[11:38-39]
. . . from al-Hasan said: The length of Noah’s ark was one thousand and two hundred cubits (a unit of measurement), and its width was six hundred cubits. (2) Al-Qasim narrated to us, saying: Al-Husayn told us, saying: Hajjaj told us, from Mu’faddal ibn Fadalah, from ‘Ali ibn Zayd ibn Jud’an, from Yusuf ibn Mihran, from Ibn Abbas, who said: The disciples of Jesus, son of Mary, said to him, “If you were to send a man who witnessed the ark and tell us about it.” He took them until they reached a mound of earth.
[Jesus] took a handful of that earth with his hand. He asked, “Do you know what this is?” They replied, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “This is the grave of Ham ibn Nuh (Noah’s son).” [Jesus] struck the mound with his staff and said, “Rise by Allah’s permission!” And behold! He rose, shaking off the dust from his head.
Jesus asked him, “Did you die like this?” He replied, “No, but I died young, thinking it was the end of time, so I became old.” He told them about Noah’s ark: Its length was one thousand and two hundred cubits, its width was six hundred cubits, and it had three decks. One deck contained animals and beasts, another deck contained humans, and a third deck contained birds. When the animals’ waste increased, Allah revealed to Noah to castrate the elephant. He did so, and from it came a male and female pig. They approached the dung, and when the mouse gnawed at the ark’s hull, Allah revealed to Noah…
[Perspective Regarding Noah’s Ark]
1200 cubits is about 1800 feet, for example, the below Carnival cruise ship is 1130 feet per Carnival Ships by Size [2025] with Comparison Chart.
For further comparison, based on this List of longest ships – Wikipedia as of February 2025, there is no ship that reaches 1800 feet. The closest was the “Seawise Giant” at 1500 ft long: Seawise Giant – Wikipedia
. . . Ibn Abbas said: Four people spoke in the cradle while they were still young: The son of Pharaoh’s daughter, the witness of Yusuf, the companion of Jirjis (George), and ‘Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus). . . Abu Hurairah said: ‘Isa, the companion of Yusuf, and the companion of Jirjis. They spoke in the cradle.
. . . from Sa’id ibn Jubayr regarding the verse “And a witness from her household testified” [Quran 12:26]. He said: An infant. [or] An infant in the cradle. . .
[Devil and Jesus Speak]
Surah Ibrahim, Verse 22: And they will be told to look within themselves. “I am not your protector,” (the devil will say). “Nor are you my protectors against Allah’s punishment. I disbelieved in the partners you associated with me before.” Indeed, the wrongdoers will have a painful punishment from Allah. It is said that when someone is told to look within themselves, they are being asked to reflect on their own actions.
The devil will say this to his followers on the Day of Judgment, and it will be a painful reminder of their mistakes. The phrase “I disbelieved in the partners you associated with me before” means that the devil is rejecting any association with those who worshipped him or other false gods. He is saying that he never believed in them as equals to Allah, but rather used them for his own purposes. This verse is often interpreted as a warning against shirk (polytheism) and the consequences of associating partners with Allah.
. . . on the Day of Judgment, two speakers will stand up: Iblis (the devil) and Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus). The devil will say this verse to his followers, while Jesus will say: “I did not tell them anything except what You commanded me to say, ‘Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.’ And I was a witness over them as long as I was among them. But when You took me up, You were the Watcher over them, and You are Witness over all things.” (Quran 5:117)
. . . on the Day of Judgment, two speakers will stand up: Jesus and the devil. The devil will say this verse to his followers, while Jesus will be told: “You did not tell them anything except what Allah commanded you to say.”
He said: Two orators will rise on the Day of Judgment. Iblis will say this, and Jesus will say: “I did not tell them anything except what You commanded me” [Al-Ma’idah: 117]. . . ‘Uqbah Amer [states that the] Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) [said]: “Jesus will say: ‘You are the unlettered Prophet.’ They will come to me, and Allah will give me permission to rise. . . “
[This first part is likely Tafsir regarding what happened during Muhammad’s Night Journey, during that journey Muhammad met other Prophets, such as Jesus and others.]
