Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) called his people to worship Allah alone for 950 years, but most mocked him. Allah told him to build an Ark. When the flood came, Nuh, the few believers and pairs of animals were saved, and the Ark rested on al-Judi (Qur’an 11:36–44). The lesson: keep obeying Allah, even when few do.
What is the story of Prophet Nuh, retold for children?
Nuh, peace be upon him, was sent to a people who worshipped idols instead of Allah. He warned them for centuries, built the Ark when Allah commanded, and was saved with the believers when the flood came. Here is the story, step by step, with the Qur’an reference for each part.
A Prophet who never gave up
Long, long ago, Allah chose Nuh to be a Prophet and sent him to his people. They had made statues and given them names, and they prayed to them (71:23). Nuh spoke to them kindly: “O my people, worship Allah. You have no god other than Him” (7:59). He promised that if they asked Allah for forgiveness, Allah would send them rain and bless them with wealth and children (71:10–12).
He called them by night and by day, in public and in private (71:5–9). He stayed among them for a thousand years less fifty, that is 950 years (29:14). But most covered their ears and turned away (71:7). Only a few believed (11:40).
Building the Ark
Allah told Nuh that no more of his people would believe, and commanded him: “Build the ship under Our eyes and Our inspiration” (11:36–37). So Nuh built it from planks and nails (54:13). Whenever the leaders of his people walked past, they laughed at him. Nuh answered calmly: “If you laugh at us, we will laugh at you, just as you laugh” (11:38).
The flood
When Allah’s command came, the gates of the sky opened with pouring water and springs burst from the earth (54:11–12). Allah told Nuh to carry on the Ark a pair of every kind, his family (except those who had rejected Allah) and those who believed (11:40). Nuh said, “Embark in it. In the name of Allah is its course and its anchorage” (11:41).
The Ark sailed on waves like mountains (11:42). Nuh saw his son standing apart and called, “O my son, come aboard with us!” His son answered, “I will climb a mountain to protect me from the water.” Nuh said, “There is no protector today from the command of Allah, except for whom He has mercy.” And a wave came between them (11:42–43).
The Ark comes to rest
Then Allah commanded the earth to swallow its water and the sky to hold back its rain. The water went down, and the Ark came to rest on al-Judi (11:44). Nuh and those with him came down “with peace from Us and blessings” (11:48). Allah says of him, “Peace be upon Nuh among all the worlds” (37:79).
What lessons does the story of Nuh teach children?
- Keep going. Nuh never stopped calling people to good, for 950 years (29:14).
- Do right, even if others laugh. Mockery didn’t stop him obeying Allah (11:38).
- Try different ways. He spoke in public and in private, by night and by day (71:5–9).
- Only Allah can save. The mountain couldn’t protect Nuh’s son; Allah’s mercy saved those in the Ark (11:43).
- Begin with Bismillah. Nuh started the journey in Allah’s name (11:41).
- Be grateful. Allah calls Nuh “a grateful servant” (17:3).
How do you tell the story of Nuh to a 3–5-year-old vs a 6–9-year-old?
For under-fives, tell one bright scene: the Ark, the animals and Allah keeping them safe. For six- to nine-year-olds, tell the whole arc, including the son and why the people were warned.
| Ages 3–5 | Ages 6–9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 3–5 minutes | 10–15 minutes, or two nights |
| Focus | Building the Ark; animals two by two; landing safely | 950 years of patience; the mocking; the son; al-Judi |
| The flood | “Lots of rain, and Allah kept everyone in the Ark safe” | Nuh warned them for a very long time; Allah is always fair |
| Words to learn | Bismillah | “Bismillahi majreha wa mursaha” (11:41) |
| Try | Toy animals into a box “Ark”, two by two | Read Surah Nuh (71) in translation together |
A one-minute version for little ones: “Long ago, Prophet Nuh asked his people to love Allah. Some laughed at him, but Nuh kept being good. Allah told him, ‘Build a big boat!’ So he did. Then lots of rain came. Nuh, his friends and the animals, two by two, went into the Ark, and Allah kept them safe until the boat stopped on a mountain. Nuh said ‘Bismillah’, and so can we.”
Which details of Nuh’s story are not in the Qur’an?
Many picture books mix in the Bible’s account. The rainbow, the raven and the dove, the Ark’s exact size, and the idea that all of Nuh’s family were saved are not in the Qur’an. The Qur’an says one son refused and drowned (11:43), that Nuh’s wife did not believe (66:10), and that only a few believed with him (11:40). Teach what the Qur’an says, and say “Allah knows best” about the rest. See Prophet stories for kids for more on this.
How can I talk about the flood gently?
Keep it simple and honest. Nuh warned his people for a very long time, Allah is always fair, and Allah saved everyone who believed. Some children worry about the animals: Allah told Nuh to take a pair of every kind (11:40). Focus on Nuh’s patience and Allah’s care for the believers.
Questions to ask after the story
- How do you think Nuh felt when people laughed at him?
- Has anyone ever laughed at you for doing the right thing? What did you do?
- Why couldn’t the mountain keep Nuh’s son safe?
- What can we say when we start a journey?
Activities
- Build an Ark from a shoebox and fill it with toy animals, two by two.
- Learn “Bismillahi majreha wa mursaha” (11:41) for car journeys.
- Count to 950 in hundreds with building blocks.
- Older children: list the different ways Nuh tried to reach his people (71:5–12).
Nuh in the Hudhud book
In Hudhud, the child and Hudhud the hoopoe fly over the unfinished Ark, see people laughing, watch the waves “rise like mountains” and see the Ark resting on al-Judi. Hudhud explains: “We follow the truth, even when few people follow it.” The child’s journey with Hudhud is a fictional frame around the Qur’anic story. For more bedtime ideas, see Islamic bedtime stories.
Next story: Prophet Ibrahim and the fire.
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
How long did Prophet Nuh preach?
The Qur’an says Nuh remained among his people “a thousand years less fifty”, that is 950 years (29:14). He called them night and day, in public and in private (71:5–9).
Where did Nuh’s Ark land?
The Qur’an says the Ark came to rest on al-Judi (11:44), usually called Mount Judi. The Qur’an does not give more detail about where it is, and people have suggested different places.
Why did Nuh’s son not get on the Ark?
He refused, saying he would climb a mountain to protect himself from the water. Nuh told him nothing could protect anyone that day except Allah’s mercy, and a wave came between them (11:42–43).
How many people were on Nuh’s Ark?
The Qur’an does not give a number. It says Nuh’s family (except those who rejected Allah) and the believers boarded, and that only a few had believed with him (11:40).
What lesson does the story of Nuh teach children?
To keep doing what is right and obeying Allah even when people laugh, to be patient, to begin things with Bismillah, and that only Allah can truly keep us safe.
Is there a rainbow in the Islamic story of Nuh?
No. The rainbow, the dove and the olive branch come from the Bible’s account. The Qur’an ends the story with the water going down and the Ark resting on al-Judi (11:44).
Is Nuh the same as Noah?
Yes. Nuh is the Arabic name of the Prophet known in English as Noah. Muslims honour him as one of the five Messengers of firm resolve, and Surah 71 is named after him.