receiving the above answer from his people, Lut asked for the help of Allah,

He said "O my Lord! help Thou me against people who do mischief!" (Surat al-Ankaboot 30)
"O my Lord! deliver me and my family from such things as they do!" (Surat ash-Shuara 169)

Upon Lut?s prayer, Allah sent two angels in the form of men. These angels visited Ibrahim before coming to Lut. Giving Ibrahim the good news that his wife would give birth to an infant, the messengers explained the reason of their being sent the insolent people of Lut were to be destroyed.

(Ibrahim) said "And what, O ye Messengers, is your errand (now)?" They said, "We have been sent to a people (deep) in sin; To bring on, on them, (a shower of) stones of clay (brimstone), Marked as from thy Lord for those who trespass beyond bounds." (Surat adh-Dhariyat 31-34)
Excepting the adherents of Lut them we are certainly (charged) to save (from harm) - All - Except his wife, who, We have ascertained, will be among those who will lag behind. (Surat al-Hijr 59-60)

After leaving Ibrahim?s company, the angels, who were sent as messengers, came to Lut. Not having met the messengers before, Lut first became anxious, but then calmed down after talking to them;

When Our messengers came to Lut, he was grieved on their account and felt himself powerless (to protect) them. He said

[savage_carrot]

Peace Idris, all...

I'm reading this for the first time and its a very informative and interesting article, thank you for posting it!

Nadia

[hafeez_kazi]

Peace All.

A QUESTION TO HARUN YAHYA

WHY THE PEOPLE OF MECCA WERE NOT PUNISHED?

THE DISBELIEVER'S DECLARE, "THEY WILL NOT BELIEVE"
And when there comes to them a sign (from Allah) they say "WE SHALL NOT BELIEVE until we receive the like of that which the Messengers of Allah had received." Allah knows best with whom to place His Message. Humiliation and disgrace from Allah and a severe torment will overtake the criminals (polytheists, sinners, etc.) for that which they used to plot. 6124

And they say " WE SHALL NOT BELIEVE in you (O Muhammad SAW), until you cause a spring to gush forth from the earth for us; 1790

The Unbelievers say "WE SHALL NEITHER BELIEVE in this scripture nor in (any) that (came) before it." Couldst thou but see when the wrong- doers will be made to stand before their Lord throwing back the word (of blame) on one another! Those who had been despised will say to the arrogant ones "Had it not been for you we should certainly have been believers!" 3431

ALLAH DECLARES, "THEY WILL NOT BELIEVE"
Assuredly the word hath been justified against most of them, wherefore THEY SHALL NOT BELIEVE Verily We have placed on their necks shackles which are up to the chins; so that their heads are forced up. And We have put a barrier before them, and a barrier behind them, and We have covered them up, so that they cannot see. It is the same to them whether you warn them or you warn them not, THEY WILL NOT BELIEVE. 367/8/9/10.

Thus is the Word of thy Lord proved true against those who rebel verily THEY WILL NOT BELIEVE. 1033

Not a city before them which We destroyed believed; WILL THEY THEN BELIEVE? 216

THEY WILL NOT BELIEVE UNTIL THEY SEE THE PENALTY
And if We had revealed it (this Qur'an) unto any of the non-Arabs, And he had recited it unto them, they would not have believed in it. Thus have We caused it to enter the hearts of the Sinners. THEY WILL NOT BELIEVE IN IT UNTIL THEY SEE the grievous Penalty; 26198/99/200/201

(Allah has knowledge) of (Prophet Muhammad's) saying "O my Lord! Verily, these are a people who believe not!" But turn away from them and say "Peace!" but SOON THEY SHALL KNOW! 4388/89

"JUST A QUESTION...
How do we know the people of Mecca / whichever city the prophet was from, did not ask God for forgiveness thus delaying / forgoing His retribution?"

There is no verse in the Quran, which says that the Meccans DID ASK for forgiveness of their sins and neither there is any verse, which says that they DID NOT ASK for forgiveness.

But if we refer to history we find that the Meccans never ceased to attack the Muslims till the pact of Hudaibiya was signed and this is mentioned in Surah 48 and this verse was revealed precisely in the year 628 AD. (Six years after migration)

The Meccans later broke the peace of treaty in the attack which one of their allied tribes (the Banu Bakr) made on the Muslim Banu Khuza'a (who were in alliance with the prophet), but this led to the conquest of Mecca and the sweeping away of the autocracy.

