Age, death and divine decree

With regard to the question, it should first be clarified that there is no general principle established in Shariah that only the Prophets (peace be upon them) could live for more than 100 years, or that it was impossible for ordinary people to live for such a long period. A person’s lifespan, whether long or short, is subject to the will and decree of Allah Almighty.

Regarding Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him), the Qur’an explicitly states:

﴿وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ فَلَبِثَ فِيهِمْ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ إِلَّا خَمْسِينَ عَامًا﴾

“Indeed, We sent Nuh to his people, and he remained among them for a thousand years less fifty years.”

(Surah Al-‘Ankabut: 14)

This verse establishes with certainty that Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) remained among his people for 950 years. However, it is not necessary to understand this as his complete lifespan; the scholars of Tafsir have mentioned different details regarding his age before his prophethood and after the Flood.

There is also no contradiction in the fact that while Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) lived for such a long period, other people from his community were born and died. One person living for a very long time does not prevent other people from being born during that same period, having children, and then their descendants being born, so that several generations may pass. Therefore, Prophet Nuh’s long life and the passing of different generations are not contradictory.

As for how such a long lifespan was possible without modern technology, medical treatment, and healthcare facilities, the answer is that technology is merely one of the apparent means related to human life; it is not the source or giver of life. The observations we have today regarding human lifespan, diseases, and medical treatment cannot be regarded as the limits of Allah Almighty’s power. Allah can grant whomever He wills an exceptionally long life, even if the medical facilities available at that time were nothing like those of today.

The Qur’an establishes the following principle:

﴿وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفْسٍ أَنْ تَمُوتَ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ كِتَابًا مُؤَجَّلًا﴾

“And no soul can die except by Allah’s permission, at a time appointed.”

(Surah Aal ‘Imran: 145)

Therefore, the end of a person’s life is not determined merely by medical facilities or human calculations. Rather, the time of every person’s death is appointed in the knowledge and decree of Allah Almighty. Illness, medicine, medical treatment, accidents, and other causes are merely apparent means, and these too occur within the decree of Allah.

Accordingly, there is no rational reason to consider the exceptionally long life of Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) impossible. Allah Almighty granted him the opportunity to remain among his people and call them towards Him for such a long period, while during that same time other generations were born and passed away.

However, it should also be kept in mind that it is not established from the Qur’an and Sunnah that every person in ancient times lived for several hundred years. The lifespan that is established through revelation regarding a particular Prophet should be accepted as such, while no general principle should be established on the basis of unverified historical narrations.

And Allah knows best.