Iram, the Ancient City with Columns

Iram, the Ancient City with Columns

One late evening Amir and his mother went for a walk. Amir was a stout boy of ten with black hair and black eyes. “Let us go back home,” he said. “I want to stay a bit longer,” replied his mother. “Why?” he said and opened his eyes wide. There was doubt in them because he knew that his mother usually went to bed early. “I like to stay in the star light for a while. I love to see the clear blue sky studded with shiny stars,” was the reply. “Alright, and then tell me the story of the City with Columns,” Amir demanded.

            (7-65-72) (26-123-135)

            The people of Ad were the descendents of Noah and the few believers who were saved. They established themselves in the land and became a nation. They keenly watched the nature, collected data, and deduced the laws from it. The scientific approach made them far advanced in the art of building on the mountains. They used to live in the hills; cutting them and transforming them in to comfortable homes. Moreover, they discovered how to be great horticulturists. This knowledge helped them to grow many gardens in the kingdom. The scientific skills made them very powerful and rich.

 No other nation was as powerful as they were. This made them very proud and unruly. In spite of scientific approach, they refused to appreciate Hud’s message when he came to them as a messenger of God. Hud’s opposition came from the leaders and chiefs who had an abundance of means. Hud’s first objection was that useless construction of big monuments only to show power was a waste of resources. Moreover, he told them, “I am a messenger from God, to tell you that there is only one God and you must follow his laws. For that, you have to follow me so that I can remove all the hindrances which are unbalancing your society. Otherwise, a great doom will fall on you”

 The chiefs were standing near the strong forts which they had built. They were intoxicated by the idea of power that they possessed. The leaders and chiefs could not think that anyone in the world was capable of doing any harm to them.

Noah and deluge

Noah refused to drop poor low class workers from his party. He said, “If I will not guide them, when they come to me seeking the right path, who will save me from the wrath of God?”

(Surah71, verse26-27)

Noah prayed to God and said, “I have explained to my nation, publically as well as privately, without making any difference in their behavior. They have left me and gone to a rich chief and sons. Their wealth and power have made them blind; they cannot see anything good and just. They have crossed every limit of decency. Do not leave them in this state or they will corrupt the coming generations. Their children will follow the path of their parents. Destroy all their wealth and power and don’t leave in the land a single dweller of the disbelievers.”

(Surah11, verse32)

The rich chieftains were snugly settled in society, they knew that the structure of the society was so powerful that Noah couldn’t do anything to dislodge them. One of the leading chief said to Noah,” You have argued and discussed unnecessarily with us, we don’t believe in what you are trying to preach .If you are true to your words, bring the doom on us.”

The rich chieftains were asking again and again for the doom, so eventually it came in the form of a storm. The rain started pouring heavily. Many fountains from the earth gushed forth. The level of the water rose quickly. It was appearing that a race was going on between earth and sky to fill the valley with water. God told Noah to keep two pairs of necessary animals, along with his family, and the few who believed, in the ark.

(Surah11, verse41-48)

People asked Noah,” Where are we going?” He said, “Do not waste time in   asking questions. Quickly settle down. This ark is moving under the guidance of God and He will not let any harm touch us.” The ark was moving unharmed in the mighty waves when Noah saw his son standing. He called for him and urged him to embark on the ark.  The son replied, “I do not care to join you, I will climb up the mountain which will protect me from the flood.” Noah said, “There is no protection today for anyone except those who join me in the ark.”  While the son and father were having their discussion, a great wave carried the son away and he drowned. Noah asked God, "Oh God you promised me that all those who belonged to me will be saved, but my son drowned.” God replied, “my promise is for those who belonged to you, and your son is your biological product, but he does not belong to you because he is not following my law.”

The earth gulped the water; the sky was clear and blue again. The ark stopped at the top of mountain Judi. God said to Noah, “go and settle down in the land with my blessings.”

Lo, and behold! The humble and weak owe the land of powerful and strong.   


  
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