It is clear that they never repented and neither prayed for their forgiveness but they were bent upon destroying Islam until they were invaded, attacked, and subjugated.

DISBELIEVERS ATTEMPTS TO DRIVE OUT THE PROPHET
And (remember) when the disbelievers plotted against you (O Muhammad SAW) to imprison you, or to kill you, or to GET YOU OUT (from your home, i.e. Makkah); they were plotting and Allah too was planning, and Allah is the Best of the planners. 830

And Verily, they were about to frighten you so much as to DRIVE YOU OUT FROM THE LAND. But in that case THEY WOULD NOT HAVE STAYED (therein) AFTER YOU, except for a LITTLE WHILE. (This was Our) SUNNAH (rule or way) with the Messengers We sent before you (O Muhammad SAW), and YOU WILL NOT FIND ANY ALTERATION IN OUR SUNNAH (rule or way, etc.). 1776/77

This was not the first time that the pagans tried to drive out the prophet from Mecca but they tried many times and finally they succeeded in their mission. The planning of the pagans was round the clock and thus the prophet was forced to leave Mecca and lead to TAIF and then to MADINA as a refugee

Even after driving out the prophet the MECCANS were never punished. WHY? Did the SUNNAH of Allah changed towards the people of Mecca?

THE WAYS (SUNNAH) OF ALLAH
They swore their strongest oaths by Allah that if a warner came to them they would follow his guidance better than any (other) of the Peoples but when a warner came to them it has only increased their flight (from righteousness) On account of their arrogance in the land and their plotting of Evil. But the plotting of Evil will hem in only the authors thereof. Now are they but looking for the (SUNNAH) WAY OF THE ANCIENTS were dealt with? But no change wilt thou find in ALLAH'S WAY (SUNNAH) (of dealing) NO TURNING OFF WILL YOU FIND IN ALLAH'S WAY (SUNNAH) (of dealing). 3542/43

And nothing prevents men from believing, now when the guidance (the Qur'an) has come to them, and from asking Forgiveness of their Lord, except that the WAYS OF THE ANCIENTS be repeated with them (i.e. their DESTRUCTION decreed by Allah), or the TORMENT be brought to them face to face? 1855

THE NEWS OF DESTRUCTION WILL COME
And never a sign comes to them from the signs of their Lord, but that they have been turning away from it. Indeed, they belied the truth when it came to them, but WILL COME TO THEM THE NEWS of that (the torment) which they used to mock at. 64/5

THE TERM IS DETERMINED
Hath it not served as guidance to them how many a generation We have destroyed before them, amidst whose dwellings they Walk! Verily therein are signs for men of sagacity. And had it not been for a Word that went forth before from your Lord, and a TERM DETERMINED (their punishment) must necessarily have come (in this world). 20128/129

TORMENT WILL CERTAINLY COME AND SUDDENLY
And they ask you to hasten on the torment (for them), and had it not been for a TERM APPOINTED, the TORMENT would CERTAINLY have come to them. And CERTAINLY, IT WILL COME UPON THEM SUDDENLY while they perceive not! 2953

GENERATIONS DESTROYED BEFORE FOR NOT BELIEVING IN MESSENGERS
And indeed, We DESTROYED GENERATIONS before you, when they did wrong while their MESSENGERS came to them with clear proofs, but they were not such as to BELIEVE! Thus do We requite the people who are SINNERS. Then We appointed YOU as SUCCESSORS in the land AFTER THEM, that We might see how ye would work. 1013/14

Like the behaviour of the people of PHARAOH and those before them; THEY BELIED OUR SIGNS, so Allah seized (destroyed) them for their sins. And Allah is Severe in punishment. 311

Then THEY BELIED him (NOAH) there upon We delivered him and those with him in the ARK, and drowned those who BELIED Our signs; verily they were a people blind. 764

Then We delivered him (HUD) and those with him by a mercy from Us, and We utterly cut off those who BELIED Our signs, and would not be believers. 772

Those WHO BELIED SHUAIB became as though they had NEVER DWELT therein; those who belied Shu'aib, it is they who became the losers. 792

