Noah’s Flood In Quran
The Bible insists that Noah’s flood was global and no one survived except the believers who boarded the ark with Noah. However the Quran says that the flood was local and nations other than Noah’s survived.
Local floods are very common however there is no scientific evidence for a global flood. But stories of a global flood are found in many ancient cultures all-around the globe. If it were a global flood, as portrayed in the Bible, no one would have survived other than the believers who boarded the ark with Noah. There would have been no disbelievers who didn’t board the ark and survived. However the Quran says something else, it says that there were disbelievers who didn’t board the ark and still survived:
1. Other Communities Survived
📖Quran 11:48
It was said, “O Noah, disembark with peace from Us; and with blessings upon you, and upon communities from those with you. And other communities We will grant prosperity and later We will hand them painful torture.”
- Here Allah mentions “other communities” who lived after the flood. If the flood were global, no disbelieving nations would have survived to face later punishment. This shows the flood was not worldwide.
2. The Story Was Unknown Before
📖Quran 11:49
These are some stories from the past that we reveal to you. Neither you, nor your people knew them before this. So be patient. The future belongs to the pious.
- Unlike the Biblical version, which claimed all humanity perished, the Qur’an revealed the truth: other disbelieving nations survived. This was a new correction of the older myths.
3. Noah Was Sent Only to His People
📖Quran 21:107
We did not send you except as mercy to all nations.
- This verse refers only to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ – he was sent to all mankind as a universal messenger.
But when the Qur’an speaks about Noah, it always says:
📖Quran 7:59
We sent Noah to his people. He said, “O my people! Worship Allah; you have no god other than Him. I fear for you the punishment of a tremendous Day.”
So the difference is clear:
- Noah → sent to his people (qawmihi) only.
- Muhammad ﷺ → sall nations (lil-‘ālamīn).
That’s why the punishment of Noah’s flood was limited to his people, not the entire globe.
4. The Ark Contained His Own Animals and Believers
📖Quran 11:40
We said, “Board into it a pair of every kind, and your family. except those against whom the sentence has already been passed, and those who have believed.” But those who believed with him were only a few.
- The verse mentions his family, his few believers, and pairs of his animals. The word tannūr (oven) boiling refers to a local sign in Noah’s land, not every oven on earth. This shows the flood was regional, not global.
📖Quran 11:42-43
And ˹so˺ the Ark sailed with them through waves like mountains. Noah called out to his son, who stood apart, “O my dear son! Come aboard with us and do not be with the disbelievers.” He replied, “I will take refuge on a mountain, which will protect me from the water.” Noah cried, “Today no one is protected from Allah’s decree except those to whom He shows mercy!” And the waves came between them, and his son was among the drowned.
This verse describes waves “like mountains,” which may seem like a global flood at first. However, mountains being submerged does not mean the entire world was flooded. In local floods, even mountains can be submerged within that specific region while other areas remain completely unaffected.
Example:
- In China, the Yellow River floods have drowned valleys and nearby mountains, but other parts of the world were untouched.
- Similarly, the Indus River floods in Pakistan submerged mountains in certain districts, yet neighboring countries were unaffected.
Thus, Noah’s flood, as described in the Qur’an, was regional, powerful enough to cover mountains in his locality, but it was not a worldwide catastrophe. His son’s attempt to take refuge on a mountain was tragically unsuccessful because the floodwaters in that region were immense, demonstrating that God’s decree is absolute within the affected area.
Reference: Yes, Noah’s Flood May Have Happened, But Not Over the Whole Earth
Additional Information
The widespread idea that Noah’s flood was global largely comes from the Biblical narrative and its portrayals in movies. Many people accept these stories without checking the original texts or understanding the geography and context. While the flood described in the Qur’an was indeed immense and powerful enough to submerge mountains in Noah’s region, it was not a global event. Misconceptions persist because movies and popular culture often exaggerate the scale, leading many to imagine a worldwide catastrophe rather than a local, regional flood.