Allah, the Exalted, says concerning Nuh, that he said to those whom he was
commanded to carry them with him in the ship,
[ارْكَبُواْ فِيهَا
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ مَجْرَاهَا وَمُرْسَاهَا]
(Embark therein: in the Name of Allah will be its (moving) course and its
(resting) anchorage.) This means that its sailing upon the surface of the water,
the end of its journeying and its anchoring, would all be with the Name of
Allah. Abu Raja' Al-`Utaridi recited it, (بِسْمِ اللهِ مُجرِيهَا ومُرْسِيهَا)
"In the Name of Allah, Who will be the One Who moves its course, and rests its
anchor.'' Allah, the Exalted, said,
[فَإِذَا اسْتَوَيْتَ
أَنتَ وَمَن مَّعَكَ عَلَى الْفُلْكِ فَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ للَّهِ الَّذِى نَجَّانَا
مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّـلِمِينَ - وَقُل رَّبِّ أَنزِلْنِى مُنزَلاً مُّبَارَكاً
وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْمُنزِلِينَ ]
(And when you have embarked on the ship, you and whoever is with you, then
say: "All the praises and thanks are to Allah, Who has saved us from the people
who are wrongdoers. And say: "My Lord! Cause me to land at a blessed landing
place, for You are the Best of those who bring to land.'')[23:28-29] For this
reason, it is preferred to mention the Name of Allah (Bismillah) at the
beginning of all affairs. The Name of Allah should be mentioned when boarding a
ship, or when mounting an animal. This is as Allah, the Exalted, says,
[وَالَّذِى خَلَقَ
الأَزْوَجَ كُلَّهَا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِّنَ الْفُلْكِ وَالاٌّنْعَـمِ مَا
تَرْكَبُونَ لِتَسْتَوُواْ عَلَى ظُهُورِهِ]
(And Who has created all the pairs and has appointed for you ships and cattle
on which you ride, in order that you may mount on their backs.)[43:12-13] This
practice (mentioning Allah's Name) has been encouraged in the Sunnah and is
considered a preferred act. A discussion concerning this is forthcoming in the
explanation of Surat Az-Zukhruf (43), if Allah wills. In reference to Allah's
statement,
[إِنَّ رَبِّى
لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ]
(Surely, my Lord is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.) Such statement is suitable
while mentioning (His) vengeance upon the disbelievers by drowning all of them.
Therefore, he (Nuh) mentions that His Lord is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful. This
is similar to Allah's statement,
[إِنَّ رَبَّكَ
لَسَرِيعُ الْعِقَابِ وَإِنَّهُ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ]
(Surely, your Lord is swift in retribution, and certainly He is
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.) [7:167] He also says,
[وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ
لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍ لِّلنَّاسِ عَلَى ظُلْمِهِمْ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَشَدِيدُ
الْعِقَابِ]
(But verily, your Lord is full of forgiveness for mankind inspite of their
wrongdoing. And verily, your Lord is (also) severe in punishment.) [13:6]
Likewise, there are many other verses that combine Allah's mercy and His
vengeance. Concerning Allah's statement,
[وَهِىَ تَجْرِى
بِهِمْ فِى مَوْجٍ كَالْجِبَالِ]
(So it sailed with them amidst waves like mountains,) This means that the
ship sailed with them upon the surface of the water, which had completely
covered the earth until it encompassed the tops of the mountains and even rose
over them by a height of fifteen cubits. It was also said that the waves rose
over the mountains by a height of eighty miles. Yet, this ship continued to move
upon the water, sailing by the permission of Allah. It moved under His shade,
His help, His protection and His blessing. This is as Allah, the Exalted, said,
[إِنَّا لَمَّا طَغَا
الْمَآءُ حَمَلْنَـكُمْ فِى الْجَارِيَةِ - لِنَجْعَلَهَا لَكُمْ تَذْكِرَةً
وَتَعِيَهَآ أُذُنٌ وَعِيَةٌ ]
(Verily, when the water rose beyond its limits, We carried you in the ship.
That We might make it an admonition for you and it might be retained by the
retaining ears.)[69:11-12] Allah also said,
[وَحَمَلْنَاهُ عَلَى
ذَاتِ أَلْوَحٍ وَدُسُرٍ - تَجْرِى بِأَعْيُنِنَا جَزَآءً لِّمَن كَانَ كُفِرَ -
وَلَقَدْ تَّرَكْنَـهَا ءايَةً فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ ]
(And We carried him on a (ship) made of planks and nails, floating under Our
Eyes: a reward for him who had been rejected! And indeed, We have left this as a
sign. Then is there any that will remember (or receive
admonition))[54:13-15]
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