SURAH (71) NUH (AYA 1 to 28)

Sura (71) Nuh (Noah) Aya 1 to 28 in Sections

Revealed in Makka

SECTION 1

Noah’s exhortation to his people

Noah’s exhortation to his people and his complaining to ALLAH (SWT) about the people’s arrogance.

إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ أَنْ أَنْذِرْ قَوْمَكَ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ {71:1}

[Q71:1] Innaaa arsalnaa Noohan ilaa qawmihee an anzir qawmaka min qabli any yaatiyahum 'azaabun aleem. 
[Q71:1] Surely We sent Nuh to his people, saying: Warn your people before there come upon them a painful chastisement.

[Q71:1] Sesungguhnya Kami telah mengutus Nabi Nuh kepada kaumnya, (dengan berfirman kepadanya): Berikanlah peringatan dan amaran kepada kaummu sebelum mereka didatangi azab yang tidak terperi sakitnya.

For Nuh, his mission, the reaction of the people and the punishment given to them by ALLAH (SWT) see commentary of Araf 7:59 to 64; Yunus 10:71 to 73; Hud 11:25 to 49; Anbiya 21:76 and 77; Muminun 23:23 to 30; Shu-ara 26:105 to 122, and Ankabut 29:14 and 15.

The people in his time had transgressed all moral bounds. Disbelief, wickedness and evil had made deep inroads in their social lives. A purge had to be made. So the great flood put an end to their civilisation.

Before the final punishment PROPHET NUH warned them against the consequences of their ungodliness. Had they availed the respite given to them and repented and reformed themselves, they would still have obtained mercy.

Z  When convincing arguments and warnings are given, some whose intellect is alive to reason and whose conscience is not entirely corrupted beyond recovery, receive guidance, repent, amend their lives and turn to ALLAH (SWT) and obtain the fruits of repentance.

»    ON THE OTHER HAND there are those who obstinately reject guidance and sink deep in the abyss of evil, disconnecting all links with the grace of ALLAH (SWT). See commentary of Bara-at 9:25.

»    As Baqarah 2:10 says: “There is a disease in their hearts, so ALLAH (SwT) adds to their disease.” They neither want to listen to the words of admonitions nor come before the preacher.

When every effort of prophet Nuh and every promise of ALLAH (SWT) to bestow blessings on them failed to bring them to the right path, a copious rain was sent down upon them. It flooded the country and drowned the wicked generation.

It is mentioned in Minhajul Sadiqin that some men came to Imam Ali and told him about their problems.

[1] One man had sinned a great deal,

[2] Another did not have any child,

[3] Third was very poor.

In short each was suffering some misfortune or other. To every bewailed Imam Ali said: "Ask forgiveness from your Lord, for He is often forgiving." When Ibn Abbas asked him as to why he gave the same advice to everyone who had different grievances, Ali replied: "Read verse 10 of Nuh."

v  According to the authentic traditions from the Ahlul Bait if verses 10 and 11 of this Surah are recited 100 times in the last hours of the night for a year, divine blessings will be bestowed on the reciter and his legitimate desires will be fulfilled.

See commentary of Hajj 22:5 and Muminun 23:12 to 14 for verse 14 ---- By passing through various stages the foetus becomes a child, and after birth the child grows from one stage to another till he becomes a man and demonstrates various qualities and capacities, mental and spiritual. The creation and development of man in diverse stages, if studied scientifically, is enough to make man believe in the infinite power and wisdom of the creator Lord, ALLAH (SwT). See commentary of Talaq 65:12 and Mulk 67:3 for verse 15; and Furqan 25:61 for verse 16. In verse 17 the evolutionary process of development of life on the earth has been referred to.

The five false gods worshipped by the people in the time of Nuh were as follows:

NAME                  SHAPE                              QUALITY REPRESENTED

Wadd                   Man                               Mandly power

Suwa                    Woman                             Mutability, Beauty

Yaghuth               Lion/Bull                           Brute strength

Ya-ub                   Horse                                 Swiftness

It is mentioned in Minhajus Sadiqin that these gods were forgotten after the great flood but Shaytan introduced them again to the idol worshippers.

