from drowning.

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Had Allah willed to spare anyone, He would have spared that child’s mother. Yet, we seek refuge with Allah, He decreed that everyone on earth should perish by drowning, except those who boarded the Ark.”

Noah’s own son, who had disbelieved in his father, refused to embark. He said, “I will take refuge on a mountain that will protect me from the water” (Q 11:43). His father replied, “Today there is no protector from Allah’s command except for whomever He shows mercy,” but a wave came between them and the son was among those who drowned (Q 11:43).

Later Noah—peace be upon him—pleaded, “My Lord, my son is indeed of my family; surely Your promise is true, and You are the most just of judges” (Q 11:45). Allah answered, “O Noah, he is not of your family; his conduct was unrighteous. So do not ask Me about that of which you have no knowledge. I admonish you lest you become one of the ignorant” (Q 11:46). Glory be to Allah! Consider His words to one of the greatest of the prophets: “I admonish you lest you become one of the ignorant.”

On that Day—may Allah save us and you from His punishment—the people will come to Noah and say, “Intercede for us.” He will recall his sin: that he asked about something of which he had no knowledge. A sinner has no standing to intercede with the One he has disobeyed, so Noah will excuse himself.

They will then go to Abraham, peace be upon him—the father of the prophets, whose creed we have been commanded to follow. They will remind him of Allah’s favors upon him, yet he too will excuse himself. He will mention matters that did not truly harm him, but, owing to the perfection of his faith, he deemed them harmful, and he will say, “Go to Moses.”

They will come to Moses and remind him of the favors Allah granted him, but he too will excuse himself—on what grounds?