Overview (Verses 14 - 15)
 
The first passage concluded with reference to the general rule that those who profess to believe are subjected to a test, the purpose of which is to separate those who truly believe from those who are liars. The passage also referred to different types of testing, such as physical suffering, pressure exerted by relatives and loved ones, and the lure of temptation.
 
In this passage we have examples of the kind of tests advocates of faith went through, starting with Noah (peace be upon him). Such examples are drawn from what God’s messengers endured from the early days of history. Some details are given about Abraham and Lot, but only very brief references are made in all other cases.
 
In Noah’s story we see very great efforts yielding scanty results. He stayed among his people for 950 years but only a few believers accepted his call. Therefore, “the floods overwhelmed them as they were deep in wrongdoing.” (Verse 14) In the case of Abraham and his people we see a very clear example of foul reward and the tyranny of falsehood. He tried his best to steer his people to follow divine guidance, using sound, logical argument, but “their only answer was: ‘Kill him or burn him’.” (Verse 24)
 
In the case of Lot’s people we see how lust comes out into the open, with no consideration for decency or moral scruple. Here is the vilest human degeneration and perversion, one which pays little heed to sincere warnings: “But his people’s only response was to say: Bring down upon us God’s punishment, if you truly are one who speaks the truth.” (Verse 29)
 
With Shu`ayb and the people of Madyan we see blatant corruption and wilful disregard for right and justice, in addition to denial of God’s message: “An earthquake overtook them and the morning found them lying lifeless on the ground in their very homes.” (Verse 37) The references to the `Ād and Thamūd peoples remind us of unbelievers thinking too arrogantly of their own power and immunity, showing no gratitude for God’s favours and blessings. Likewise, the reference to Qārūn, Pharaoh and Hāmān reminds us of the tyranny of wealth, dictatorship, and hypocrisy.
 
These historical references are followed by a demonstration of the flimsiness of forces standing in the way of the divine message, powerful as they may seem: “Those who take anyone other than God for their protectors may be compared to the spider which makes for itself a home. Indeed the spider’s home is the frailest of all homes, if they but knew it.” (Verse 41) The passage then concludes with an address to the Prophet directing him to recite God’s book, attend regularly to prayers, and to leave matters to Him: “God knows all that you do.” (Verse 45)
 
Extremely Long Life
 
We sent Noah to his people and he dwelt among them for a thousand years bar fifty; and then the floods overwhelmed them as they were deep in wrongdoing; but We saved him, together with all those who were in the ark, which We made as a sign for all people. (Verses 14-15)
 
The weightier view is that the duration of Noah’s message was 950 years, preceded by an undefined period before he received his revelations and followed by an unspecified period after he and the believers were saved from the floods. This is certainly a very long life that seems to us, nowadays, to be unnatural and unknown in humanity. Yet we have this information from the most truthful source, God Almighty. This is more than sufficient for it to be accepted as true. If we want some sort of explanation for it, we could say that the human population of the earth at that time was small. It is possible, therefore, that God gave those early generations longer lives so that life on earth could progress. When human numbers increased, there was no longer any need for such long lives. This reflects a phenomenon applicable to some species. For example, certain types of eagle, vulture and turtle can live for centuries. Contrast this with flies, which breed in their millions, and which have a life span as short as two weeks, or less. All wisdom belongs to God, and everything He does is according to a careful measure. Furthermore, despite the near millennium of Noah’s advocacy of the divine message there were still only a small number of believers. The floods swept away the overwhelming majority because of their continued opposition to the divine message. Only the small number of believers were saved in the ark. This story of the floods and the ark was to become ‘a sign for all people’, telling us about the end of unbelief and injustice.