ABSTRACT
Al-Tha‘labc’s chapter on Noah occupies something over 3,000 words of the text of the ‘ArA’is. After citing Q. 10:71, al-Tha‘labc gives some brief background information on the prophet, before providing Ibn ‘Abbas’ account of how Adam’s plan that the sons of Seth be separated from the descendants of Cain was overturned through the machinations of Iblcs. Ibn ‘Abbas goes on to tell (via al-navvak) the story of the persecution of Noah by his people and the building of the Ark, interspersed with citations from the Qur’anic Noah story. Al-Tha‘labc relates the opinions of various religious scholars on the meaning of Q. 11:40 the furnace boiled over (‘Alc b. Abc ralib, Ibn ‘Abbas, Qatada and al-oasan) and its location (Mujahid, Shu‘ba, Muqatil and Ibn ‘Abbas); he then returns to Ibn ‘Abbas’ account of the animals arriving at the Ark, with added comments from Malik b. Sulayman alHarawc and Wahb b. Munabbih. A report from al-navvak describes the mechanics of the Ark’s anchoring and setting sail. Qatada’s opinion on the identity and number of people who travelled on the Ark is given (which briefly leads the narrative on to the cursing of Ham, and subsequently al-Kalbc’s description of the cursing of the dog), as is al-A‘mash’s, Ibn Isvaq’s, Muqatil’s, and Ibn ‘Abbas’. A composite account is then supplied, describing what happened after everyone boarded the Ark and introducing the subject of Noah and his son Canaan, which is then discussed through Qatada’s report on the matter. Ibn ‘Abbas’ opinion on the height of the water is cited, and a oadcth introducing the tale of the mother of the small child, both of whom were drowned in the Flood. Al-Tha‘labc next returns to his composite account of the Flood, before describing, in Ibn ‘Abbas’ words, what happened when the ship stopped (including a discussion of the giant ‘Awj b. ‘Unuq), and a story about Jesus bringing Shem back to life in order to relate aspects of the Flood to the apostles. The opinion of anonymous annalists suggests days of the month for various aspects of the Flood, and describes events after the travellers disembarked (a oadcth regarding the habit of applying kohl on the Day of ‘fshera’ is interjected here). Various ages are given for Noah, by generic historians and religious scholars, according to the Torah, and by
life after the Flood. A catalogue of Noah’s special characteristics concludes the chapter, with the information here supplied directly from al-Tha‘labc apart from two anecdotes from Muvammad b. Ka‘b al-Qurazc (an elucidation of Q. 11:48) and ‘Aya’ (who discusses the cursing of Ham and the division of the earth between Noah’s offspring), and a oadcth describing Noah’s three sons.
