Where Did Noah’s People Live?

IQNA – The story of Prophet Noah (AS) is among the main stories mentioned in the Quran and there is a special chapter, Surah Nuh, dedicated to this divine prophet and his people.

Given his long life, which lasted about 1,000 years, Noah (AS) witnessed many events during his prophethood that happened in different geographical locations.

God says in Verses 1-4 of Surah Nuh: “We sent Noah to his people telling him, ‘Warn your people before a painful torment approaches them’. Noah said, ‘My people, I am warning you plainly. Worship God, have fear of Him and obey me. He will forgive your sins and give you a respite for an appointed time. When the time which God has appointed arrives, none will be able to postpone it. Would that you knew this!’”

Noah (AS) was appointed to prophethood after Shayth (AS) and Idris (AS). He was an Ul-ul-Azm Prophet and the one who lived the longest. Noah (AS) was a carpenter.

He invited his people to worshipping the one God and warned them against worshipping idols. The wealthy people who were obstinate and arrogant accused him of going astray.

“A group of his people said to him, ‘You are absolutely wrong.’ (Noah) said, ‘My people, I am not in any error, rather I am a Messenger from the Lord of the Universe.’” (Verses 60-61 of Surah Al-A’araf)

After the people refused to believe even after long years of propagating the truth, Noah (AS) was tasked with building a vessel to save the believers and animals from the upcoming flood.

Now the question is where Noah (AS) and his people lived. Where did he build his Ark?

It has been said that the Kufa Mosque (in today’s Iraq) was the place where Noah (AS) worshipped God and said prayers.

He is also said to have built his Ark in Kufa, a city 12 kilometers north of Najaf, southern Iraq.

Muslims believe that the Kufa Mosque was first built by Prophet Adam (AS).

The Kufa Mosque is one the four main mosques in the Islamic world. Many virtues have been attributed to this mosque. It has been narrated from Imam Ali (AS) who said: Four palaces from the palaces of paradise are here in this world and they are the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the Prophet’s Mosque in Media, Al-Aqsa Mosque in al-Quds and the Kufa Mosque.