THE MESSAGE OF THIS SURAH IS THAT PAGAN SUPERSTITIONS AND CULTS DO NOT ADD TO HUMAN KNOWLEDGE OR WELL-BEING. THEY ONLY INCREASE ERROR, EVIL, CORRUPTION AND INJUSTICE. When transgression exceeds all bounds a purge has to be made.

µ  The prayer of Nuh in verses 26 and 27 means: "Cut off all the roots of sin, so that the power base of evil is destroyed." His prayer is not vindictive but corrective.

µ  In the battle of Siffin, Imam Ali told Malik Ashtar that though he was as good as Ali in exterminating the enemy soldiers but at the time of slaying a warrior Ali saw in future and spared those in whose lineage a true believer would be born.

µ  Verse 28 confirms that the parents of the prophets were believers. See commentary of Ibrahim 14:41.  

"Who enters my abode" refers to the Ahlul Bait and "believing men and believing women" refers to the followers of the Ahlul Bayt.

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(71:1) We sent Noah to his people (and directed him): “Warn your people before a grievous chastisement *1 comes upon them.”

*1 "Warn your people ... " Warn them that the errors and moral evils that they were involved in, would only earn them Allah's punishment, if they did not desist from them, and tell them what way they should adopt in order to ward off that punishment. 

قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي لَكُمْ نَذِيرٌ مُبِينٌ {71:2}

[Q71:2] Qaala yaa qawni innee lakum Nazeerum mubeen: 
[Q71:2] He said: O my people! Surely I am a plain warner to you:

[Q71:2] Dia pun (menyeru mereka dengan) berkata: Wahai kaumku! Sesungguhnya aku ini diutus kepada kamu, sebagai pemberi ingatan dan amaran yang nyata;  

NOAH’S PREACHING’S WERE, PUBLIC AS WELL AS PRIVATE. He tried his best to bring the people on the right path even through private talks taking the people into confidence, but no efforts on his part were of any avail.

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(71:2) Noah said: “My people, I have certainly been sent as a clear warner to you,

أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاتَّقُوهُ وَأَطِيعُونِ {71:3}

[Q71:3] Ani’buduL Laaha watta qoohu wa atee‘oon: 
[Q71:3] That you should serve ALLAH (SwT) and be careful of (your duty to) Him and obey me:

[Q71:3] Iaitu sembahlah kamu akan ALLAH (SwT) dan bertakwalah kepadaNya, serta taatlah kamu kepadaku; 

(see commentary for verse 1)

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(71:3) that you serve Allah and fear Him, and follow me; *2

*2 The three things which the Prophet Noah presented before his people at the outset of his mission of Prophethood were: (1) Worship of Allah, (2) adoption of piety (taqwa) and (3) obedience of the Messenger. Worship of AIIah meant that they should give up worship and service of all others and should acknowledge Allah alone as their Deity and should worship and carry out His commands alone. Taqwa (piety) meant that they should refrain from all those works which caused Allah's anger and displeasure, and should instead adopt such attitude in their lives as the God fearing people should adopt. As for "obey me", it meant that they should obey the commands that he gave them as Allah's Messenger. 

يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ مِنْ ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرْكُمْ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى ۚ إِنَّ أَجَلَ اللَّهِ إِذَا جَاءَ لَا يُؤَخَّرُ ۖ لَوْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ {71:4}

[Q71:4] Yaghfir lakum min zunoobikum wa yu'akhkhirkum ilaaa ajalim musammaa; innaa ajalaL Laahi izaa jaaa'a laa yu'akhkhar; law kuntum ta’lamoon. 
[Q71:4] He will forgive you some of your faults and grant you a delay to an appointed term; surely the term of ALLAH (SwT) when it comes is not postponed; did you but know!

