The Social 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 (06)
The new society established by Noah (peace be upon him) was based on lofty divine ethics. Noah (peace be upon him) was dutiful to his parents, loving towards his followers, and prayed for their forgiveness. Allah Almighty says: {My Lord, forgive me and my parents and whoever enters my house a believer and the believing men and believing women.} [Nuh: 28].
These teachings on honoring parents were predominant, and they drew closer to Allah through this piety. His prayer for the {the believing men and believing women.} indicates mercy among them, and the bond of faith is what guided the behavior of this society.
The new society had deep faith in Allah and the Last Day, applying the teachings of revelation seriously and with commitment, and with minimal sin. For them, religion was life itself, not something marginal they resorted to now and then; rather, it was the life and spirit of the people. It was not only in the rituals they performed, ensuring they were done correctly, but also in their ethics, perceptions, concerns, values, social bonds, family relations, neighborly relationships, trade, and seeking livelihood. It also involved being honest in dealings, providing for those who were unable to, enjoining good and forbidding evil. Of course, this does not mean that every individual in the society was like this, as this cannot be realized in this world or in any society.
It was a society that achieved the highest levels of the true meaning of the nation. A nation is not a group of people bound by shared language, land, or interests; these are the ties that bind people in ignorance. If a group is formed based on these, it is an ignorant nation. However, the divine meaning of the nation is one that binds its members through the bond of faith, regardless of language, race, color, or earthly interests. Thus, the society was connected by the bond of faith on the basis of complete brotherhood in religion, which helped establish the second human civilization on strong and sound foundations.
- 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. 140-142.
- How Do We Write History?, Muhammad Qutb, p. 102; Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, Dar al-Rawda, Istanbul, first edition, 2017, p. 267.
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:
