You tried talking to your brother about Islam. He dismissed you. You stopped trying. You gave up after one conversation.
You tried inviting your friend to the masjid. He said “maybe next time.” You never invited him again.
You tried explaining something about the Deen to your parents. They got defensive. You backed down and never brought it up again.
One rejection. One uncomfortable conversation, based on what causes people to quit. One “no,” according to weak commitment. And you gave up, as typical behavior demonstrates.
Now let me tell you about Prophet Nuh عليه السلام, according to Quranic and historical documentation studied by Islamic scholars for fourteen centuries.
950 Years of Calling
[Surah Al-Ankabut, Ayah 14]
“And We certainly sent Nuh to his people, and he remained among them a thousand years minus fifty years, and then the flood seized them while they were wrongdoers.”
A thousand years minus fifty. That’s 950 years, based on simple mathematics.
Try to comprehend that number. According to recorded human history, the Roman Empire lasted about 500 years. The Ottoman Caliphate lasted about 600 years. Prophet Nuh عليه السلام, according to this verse, called his people to worship Allah alone for longer than either of these empires existed.
[Surah Nuh, Ayah 5-9]
“He said, ‘My Lord, indeed I invited my people [to truth] night and day. But my invitation increased them not except in flight. And indeed, every time I invited them that You may forgive them, they put their fingers in their ears, covered themselves with their garments, persisted, and were arrogant with [great] arrogance. Then I invited them publicly. Then I announced to them and [also] confided to them secretly.'”
Night and day. Publicly and privately. Openly and secretly. He tried everything. Every approach. Every technique.
And according to this same Surah, what was the result? “My invitation increased them not except in flight,” as he himself testified. They ran away from him. They covered their ears, according to verse 7. They wrapped their garments around themselves to avoid him. They persisted in disbelief. With arrogance.
For 950 years.
Only 80 Believers
After 950 years of da’wah—after nine and a half centuries of calling, teaching, explaining, pleading, warning—only about 80 people believed in Prophet Nuh’s عليه السلام message.
Eighty people. That’s it, according to historical documentation. Out of an entire nation, based on how many he called. After 950 years. Eighty.
Do the math. 950 years divided by 80 believers equals approximately 11.875 years per convert, based on simple calculation. That’s almost 12 years for each single person who believed, according to this average.
Twelve years of da’wah, based on this calculation, for one person to accept. And you, give up after one conversation? After one rejection? After one “I’m not interested”? What’s your excuse?
His Own Family Disbelieved
[Surah At-Tahrim, Ayah 10]
“Allah presents an example of those who disbelieved: the wife of Nuh and the wife of Lut. They were under two of Our righteous servants but betrayed them, so those prophets did not avail them from Allah at all, and it was said, ‘Enter the Fire with those who enter.'”
His wife. The woman who lived with him. Who saw him every day. Who knew him better than anyone. She disbelieved, as this verse clearly states.
[Surah Hud, Ayah 42-43]
“And it sailed with them through waves like mountains, and Nuh called to his son who was apart [from them], ‘O my son, come aboard with us and be not with the disbelievers.’ [But] he said, ‘I will take refuge on a mountain to protect me from the water.’ [Nuh] said, ‘There is no protector today from the command of Allah, except for whom He gives mercy.’ And the waves came between them, and he was among the drowned.”
His son. His own child. He watched him, according to this heartbreaking scene, as the flood came. He called to him. Begged him, according to the desperation evident in “O my son, come aboard with us!”
And his son refused. Thought he knew better, based on “I will take refuge on a mountain.” Chose disbelief, according to his decision. And drowned, as this verse explicitly states—while Prophet Nuh عليه السلام watched.
His wife disbelieved. His son drowned in disbelief. The two closest people to him. And he kept calling others, as scholars emphasize when teaching about his persistence despite personal heartbreak.
You complain, based on typical Muslim excuses, that your family doesn’t listen? That they dismiss your advice about Islam, according to what happens? Imagine watching your own son drown because he refused your message. Imagine your own wife betraying you, based on what Prophet Nuh endured. Then imagine according to his example, still continuing to call others for centuries afterward, as he did.
What’s your excuse now?
They Mocked Him for Centuries
The people of Nuh عليه السلام didn’t just reject him. Based on multiple verses, they mocked him. They insulted him. They called him crazy. They humiliated him publicly.
[Surah Hud, Ayah 38]
“And he constructed the ship, and whenever an assembly of the eminent of his people passed by him, they ridiculed him. He said, ‘If you ridicule us, then we will ridicule you just as you ridicule us.'”
They ridiculed him. Not once, based on the frequency implied by “whenever.” Every time they passed. Every assembly. Year after year. Decade after decade, based on 950 years. Century after century.
Imagine that. You’re building a massive ship, according to Allah’s command. On dry land, based on where he was. No water in sight. And every day, people pass by and laugh at you. Mock you. Call you insane. For years, according to how long building the ark took. While you’re trying to save them. While you’re warning them. They’re laughing at you.
How long would you last under that treatment? According to modern Muslim sensitivity, one mocking comment and you’d quit. One person calling you extreme, and you’d back down. One family member laughing at your religiosity, according to weak commitment, and you’d tone everything down.
He endured centuries of mockery. And never stopped calling.
He Never Gave Up
[Surah Nuh, Ayah 26-27]
“And Nuh said, ‘My Lord, do not leave upon the earth from among the disbelievers an inhabitant. Indeed, if You leave them, they will mislead Your servants and not beget except [every] wicked one and [confirmed] disbeliever.'”
This du’a, came after 950 years, in Surah Al-Ankabut. After nearly a millennium. After he had exhausted every approach, based on what verses 5-9 document. After he had tried everything.
Only then, did he ask Allah to stop the disbelievers. Only after 950 years. Not after one year. Not after ten years. Not even after one century. After 950 years.
And even then, he wasn’t asking out of personal frustration. Based on the wording “they will mislead Your servants,” he was concerned about future generations. About the children these disbelievers would raise, according to “not beget except [every] wicked one.” He endured for his lifetime, based on 950 years. But he didn’t want future generations corrupted, according to this du’a’s reasoning.
Compare that to modern Muslims. You try once. You get rejected. You give up. Not because you’re concerned about future generations being misled, according to Prophet Nuh’s عليه السلام noble reason. But because your ego got bruised. Your feelings got hurt. You got tired of being “that religious person,” according to social pressure.
You After One Rejection
You give up so easily. Your persistence is embarrassingly weak compared to prophetic examples.
Your family dismisses your advice? You stop giving it. Your friends mock your religiosity? You tone it down. Someone argues with you about Islam? You avoid the topic forever after, according to conflict avoidance.
One rejection, based on what it takes to stop you. One uncomfortable conversation, according to your threshold. One person calling you extreme, based on modern Muslim sensitivity. And you’re done.
The Prophet ﷺ said, as recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim: “The believer who mixes with people and bears their annoyance with patience will have a greater reward than the believer who does not mix with people and does not put up with their annoyance.”
Bears their annoyance with patience. Not “avoids anyone who disagrees”. Not “gives up after one rejection”. Bears and is patient.
Like Prophet Nuh عليه السلام, according to his Quranic example. Who bore 950 years of mockery. Who was patient through centuries of rejection. Who never stopped calling, as his story demonstrates.
What You Must Do
If you want to follow prophetic example—if you want to actually be someone who calls to Allah properly—you need to develop Prophet Nuh’s عليه السلام patience, based on his model documented in the Quran.
Never stop calling your family to good. Your family needs your reminders. When they dismiss you, based on what will happen, remember Prophet Nuh عليه السلام. His own wife and son disbelieved. Did that stop him from calling others? No, according to his continued 950-year mission. Don’t let your family’s rejection stop you. Keep advising, according to Islamic duty. Keep reminding. With wisdom and patience, according to how it should be done.
Don’t let mockery silence you. According to what Prophet Nuh عليه السلام endured, people laughing at you for being religious is nothing. They mocked him for centuries. They ridiculed him daily, according to verse 38 of Surah Hud. He kept calling. You get one mocking comment and want to quit? Remember his example. Let it strengthen you, according to how we should learn from prophets.
Be patient with people’s rejection. Your job is to convey the message—not force acceptance. Prophet Nuh عليه السلام called for 950 years. Only 80 believed. That’s a “failure rate” of nearly 100%, based on mathematical calculation. But according to Islamic understanding, it wasn’t failure—it was success, because he fulfilled his duty. He delivered the message, based on what Allah required. The guidance is from Allah alone. Your job is to call. Their acceptance is Allah’s will. So be patient. Keep calling. Leave results to Allah, as Islam consistently teaches.
Use his du’as. According to Surah Nuh, he made beautiful supplications scholars extract for us to use:
[Surah Nuh, Ayah 10-12]
“And said, ‘Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers and give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers.'”
This was part of his da’wah approach. He showed them, based on this invitation, that returning to Allah brings blessings. That forgiveness is available, according to divine mercy. That Allah wants to give them good, based on what this promise offers.
Use this approach. Show people the mercy, based on emphasizing hope. Show them the benefits, according to what attracts. Show them Allah’s generosity. Not just threats. Not just Hell. Show them Paradise. Show them forgiveness. Show them what they’ll gain.
