The Industrial and Economic Factor in the Emergence of the Second Human Civilization
Selections from the Book Prophet Hud (peace be upon him) And the Causes for the Demise of the Civilization of the People of Aad…
Written by Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi...
Episode (04)
This factor appears in the construction of the ship. Allah Almighty commanded Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) to build the ship, and he obeyed the command and made the ship with his own hands. The ship of Noah was made of wood, ropes, and nails, as Allah Almighty says: {And We carried him on a [construction of] planks and nails,} [Al-Qamar: 13]. This means that Noah (peace be upon him) gathered its raw materials and combined them—according to the divine knowledge revealed to him in shipbuilding—until it became a ship capable of sailing. We are not concerned with the Israeli narrations about the size of the ship, but what matters to us is that this ship was so vast that it withstood the crashing waves, as described in the Holy Qur'an: {And it sailed with them through waves like mountains,} [Hud: 42]. The purpose of the ship was for the survivors to board it to be saved from the flood. This indicates that salvation is something that humans create with their own hands, then trust in Allah. The nation is required to build its own ship of salvation with the hands of its people, not to rely on the ships of others, nor to stand idly by in the face of the flood of falsehood and oppression, waiting for rescue from those who wish to drown it. A nation that does not build its own ship of salvation is vulnerable to destruction, drowning, and the flood.
Additionally, the craftsmanship involved in building the ship points to Noah's (peace be upon him) and his followers' competence and skill in many industrial fields. Building the ship required expertise in making chairs, doors, windows, and stairs, as well as constructing homes according to the human needs and measurements for housing. This involved woodworking, ironwork, and other metals. It has been established that prophets practiced trades and various economic and industrial activities in addition to their primary mission, which was the nurturing and guidance of nations to worship their Lord. This task brought forth human beings who build life in all its civilizational aspects. Noah (peace be upon him) was a pioneer in using wood and iron in shipbuilding. The ship carried:
- Seeds of animal wealth.
- Seeds of plant wealth.
- Birds of various shapes and kinds.
- The components of the new economic and industrial life.
Noah (peace be upon him) and those with him were dedicated and persistent in their work, and their industrial and economic efforts were strong and thriving, which led to a remarkable civilizational flourishing. They removed obstacles and difficulties and made matters easier for themselves, as Allah Almighty says: {It was said, "O Noah, disembark in security from Us and blessings upon you and upon nations [descending] from those with you. But other nations [of them] We will grant enjoyment; then there will touch them from Us a painful punishment."} [Hud: 48].
The phrase {and upon nations [descending] from those with you.} refers to the nations that will follow the path of faith after Noah, while {But other nations [of them] We will grant enjoyment; then there will touch them from Us a painful punishment."} refers to the nations of disbelief, who will enjoy temporary worldly pleasures, as per the divine Sunnah, and then face a painful punishment. In this verse, the promise of peace and blessings is for every believer, regardless of time or place.
The blessings that accompanied Noah (peace be upon him) in his industrial, economic, social, and psychological life, as well as in his emotions, feelings, provisions, and the delights of life, were not limited to material abundance alone.
Noah's (peace be upon him) economic life was free from deception, fraud, and the unfair treatment of others. It was also distant from greed and avarice. The laws of Noah (peace be upon him) governed the economic life, ensuring that economic relations were sound and in accordance with Allah’s commands. Some key principles followed in Noah’s (peace be upon him) economic life included:
- Giving everyone their due rights.
- Honoring the measures and weights in trade.
- Avoiding the impermissible and striving for what is lawful.
- Everyone feared Allah in their speech, actions, and intentions.
This comprehensive system of fairness and piety in economic relations ensured a balanced and just society, where prosperity was linked to moral and spiritual integrity.
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, Prophet Hud (peace be upon him) And the Causes for the Demise of the Civilization of the People of Aad, pp. 134-137.
- The Sunnahs of the Qur’an in the Rise of Civilizations, Muhammad Haythur, Dar Al-Wafa, Cairo, First Edition, 1417 AH - 1997 AD, p. 66.
- Educational Methods in the Call of the Messengers through Surah Al-A’raf, Yasser Hassan Arif, Master’s Thesis, Umm Al-Qura University, 1429 AH, p. 306.
For further information and review of the sources for the article, see:
The Book of Prophet Hud (peace be upon him) And the Causes for the Demise of the Civilization of the People of Aad on the official website of Sheikh Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi:
