The Sons of Prophet Noah
Scholars have noted that Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) had four sons. Among them, one rejected his father’s message, while the other three believed alongside Noah, forming the lineage of humanity. In this context, Allah states regarding Noah: “And We made his descendants the survivors”. These sons are: Japheth, Ham, and Shem. Shem is considered the ancestor of the Arabs, Romans, and Persians; Japheth is regarded as the progenitor of the Turks, Gog, Magog, and the Slavs; while Ham is recognized as the ancestor of the Egyptians, Sudanese, and Berbers.
Canaan, Son of Noah
Canaan, also known as Yam, was the fourth son of Noah. However, he was distinct from his brothers due to his denial of his father’s message. Unlike his siblings, Canaan never believed in Noah’s teachings. During the time of the flood, Noah was grieved for his son and attempted to persuade him to board the ark. Canaan rejected this offer, believing that climbing a mountain would protect him from the inundation. Noah replied that on that day, there was no protector from Allah’s decree. Ultimately, the waves separated the father from his son.
<h2Lessons from Noah’s Call to His People
The call of Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) to his people was prolonged, as was their denial of their prophet. Only a few accepted his message. From Noah’s call, we can derive numerous lessons and insights, including:
- Endurance in the face of divine commands; patience can take various forms, such as enduring ridicule during the call to faith and persevering through life’s hardships.
- Courage in defending the truth and being zealous about it.
- Detachment from worldly possessions and a lack of envy for what others hold, especially if it pertains to ephemeral material wealth.
- Firm belief that the ultimate outcome belongs to the pious.
- Understanding that lineage, kinship, status, and wealth are inconsequential in the eyes of divine law; what truly matters are the righteous deeds performed by an individual.