[Q71:4] Supaya ALLAH (SwT) mengampunkan bagi kamu sebahagian dari dosa-dosa kamu dan memberi kamu hidup (dengan tidak terkena azab) hingga ke suatu masa yang tertentu; (maka segeralah beribadat dan bertakwa) kerana sesungguhnya ajal (yang telah ditetapkan) ALLAH (SwT), apabila sampai masanya, tidak dapat ditangguhkan; kalaulah kamu mengetahui (hakikat ini tentulah kamu segera beriman). 

It is also clearly indicated through this verse THAT ALLAH (SWT) GIVES RESPITE AND IF respite is not availed of, and when His decree comes, no power, besides Him can, even delay it.

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(71:4) He will forgive your sins *3 and will grant you respite until an appointed term. *4 Indeed when Allah’s appointed term comes, it cannot be deferred; *5 if you only knew!” *6

*3 The sentence yaghfir la-kum min dhunub-i-kum in the original does not mean that Allah will forgive some of their sins, but its correct meaning is: "If you accept and acknowledge the three things which are being presented before you, He will forgive all the sins that you have committed in the past."
*4 That is, "If you accepted these three things, you would be given respite to live in the world until the time that Allah has appointed for your natural death."
*5 "The appointed time of Allah ..":  the time fixed by Allah for sending down a torment on a people. In this regard the Qur'an has at several places stated explicitly that when Allah's torment has been decreed for a certain people, they are not pardoned even if they affirm the faith after it.
*6 That is, "If you come to know fully well that the time which is now passing after you have received Allah's message through me, is, in fact, a period of respite that has been granted to you for affirming the faith-and there is no chance of escape from Allah's torment after the term of respite has elapsed-you would testify to the faith without delay and would not like to postpone it until the torment actually started descending on you." 

قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي دَعَوْتُ قَوْمِي لَيْلًا وَنَهَارًا {71:5}

[Q71:5] Qaala rabbi innee da'awtu qawmee lailanw wa nahaaraa: 
[Q71:5] He said: O my Lord! Surely I have called my people by night and by day! 

[Q71:5] (Setelah puas menyeru mereka), Nabi Nuh berdoa dengan berkata: Wahai Tuhanku, sesungguhnya aku telah menyeru kaumku siang dan malam (supaya mereka beriman);

 (see commentary for verse 1)

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(71:5) He said: *7 “My Lord, I called my people by night and by day,

*7 Omitting the history of a long period of preaching, now the Prophet Noah's petition that he made to Allah in the last stage of his worldly mission is being related. 

فَلَمْ يَزِدْهُمْ دُعَائِي إِلَّا فِرَارًا {71:6}

[Q71:6] Falam yazid hum du'aaa 'eee illaa firaaraa. 
[Q71:6] But my call has only made them flee the more:

[Q71:6] Maka seruanku itu tidak memberikan mereka (sesuatu faedah pun) selain daripada menambahi mereka melarikan diri (dari kebenaran). 

WHILE THOSE WHOSE CONSCIENCE IS NOT YET DEAD OR NOT totally destroyed or clouded with evil, receive the admonition and get their thoughts and deeds amended, while the others who are totally submerged in evil, take the admonition as alien AND fly further away from the truth AND the right path of righteousness. See verse 9:25.

µ  Those whose hearts are corrupts and totally polluted, ALLAH (SWT) allows them to go ahead in their straying see verse 2:10.

µ  This is one of the examples of the people’s reaction to the divine guidance, as given in the note on action and reaction in Surah 1 (Al-Fateha).

HERE, the disbelivers are responsible for their aversion yet. Noah ascribes the aversion to his action.

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(71:6) but the more I called, the farther they fled. *8

*8 That is, "As I went on calling them towards You, they went on fleeing farther and farther away from You." 