And if they belie thee, then surely there have belied before them the people of Nuh and the 'Aad and the Thamud. And the people of Ibrahim and the people of Lut. And the Companions of the Madyan people and Moses was rejected (in the same way). But I granted respite to the Unbelievers and (only) after that did I PUNISH THEM but how (terrible) was My rejection (of them)! 2242/43/44

Before them there have BELIED the people of Nuh and the 'Aad, and Fir'awn the owner of the stakes. And Thamud and the People of Lut and the Companions of the Wood; such were the Confederates. Not one of them but BELIED the Messengers, therefore My TORMENT WAS JUSTIFIED, 3812/13/14

But (there were people) before them who BELIED (the Signs) the People of Noah and the confederates (of Evil) after them; and every People plotted against their prophet to seize him and disputed by means of vanities therewith to condemn the truth; BUT IT WAS I THAT SEIZED THEM! And how (terrible) was My Requital! 405

And before them the people of Nuh BELIED, and so did the dwellers Of Rass and the Thamud. And the A-ad, and Fir'awn. and the brethren of Lut. The companions of the Wood and the people of Tubba; each one (of them) BELIED the apostles and MY WARNING WAS DULY FULFILLED (in them). 5012/13/14

Those before them BELIED, and so the TORMENT CAME ON THEM from directions they perceived not. 3925

SUMMARY

The Meccans declare they will not BELIEVE
Allah declares the Meccans will not BELIEVE
Allah declares the Meccans will not BELIEVE (Quran) until they SEE the PENALTY
And SOON they shall KNOW
The Meccans disbelieve and DRIVE OUT THE PROPHET
The SUNNAH of Allah If they drive out the prophet, then they will STAY ONLY A LITTLE
The SUNNAH never CHANGES
No TURNING off from the SUNNAH
The news of TORMENT is NEAR
The term is DETERMINED
The TORMENT will come CERTAINLY and SUDDENLY
Generations DESTROYED before, for the SAME SIN as of Meccans

In the light of the above verses the SUNNAH OF DESTRUCTION was applicable to MECCA for they disbelieved in everything and drove out the prophet from his home.

Then why Allah did not DESTROY the Meccans?

thanks

[savage_carrot]

Peace Hafeez,

Nice work! The article seems to be more well rounded from before and you also address some newer points ) I will study it further though, I may have some questions for you later!

Nadia

[Zlatan]

Peace

Hafeez, what is your conclusion please?

the mesenger was never in mecca or?

btw recently, induced by your writing on 4101-104, I have changed my understanding of the whole passage drastically....maybe i have gone even further...initially you have made sense except for a part of the 4103.... but i was forced to reject the whole understanding because of it.... later i have seemingly found the way to resolve the difficulty...

Tell me how you understand "fa-itha itma/nantum faqeemoo ssalata "4103?

i understand it as "when you(your home/houses/center/dwelling place) are secure from enemies attack, then perform commitments of fighting fully/all together(cause now theres no reason that anyboody should stay behind the back protecting the base and its helpless inhabitants"...

best wishes, Zlatan

[hafeez_kazi]

Peace Brother Zlatan

The verses of the Quran emphasizes on the belief that the prophet was not from Mecca, but to declare that the prophet was not from Mecca, at this stage without proper study and research, will be a guess and I don't believe in guess work.

I have no concrete proof that prophet was not from Mecca, and he migrated from which country

However I would like to add some more verses which further solidifies the belief that the prophet was not in Mecca

And indeed We have DESTROYED what is AROUND YOU of the towns and We DISPLAYED the SIGNS that they might return 4627

Which towns were around MECCA that were destroyed. The towns of Ad, Thamud, Shuaib, Lut were in JORDAN and they are surely not around MECCA.

And 'Ad and Thamud (people)! And INDEED (their destruction) is clearly APPARENT TO YOU from their (ruined) DWELLINGS. Satan made their deeds seem fair unto them and so debarred them from the Way, though they were keen observers. 2938

Is the RUINS of Ad and Thamud people (in JORDAN) clearly VISIBLE to the people of MECCA?

