Nûḥ (Surah 71)
Nûḥ (Noah)
Makki SurahIntroduction
This Meccan sûrah describes how Noah (ﷺ) strived to deliver the message to his people for 950 years (corresponding to the total number of Arabic letters in this sûrah). He called them to the truth secretly and publically, using logical arguments to prove the mercy and oneness of Allah. But his people persisted in denial, only to perish in the Flood. The stubbornness of the Arab pagans in the previous sûrah and the long denial of the people of Noah in this sûrah are contrasted with how some jinn instantly believed once they heard the truth in the next sûrah. In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful Noah’s Appeal to His People
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.
Noah’s Appeal to His People
1. Indeed, We sent Noah to his people (saying to him), “Warn your people before a painful punishment comes to them.” 2. Noah proclaimed, “O my people! I am truly sent to you with a clear warning: 3. worship Allah (alone), fear Him, and obey me. 4. He will forgive your sins, and delay your end until the appointed time. Indeed, when the time set by Allah comes, it cannot be delayed, if only you knew!”
Surah 71 - Nûḥ (Noah) - Verses 1-4
950 Years of Preaching
5. He cried, “My Lord! I have surely called my people day and night, 6. but my calls only made them run farther away 7. And whenever I invite them to be forgiven by You, they press their fingers into their ears, cover themselves with their clothes, persist (in denial), and act very arrogantly. 8. Then I certainly called them openly, 9. then I surely preached to them publicly and privately, 10. saying, ‘Seek your Lord’s forgiveness, (for) He is truly Most Forgiving. 11. He will shower you with abundant rain, 12. supply you with wealth and children, and give you gardens as well as rivers. 13. What is the matter with you that you are not in awe of the Majesty of Allah, 14. when He truly created you in stages (of development)? 15. Do you not see how Allah created seven heavens, one above the other, 16. placing the moon within them as a (reflected) light, and the sun as a (radiant) lamp? 17. Allah (alone) caused you to grow from the earth like a plant. 18. Then He will return you to it, and then simply bring you forth (again). 19. And Allah (alone) spread out the earth for you 20. to walk along its spacious pathways.’”
Surah 71 - Nûḥ (Noah) - Verses 5-20
The Flood
21. (Eventually,) Noah cried, “My Lord! They have certainly persisted in disobeying me, and followed (instead) those (elite) whose (abundant) wealth and children only increase them in loss, 22. and who have devised a tremendous plot, 23. urging (their followers), ‘Do not abandon your idols—especially Wadd, Suwâ’, Yaghûth, Ya’ûq, and Nasr.’ 24. Those (elite) have already led many astray. So (O Lord), only allow the wrongdoers to stray farther away.” 25. So because of their sins, they were drowned, then admitted into the Fire. And they found none to help them against Allah.
Surah 71 - Nûḥ (Noah) - Verses 21-25
Noah’s Prayer Before the Flood
26. Noah had prayed, “My Lord! Do not leave a single disbeliever on earth. 27. For if You spare (any of) them, they will certainly mislead Your servants, and give birth only to (wicked) sinners, staunch disbelievers. 28. My Lord! Forgive me, my parents, and whoever enters my house in faith, and (all) believing men and women. And increase the wrongdoers only in destruction.”