The Quran teaches that Noah's flood was a local event, affecting only the people of Noah and not the entire world.

Muslim apologists often argue that the Quran supports the idea of a local flood, claiming it aligns with modern science and archaeology. However, this interpretation overlooks key Quranic verses that suggest a more universal perspective on the flood. For instance, verses such as S. 11:40 and S. 11:44 imply that the floodwaters affected the entire earth, not just the vicinity of Noah. Additionally, the Quran's mention of Noah taking pairs of every species aboard the Ark raises questions about the necessity of such an action if the flood were merely local. Moreover, early Islamic scholars, including al-Tabari, interpreted these same verses as indicative of a universal flood, which further challenges the assertion that the Quran only teaches a local event. The language used in the Quran, such as 'the fountains of the earth gushed forth' and 'the gates of heaven opened,' supports the notion of a widespread catastrophe rather than a localized one. In conclusion, while some may claim that the Quran teaches a local flood, a closer examination of the text and its interpretations reveals a more complex understanding that aligns with the biblical account of a universal flood.