Generations before YOU We DESTROYED when they did wrong their Apostles came to them with Clear Signs but they would not believe! Thus do We requite those who sin! Then WE MADE YOU (KHALAA'IF) successors in the land AFTER THEM to see how ye would behave! 1013/14

IS it not GUIDANCE to THOSE who INHERIT the land AFTER its PEOPLE, that had We willed, We would have PUNISHED them for their sins. But We seal up their hearts so that they hear not? 7100

The people of Mecca inherited the land of those who were punished for their sins

(A- FA- LAM YAHDI LA- -HUM) Is it not GUIDANCE for THEM how many generations We have DESTROYED before THEM, in WHOSE DWELLINGS THEY WALK? Certainly, in this are signs for men who have intelligence. 20128

('A- WA- LAM YAHDI LA- -HUM) Is it not GUIDANCE for THEM, how many generations We have DESTROYED before THEM in WHOSE DWELLINGS THEY WALK? Certainly, therein indeed are signs. Would they not then listen? '(A- WA- LAM YARAW) Have they not seen how We drive water (rain clouds) to the dry land without any vegetation, and therewith bring forth crops providing food for their cattle and themselves? Will they not then see? 3226/27

Were the people of Mecca walking in the dwellings of Ad, Thamud, Shuaib,and Lut, which are in Jordan?

And warn (O Muhammad SAW) mankind of the Day when the torment will come unto them; then the wrong-doers will say "Our Lord! Respite us for a little while, we will answer Your Call and follow the Messengers!" (It will be said) "Had you not sworn afore time that you would suffer no decline "And YOU DWELL IN THE DWELLINGS OF MEN who WRONGED THEMSELVES, and SHOWN TO YOU clearly how WE HAD DEALT WITH THEM. And We put forth (many) parables for you." 1444/45

Were the people of Mecca dwelling in the dwellings of those people who wronged themselves and were shown how Allah dealt with them?

THEN SEE how was the end of their plot! Verily! We destroyed them and their nation, all together. THESE ARE THEIR HOUSES in UTTER RUIN, for they did WRONG. Verily IN THIS is indeed an Ayah (a lesson or a sign) for people who know. 2752

What do we understand when Allah says to the people of Mecca "THESE ARE THEIR HOUSES in UTTER RUIN"

So also was Lut among those sent (by us). Behold We delivered him and his adherents all Except an old woman who was among those who lagged behind Then We destroyed the rest. And truly ye CERTAINLY PASS BY (the ruin of) THEM in the MORNING and at NIGHT will you not understand? 37133/134/135/136/137138

How were the people of Mecca able to pass the city of JORDAN, in the morning and at night?

And INDEED THEY have PASSED BY THE TOWN on which was rained the evil rain. DID THEY (disbelievers) NOT THEN SEE IT (with their own eyes)? Nay! But they used not to expect for any resurrection. and when THEY see you (O Muhammad SAW), they treat you only as a mockery (saying)"Is this the one whom Allah has sent as a Messenger? 2540

Allah confirms that the people of Mecca have passed by the town of Lut and seen the destruction.

THE UNTRODDEN LAND OF (MECCA)

And He caused you to INHERIT THEIR LANDS, and their HOUSES, and their RICHES, and a LAND, which YOU had NOT TRODDEN it. And Allah is Able to do all things. 3327

Which part of the land did the prophet before this war, not tread? Mecca or Madina?

VERSE 4103

MY INTERPRETATION
Then when you performed / complied / fulfilled the COMMITMENTS (duties of fighting), REMEMBER Allah, standing and sitting and lying on your sides. Then when ye are secure, execute the COMMITMENTS (scheduled remembrance and glorifications of Allah) Verily the COMMITMENTS (scheduled remembrance and glorifications of Allah) are prescribed unto the believers at definite times. 4103

FA- 'IDHAA IT.MA'NANTUM = Then when ye are SECURE

It means that conditions before this were not PEACEFUL but HOSTILE; therefore IF the prayers are to be shortened, THEN it has to be in HOSTILE conditions and SUBJECT to PERSECUTION and not in ORDINARY TRAVEL as the Muslims practice.

The difference between my understandings and yours is slightly different.

You have interpreted the SECOND SALAAT of the verse 103 as commitment of fighting, whereas I interpreted as remembrance of Allah.

There are three SALAAT in the verse, the first one is in hostile conditions and the second one is in peaceful conditions and the third one is one of the definitions of Salaat. If the first SALAAT is interpreted as commitment of fighting, then the second and third SALAAT should also be interpreted as commitment of fighting and not remembrance of Allah, as I interpreted.

Your understanding has a valid point and Inshaallah I will research on this new interpretation.

Thanks Zlatan