The Islamic Concept of History

THE ISLAMIC CONCEPT OF HISTORY It is believed that these divine teachings were written by Adam in the Syriac language. Adam died at a ripe old age. For a long period of time his people continued to adhere faithfully to the divine guidance. But later, rot began to set in in the people. Idolatry replaced monotheism. People began to adopt the ways of injustice and oppression instead of justice and rectitude. After about one thousand years the perversion became all pervading that they were completely distanced from the path of the Shariah as shown by Adam. The Age of Perversion God subsequently sent Noah as His messenger. He was granted an exceptionally long life of nine hundred and fifty years. During this extended period, he continued to show people the right path, generation after generation. But only a few people heeded his words. The rest persisted in their sinful ways. Then, in accordance with the ways of God, a huge flood engulfed them by way of punishment. Noah and his small band of followers were saved in a boat, while all the rest were drowned. At that time, human population was probably concentrated only in the region of Asia known as Mesopotamia. The men and women saved in the wake of this flood settled afterwards in other parts of the world. Their race multiplied until it spread over the three continents of Asia, Africa and Europe. After the death of Noah, his people continued for a considerable time to adhere to the divine path shown by him. But again, rot set in in later generations and they again deviated from the path of monotheism as well as of justice.