Prophet Noah succeeded Prophet Adam. He was born in the tenth generation and descended from Adam. There was an extraordinary happening during the life of Noah—that of the Great Flood. This exceptional event came to pass in accordance with God’s plan. Although it took place in the pre-historical period, it appears that God wanted this event associated with Noah and his Ark to be discovered in the post-historical period, so that it would become a sign for people of future generations, something from which they would learn a lesson in life.

The truth is that Noah’s Ark represents a history of the prophets. It is historical evidence of God’s creation plan and the veracity of the prophetic mission. The appearance of Noah’s Ark gives this message to man—O People, the time of Reckoning has come near. Prepare yourself for your appearance before God before the time comes for the Great Reckoning when one will find oneself face-to-face with God.

The appearance of Noah’s Ark is not just an item of archaeology—rather it is an inevitable part of the creation plan of God. The Ark symbolizes the creation plan of God: why has man been created, and finally what awaits him in terms of this creation plan, in future, when God will deliver His final judgement regarding man’s eternal future in the next life.

The history of man begins from Adam. After that, throughout long periods of history, God appointed and sent His messengers to inform man of His creation plan. What the Creator wants from him in this world; what is going to be his fate in the next world. This dawah work was performed by the prophets over a long period of time. It is mentioned in a tradition of the Prophet that more than 1,00,000 Prophets came to the world for this purpose.

The second phase may be termed the phase of warning of the coming of Doomsday. That is, warning people in advance of the time which is fast approaching. This warning had to be issued through the reappearance of the Ark or daabba. It appears that this warning has been issued and now the time is not far when the period before Doomsday is over and human history on earth reaches its end.

After this, the third phase will commence with the blowing of the Trumpet by the Angel Israfil. In accordance with Islamic belief, when the time comes and the respite of action is over, and the time of judgement comes (it is all in the knowledge of God), at that time the Angel Israfil will blow the trumpet and it will, all of a sudden, herald the beginning of the final and eternal phase of human life, as we have been informed by all the Prophets.