Noah in the Bible and the Qur'an | Jack Miles

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Cultures are often revealed through the stories they hand down through generations. Every civilization has foundational ones. Among the stories many cultures tell, we find tales of a great flood, but the story of Noah’s flood captured the imagination of three great traditions: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim. The Jewish and Christian version of the flood is found in the Bible. But few people in the West know that Noah has a prominent place in the Qur’an’s foundational stories.

Listen to Jack Miles, a Pulitzer Prize-winning scholar, reveal, in a few brief but brilliant minutes, the subtleties between these two similar but different treatments of a story that holds a prominent place in the revelations of the three Abrahamic faiths; for many, the lessons found in this ancient story resonate in our own age overwhelmed and threatened by global disasters.

Jack Miles is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English and Religious Studies at the University of California, Irvine. His book God: A Biography won a Pulitzer Prize in 1996.

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Script:

Hello there. Do you like stories? I certainly do; and if you do too, I invite you to join me as we visit one of the world’s most famous stories, the story of a great flood and of the man who survived it—a man named Noah. Flood stories appear in a great many ancient myths. We’re going to look at the story as told in two sacred scriptures that you may have heard of. One is the Bible. The other is the Qur’an.

Jews and Christians who read the Bible don’t always know that there is a Noah story in the Qur’an. Muslims who know the Noah story from the Qur’an sometimes forget that a Noah story is also told in the Bible. Which version is correct? Muslims favor the Qur’an’s version. Jews and Christians favor the Bible’s version. But why fight about it? Both versions are interesting, and it’s fun to compare them. So let’s get started!

Both stories begin with God, and God is angry. In the Bible, God is angry that the human race, which He Himself created, has grown wicked. In the Qur’an, God is angry that Noah’s nation is worshipping false gods instead of Him. In both the Bible and the Qur’an, God intends to send an annihilating flood against the humans who have so offended him.

But here the differences begin. In the Bible, Noah never says a word. All he does is silently build the boat that the world now calls Noah’s Ark. In the Qur’an, Noah does a great deal of talking. He warns his people that if they continue their idolatrous ways, God will surely destroy them. But if they repent and begin worshipping Him alone, He will not only spare them but also enrich them with many blessings. In the Qur’an just as in the Bible, Noah builds an ark, but in the Qur’an unlike the Bible, people mock him for doing so. Noah tells them, in effect, “He who laughs last laughs best.” As noted already, the biblical Noah never speaks at all.

In the Bible, no one but Noah is warned of the coming flood, and no one survives except Noah, his family, and the animals he has brought on board the Ark two by two. In the Qur’an, by contrast, a few of Noah’s people do heed his warning, and they are saved along with Noah’s family and with, again, the animals.

In the Qur’an alone, Noah has a recalcitrant son who refuses to come on board. If there’s to be a flood, he says, he’ll just go up a high hill and wait it out. Noah makes one plaintive plea to God on his son’s behalf, but God is unmoved: Noah’s true family is now to be those who worship the one true God. Noah’s son must die with the other unbelievers in God’s punishing flood. In the Bible, Noah has three sons, and all make it on board the ark. Later, the three do get in trouble with God, but that’s another story entirely.
In the Bible, after the floodwaters recede, God gives Noah the rainbow as a sign that He will never again destroy the whole world by flood. In the Qur’an, although the flood has not destroyed the whole world, Noah beseeches God to make the world safe for His believers by making it uninhabitable for unbelievers.

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[iwantyou]

God said in the quran we dont punish people until we send a warner

[bossgibbs]

I truly believe in the Quran version even tho I'm of Jewish faith

[llawy-]

Not fair that you didn't mention what exactly the Quran said.. Noah was trying his best for 950 years but his people wasn't listening to him.

[TheSpiritualMuslim]

As a Muslim, I must be entirely honest and say that this was not a very fair comparison and the video felt rather biased towards the Christian narrative, as many key points were left out of both sides of the story. One of the key points left out of the Christian narrative was Noah's fondness of alcohol, to say the least. The Qur'an, however, clears his name from that, as none of the men *chosen* by God to be a Prophet or Messenger were engaged in sinful acts.

One of the key points left out of the Qur'anic version of the story was that the flood was a predestined event--i.e. the flood would have probably still taken place even if the people had all accepted the message, acting instead a sign of God's Mercy upon them, but the people chose to reject the signs from their messenger.

There was way too much emphasis on God's anger in this video and very little emphasis on His Mercy and Compassion, while He Himself has said that His Mercy encompasses all things and that He has ordained Mercy for Himself, which will overshadow His wrath.

[capeoffaith]

Notice that God always warned people before he removed his protection from them.

[patriot]

We muslims call him: "Nuh" alayhisalatuwasalam

[samimahmood]

Not just in the United States, we here in the whole Islamic world are allowed to read each others scriptures.

[yusufhissein]

In Quran Allah tells us Noah warned his people for 950 years.

[fidelcatsro]

Takbeer!! Blessed be his name The God of Abraham Isaac Ishmael Jacob Moses Jesus and Muhammad peace upon them all!!

[khawlalem]

اللهم يا مثبت القلوب ثبتنا على دينك و توفنا و أنت راض عنا

[furr]

Im not a Muslim, but I prefer Quran, as it will provide clear details in story along with other hadis

[Randomperson-]

This video make my faith more stronger about Islam, thanks

[xiaomi]

"He who laughs last laughs best" thats not the 100% correct words from quran, he just explained in a simple way.

[sahil-yfbs]

i read the story of noah(nuh) first in my life from a bengali version of bible when i was in 8th "surah nuh" with a beautiful reciter is heart trembling 😊😊✌😊✌😇

[kb]

One version makes more sense and that is quran’s

[niamulhasan]

Allah always warns us before giving a Severe punishment. Because He is the most loving to His creations even if we do the worst sins.

[rached]

You forgot to mention that Noah (pbuh) was naked and drunk on the beach as the bible says. Of course we Muslims don't believe that. We respect all prophets and messengers from Adam to Mohamed, peace be upon them all.

[عارفالحربي-ذح]

الحمدلله على نعمة
Thank allah for the grace of Islam

[yousufaman]

If Noah seen this video he will tell you “you weren’t detailed enough on the Quran version”

[johnnycashofarabiaah-ade]

It’s an amazing feeling to see and read Muslim, Jews and Christians talking about one of the gods great messenger . Love and peace wins all the time ❤️. God bless you all 🙏