وَإِنِّي كُلَّمَا دَعَوْتُهُمْ لِتَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ جَعَلُوا أَصَابِعَهُمْ فِي آذَانِهِمْ وَاسْتَغْشَوْا ثِيَابَهُمْ وَأَصَرُّوا وَاسْتَكْبَرُوا اسْتِكْبَارًا {71:7}

[Q71:7] Wa inee kullamaa da'awtuhum litaghfira lahum ja'alooo asaabi'ahum fee aazaanihim wastaghshaw siyaabahum wa asaarroo wastakbarus tikbaaraa. 
[Q71:7] And whenever I have called them that Thou mayest forgive them, they put their fingers in their ears, cover themselves with their garments, and persist and are puffed up with pride: 

[Q71:7] Dan sesungguhnya aku, tiap-tiap kali menyeru mereka (beriman) supaya Engkau mengampunkan dosa-dosa mereka, - mereka menyumbatkan telinganya dengan jari masing-masing dan berselubung dengan pakaiannya, serta berdegil dengan keingkarannya, dan berlaku sombong takbur dengan melampau.

They not only closed their ears against hearing any words of admonition but also covered themselves with their clothes so that they might not even be seen by the Apostle or they did not like to see him.

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(71:7) And every time I called them so that You might forgive them, *9 they thrust their fingers into their ears and wrapped up their faces with their garments *10 and obstinately clung to their attitude, and waxed very proud. *11

*9 "That you might pardon them": that they might give up their attitude of disobedience and beg forgiveness of Allah, for in that way alone they could be forgiven by Allah. 
*10 They covered their faces either because they did not even like to have a look at the Prophet Noah's face, not to speak of listening to what he said, or they did so in order to hide their own faces from him as they passed by him so that he could not recognize and address them. This precisely was the attitude and conduct which the disbelievers of Makkah were adopting towards the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace). In Surah Hud: 5, their attitude has been described thus: "Behold, they turn aside their chests in order to hide themselves from him: Beware, even when they cover themselves up with their garments, Allah knows alike what they hide and what they show; He indeed knows even the secrets they conceal in their breasts." (For explanation, see E.N, 5, 6 of Hud).
*11 "Arrogance" implies that they thought it was below their dignity to bow before the Truth and accept the admonition of Allah's Messenger. As for example, if a gentlmen admonishes a perverted person and he, in response, shakes his head and walks away haughtily, this would amount to rejecting the admonition with arrogance. 

ثُمَّ إِنِّي دَعَوْتُهُمْ جِهَارًا {71:8}

[Q71:8] Summa innee da'aw tuhum jihaaraa; 
[Q71:8] Then surely I called to them aloud: 

[Q71:8] Kemudian aku telah menyeru mereka dengan terang-terang; 

THE PEOPLE HAD BEEN SO ADAMANT AND OBSTINATE that for forty or seventy years continuously, ALLAH (SWT) stopped rain and turned their woman barren and yet they did not believe in what Noah preached.

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(71:8) Then I summoned them openly,

ثُمَّ إِنِّي أَعْلَنْتُ لَهُمْ وَأَسْرَرْتُ لَهُمْ إِسْرَارًا {71:9}

[Q71:9] summa inneee a’lantu lahum wa ‘asrartu lahum ‘israaraa, 
[Q71:9] Then surely I spoke to them in public and I spoke to them in secret:

[Q71:9] Selain dari itu, aku (berulang-ulang) menyeru mereka secara beramai-ramai dengan berterus-terang dan menyeru mereka lagi secara berseorangan dengan perlahan-lahan. 

 (see commentary for verse 1)

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(71:9) and preached to them in public, and also addressed them in secret.

فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّارًا {71:10}

[Q71:10] Faqultus taghfiroo Rabakam innahoo kaana Ghaffaaraa; 
[Q71:10] Then I said, Ask forgiveness of your Lord, surely He is the most Forgiving:

[Q71:10] Sehingga aku berkata (kepada mereka): Pohonkanlah ampun kepada Tuhan kamu, sesungguhnya adalah Dia Maha Pengampun. 