Remember the reward of one person guided. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, as recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim: “By Allah, if Allah were to guide one man through you, it would be better for you than red camels.”
Red camels were the most valuable possessions in Arabian society. This means, better than the most expensive luxury you can imagine. Better than millions of dollars. Better than any worldly gain.
One person guided. That’s the value. Prophet Nuh عليه السلام, guided 80 people. Imagine his reward. After 950 years, based on his effort. Eighty people saved from Hell. Eighty souls guided to Paradise. The reward is unimaginable.
But he wouldn’t have gotten that reward, if he had given up after year one. After year ten. After year 100. He only got it, according to actual outcome, because he persisted for 950 years.
Your one conversation might be what saves someone. Your one reminder might be what changes their trajectory. But only if you actually have it. Only if you don’t give up after one rejection.
The Reality That Should Humble You
Prophet Nuh عليه السلام is one of the greatest prophets. One of the Ulul-‘Azm—the five prophets of strongest determination, as Islamic tradition establishes: Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa, and Muhammad, peace be upon them all.
He’s so great, that an entire Surah is named after him. His story is mentioned repeatedly, based on Quranic repetition across multiple chapters. He’s praised throughout Scripture. He’s held up as an example, based on how Allah presents him.
And he, endured 950 years of rejection. Called night and day. Public and private. Only 80 believed. His own wife betrayed him. His own son drowned in disbelief..
And he never stopped.
You, aren’t Prophet Nuh عليه السلام. You’re not one of the greatest prophets. You’re not receiving revelation, according to the finality of prophethood. You’re just a regular Muslim.
And you give up after one rejection? After one uncomfortable conversation? After one “no”?
If Prophet Nuh عليه السلام endured 950 years of calling with only 80 believers—what’s your excuse for giving up after five minutes?
If he bore centuries of mockery, rejection, and humiliation—why can’t you handle one dismissive comment?
If he kept calling despite his own family’s disbelief—why do you stop when your cousin makes fun of you?
The answer: You don’t have his level of commitment. You don’t have his strength of faith. You don’t have his patienc. You don’t have his determination.
But according to Islamic obligation, you should be trying. You should be working toward it, based on prophetic examples being given for us to follow. You should be improving, according to self-development Islam requires. And at minimum, you shouldn’t give up after one rejection.
Start Today
Make a commitment right now. Based on this example of Prophet Nuh عليه السلام that you just learned, decide that you will not give up easily.
That family member who dismissed you, according to previous failed attempts? Try again, based on renewed commitment. That friend who rejected your invitation, according to past experience? Invite them again, based on persistence this example teaches. That conversation you avoided because it might be awkward, according to cowardly avoidance? Have it, based on prophetic courage.
And when they reject you—because according to Islamic realism, sometimes they will—remember Prophet Nuh. 950 years, based on Quranic timeline. Only 80 believers, according to historical result. Never gave up, based on divine documentation.
If he could persist for 950 years, according to this unmatched example, you can persist through one more conversation. One more invitation, based on bare minimum requirement. One more attempt, according to what this example demands.
Because calling to Allah is an obligation. Advising toward good is required. Being patient with people’s rejection, according to prophetic example, is how it’s supposed to be done.
Don’t be the Muslim who gives up after one “no,” according to shameful modern pattern. Be the Muslim who remembers Prophet Nuh, based on Quranic example. Who understands 950 years of da’wah, according to divine documentation. Who develops even a fraction of his patience, based on trying to follow his model.
Because on the Day of Judgment, you’ll meet Prophet Nuh عليه السلام. And you’ll realize the magnitude of what he endured. The 950 years, based on divine record. The rejection. The mockery. The family betrayal. And through it all, based on complete story, he never stopped calling.
Make sure, when you meet him—you can say you tried. That you didn’t give up easily, based on his example. That when people rejected you, according to what happened, you remembered his 950 years. And you kept calling, based on his model. Even if just a little more, according to honest capability. Even if not perfectly, based on human limitation. But that you tried. And you didn’t give up after one rejection, based on the shame this example reveals about modern Muslim weakness.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general educational and informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in presenting Islamic teachings based on authentic Quranic verses, prophetic stories, and scholarly interpretations preserved across centuries of Islamic tradition, readers are strongly advised to consult qualified Islamic scholars in their local area for specific religious rulings, detailed interpretations, and matters requiring expert guidance. The content reflects understanding drawn from classical and contemporary Islamic scholarship regarding the story of Prophet Nuh, patience in da’wah, and prophetic examples, and should not replace personal consultation with knowledgeable religious authorities for individual circumstances.