Debating Prophet Noah's Age: 950 Years Among His People

A recent reflection on the Quranic verse in Surah Al-Ankabut (29:14) prompts a closer look at the age of Prophet Noah (Nuh). The verse states, "And We had certainly sent Noah to his people, and he remained among them one thousand years less fifty years, and the flood took him while they were wrongdoers."

This passage indicates that Noah spent 950 years living among his people before the great flood. However, the exact interpretation of this duration and Noah's total lifespan has led to varied opinions among classical Islamic scholars (mufassirun).

One prominent view, attributed to Ibn Abbas and cited by Ibn Kathir, suggests Noah was appointed as a prophet at age forty. He then lived among his people for the specified 950 years and survived for an additional 60 years after the flood, bringing his total age to approximately 1,050 years.

Other interpretations exist. Qatadah, for instance, proposed that Noah lived 300 years before his mission, preached for 300 years, and then lived for 350 years after the flood, totaling 950 years. However, Ibn Kathir considered this narration weak (gharib).

Further variations include opinions that Noah was sent at 350 years old and preached for 950 years, living another 350 years, resulting in a total lifespan of 1,650 years. Tafsir al-Qurtubi compiles even more accounts, mentioning ages ranging from 1,000 to 1,650 years. Some traditions suggest he was 250 years old when appointed and lived 250 years after the flood.

Ultimately, there is no single, universally agreed-upon number for Prophet Noah's total age. The Quran definitively states the 950 years he spent with his community, but his complete lifespan remains a subject of diverse scholarly interpretation.

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And We had certainly sent Noah to his people, and he remained among them one thousand years less fifty years, and the flood took him while they were wrongdoers.