Noah’s Flood Was Not Worldwide 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:

1. Noah → sent to his people (qawmihi) only.
2. Muhammad ﷺ → sall nations (lil-‘ālamīn).

That’s why the punishment of Noah’s flood was limited to his people, not the entire globe.

5. 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.