. . . David (peace be upon him) said: “My Lord has given me a great kingdom and taught me the Psalms. He has made iron pliable for me, and subjected to me the mountains, which glorify Him along with the birds. He has granted me wisdom and eloquence in speech.”
Then Solomon (peace be upon him) praised his Lord, saying: “Praise be to Allah who has subjected to me the winds and the devils, who work for me as they wish, making for me sanctuaries, statues, and large bowls like reservoirs. He has taught me the language of birds and given me abundance in all things. He has subjected to me the armies of devils, humans, and birds, and granted me a great kingdom that will not be fitting for anyone after me. He has made my kingdom good and has not held me accountable.”
Then Jesus (peace be upon him) praised his Lord, saying: “Praise be to Allah who has made me His word and created me from dust like Adam. Then He said to me, ‘Be!’ and I was. He taught me the Book, wisdom, the Torah, and the Gospel. He enabled me to create birds from clay in the shape of a bird, then breathe into it, and by Allah’s permission, it becomes a bird. He has granted me the power to heal the blind and the leper, and to bring the dead back to life with Allah’s permission. He has exalted and purified me, protected me from Satan, and there is no way for Satan to reach us.”
Then Muhammad (peace be upon him) praised his Lord, saying: “All of you have praised your Lord, and I praise my Lord.” He said: “Praise be to Allah who sent me as a mercy to the worlds, a bearer of good news and a warner to all people. He revealed to me the Criterion (the Quran), which contains an explanation of everything. He made my community the best community brought forth for humanity, a moderate community, and the first and last among them. He expanded my chest, removed my burden, exalted my mention, and made me a conqueror and a seal.”
Ibrahim said: “This is your superiority, Muhammad.” Abu Ja’far Al-Razi said: “The seal of prophethood and the one who will intercede on the Day of Judgment.”
. . . He then saw two young men and asked, “O Gabriel, who are these two youths?” He replied, “This is Jesus son of Mary, and John son of Zechariah, the sons of your maternal aunt.”
. . . Then we proceeded to the third heaven, where I saw John (Yahya) and Jesus (Isa), who resembled each other in their clothing and hair. They greeted me warmly. . .
[It’s worth bearing a reminder, this is a translation from an AI and also the Tafsir pulls many stories from different narrators and not all will say the same thing.]
. . . I granted David a great kingdom, and I softened iron for him, and I subjugated the mountains for him. And I gave Solomon a great kingdom, and I subjugated the jinn, humans, and devils for him. And I taught Jesus the Torah and the Gospel, and I made him heal the blind and the leper, and bring the dead to life by Allah’s permission. And I protected him and his mother from Satan, so Satan had no power over them. Then his Lord said to him: “I have taken you as a friend” – it is written in the Torah: “Beloved of the Most Merciful”. And I sent you to all people as a bearer of good news and a warner. And I opened your chest, and I removed your burden from you, and I raised your mention, so I am not mentioned except that you are mentioned with me.
And I made your community a moderate community, and I made your community the first and the last. And I made it so that no one can marry without bearing witness that you are my servant and messenger. And I made some of your community have hearts like the Gospel, and I made you the first of the prophets in creation, and the last of them in sending. And I gave you seven of the oft-repeated verses that were not given to any prophet before you.
And I gave you the Kawthar, and I gave you eight arrows: Islam, migration, jihad, charity, prayer, fasting Ramadan, commanding good, and forbidding evil. And I made you a opener and a closer. The Prophet said: “My Lord favored me with six things: He gave me the opening and closing of speech, and the comprehensive words, and He sent me to all people as a bearer of good news and a warner. And He cast fear into the hearts of my enemies from a distance of a month’s journey. And He made lawful for me the spoils of war that were not made lawful for anyone before me. And He made the whole earth a place of purity and prayer for me.”
. . . As for Jesus, he is a reddish-white man, neither too tall nor too short, with straight hair and many moles on his face. He looks as if he has just come from a bath, although there is no water on him. I have never seen anyone who resembles Urwa bin Masud more than him.”
[At the time of this posting in Feb of 2025, Urwah ibn Masʽud – Wikipedia does have this quote as well, funny enough, the Wikipedia says “citation needed;” the citation is in al-Tabari at minimum, as I have found it.]