Refer commentary for verse 1

î   Ibne Abbas says that once a man told the First Holy Imam Ali ibne Abi Talib that he had sinned a great deal. Ali said ‘Seek ALLAH (SWT)’s pardon.’ Another one said that need has reduced him to destitution. Ali said ‘Seek ALLAH (SWT)’s pardon.’ Another said that he no issues. Ali said ‘Seek ALLAH (SWT)’s pardon.’ Similarly several others complained against their own difficulties and needs and to one and all of them. Ali said the same ‘Seek ALLAH (SWT)’s pardon.’ Ibne Abbas asked “O’ Amirul-Momineen! How is it that you gave one and the same reply in advice to every one of those who related to you, different grievances and various needs.” Ali replied, “Didst thou not read this verse” (i.e., verse 71:10.)

î   A man asked the Fifth Holy Imam Muhammad Al-Baquir “Master! I have abundant wealth but no son. Is there any means to get this blessing of ALLAH (SWT)?” the Holy Imam said, “Seek the pardon of ALLAH (SWT) for 100 times every night for a year. Have you read the verse in Surah-e Noah.” (Referred to this verse).

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(71:10) I said to them: “Ask forgiveness from your Lord; surely He is Most Forgiving.

يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِدْرَارًا {71:11}

[Q71:11] Yursilis samaaa'a 'alaikum midraaraa; 
[Q71:11] He will send down upon you the cloud, pouring down abundance of rain:

[Q71:11] (Sekiranya kamu berbuat demikian), Dia akan menghantarkan hujan lebat mencurah-curah, kepada kamu;

The people were promised rain water which they had been denied for years together.

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(71:11) He will shower upon you torrents from heaven,

وَيُمْدِدْكُمْ بِأَمْوَالٍ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ وَيَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ أَنْهَارًا {71:12}

[Q71:12] Wa yumdidkum bi am waalinw wa baneena wa yaj'al lakum Jannaatinw wa yaj'al lakum anhaaraa. 
[Q71:12] And help you with wealth and sons, and make for you gardens, and make for you rivers. 

[Q71:12] Dan Dia akan memberi kepada kamu dengan banyaknya harta kekayaan serta anak-pinak; dan Dia akan mengadakan bagi kamu kebun-kebun tanaman, serta mengadakan bagi kamu sungai-sungai (yang mengalir di dalamnya).

THEY WERE ALSO PROMISED THE BLESSINGS OF ALLAH (SWT) through their being restored to have issues from their wives. There are authentic traditions from the Ahlul Bait recommending the repetition of the ‘Astagh-firullah’ 100 times at the last hours of night are down for attainment of divine blessings and prosperity in the life here and the hereafter and they quoted the verses 10 and 11 here and verse 3:17, 11:3, 11:5-11 and 51:18.

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(71:12) and will provide you with wealth and children, and will bestow upon you gardens and rivers. *12

*12 This theme has been expressed at several places in the Qur'an that the rebellious attitude against God causes man to lead a wretched life not only in the Hereafter but also in this world, Contrary to this, if a nation adopts the way of faith and piety and obedience to Divine Commands, instead of disobedience, it benefits it not only in the Hereafter but also in the world; it is favoured with every kind of blessing. In Surah Ta Ha it has been said: "And whoever turns away from My Admonition, will have a wretched life in the world, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection." (v. 124). In Surah AI-Ma'idah it has been said: "Had the people of the Book observed the Torah and the Gospel and the other Books which had been sent down by their Lord, abundance of provisions would have been given to them from above and from beneath." (v. 66). In Al-A`raf: "Had the people of the settlements believed and adopted the way of piety, We would have opened on them doors of blessings from the heavens and the earth." (v. 96). In Surah Hud, the Prophet Hud addressed his people, saying: "And O my people, beg forgiveness of your Lord, then turn to Him in penitence, and He will open the gates of heavens for you and add more strength to your present strength." (v. 52). Through the Holy Prophet himself in this very Surah Hud, the people of Makkah have been admonished to the effect: "And you should beg forgiveness of your Lord, then return to Him, and He will provide you with good provisions of life till an appointed term." (v. 3). According to the Hadid, the Holy Prophet said to the Quraish: "There is a word which if you accept, would enable you to rule over the Arab as well as the non-Arab world." (For explanation, see E.N. 96 of Al-Ma'idah, E.N.'s 3, 57 of Hud, E.N. 105 of Ta Ha; Introduction to Surah Suad), Acting on this same instruction from the Qur'an, once during a famine Hadrat `Umar came out to invoke Allah for the rain and begged only forgiveness of Him. The people said: "O Commander of the Faithful. you have not prayed for the rain." He replied: "I have knocked at the doors of heaven wherefrom the rain is sent down", and then he recited these verses of Surah Nuh to them. (Ibn Jarir, Ibn Kathir). Likewise, when in the assembly of Hadrat Hasan Basri, a person complained of drought, he said to him "Beg forgiveness of Allah." Another person complained of poverty, a third one said .that he was not being blessed with children, a fourth one said that his harvest had failed, and he continued to remind everyone to beg forgiveness of Allah. The people asked: "How is it that you have suggested to all the people one and the same cure for the different complaints? He in response recited these verses of Surah Nuh to them" (Al-Kashshaf). 

مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَرْجُونَ لِلَّهِ وَقَارًا {71:13}

[Q71:13] Maa lakum laa tarjoona liLLaahi waqaaraa, 
[Q71:13] What is the matter with you that you fear not the greatness of ALLAH (SwT)?

[Q71:13] Mengapa kamu berkeadaan tidak menghargai kebesaran ALLAH (SwT) (dan kekuasaanNya), 

 (see commentary for verse 1)

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(71:13) What is amiss with you that you do not look forward to the majesty of Allah *13

*13 It means: "As for the petty chiefs of the world, you think it would be dangerous to do anything against their dignity, but as for the Creator and Lord of the universe, you do not expect that He would also be a Being endowed with dignity. You rebel against Him, associate others in His Divinity, disobey His Commands, and yet you are not at all afraid that He would punish you for your misconduct. 

وَقَدْ خَلَقَكُمْ أَطْوَارًا {71:14}

[Q71:14] Wa qad khalaqakum at waaraa.
[Q71:14] And indeed He has created you through various grades:

[Q71:14] Padahal sesungguhnya Dia telah menciptakan kamu dengan kejadian yang berperingkat-peringkat.

 ‘Atwaaraa’, i.e., various kinds or modes or conditions. This is an illusion to the various creative stages *the foetus passes through it is transformed into a perfect human child and *the child passing through the various stages of growth in this world and getting gradually endowed with different kinds of marvelous mental faculties and moral and social development.

The very creation of man from a foetus is such a great marvel that if studied seriously will be quite sufficient to make man believe in the infinite power and wisdom of the Author of this one creature of His, (i.e., a human being).

Ì  For the various evolutionary stages of the formation of a child in its mother’s womb see verse 22:5 and 23:12-17.

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(71:14) when He has created you in stages? *14

*14 That is, "He has brought you to the present stage after passing you through different stages of creation and phases of development. In the beginning you lay in the form of sperm and ovum separately in the loins of your father and mother. Then the two were combined by the power of Allah and you were conceived. Then for nine months in the womb of the mother you were gradually formed into a perfect human form and were endowed with all those capabilities which you needed to function as a man in the world. Then you came out as a child from the mother's womb, and you were developed from one state to another constantly until you attained to full youth and then old age. While passing through all these stages you lay wholly in the power of Allah at all times. Had He so willed He would not have allowed you to be conceived but allowed another person to be conceived in your place? Had He so pleased He would have made you blind, deaf, dumb, or a cripple, in the mother's womb itself, or made you mentally deficient. Had He so liked you would not have been born as a living child. Even after your birth He could have destroyed you any time by causing you to fall a victim to one or other accident suddenly. About that God under Whose power you are so powerless, how could you have taken it into your head that you could commit any insolence against Him, could regard Him with every treachery and ingratitude, could rebel against Him as and when you pleased, and could do all this with impunity? 

أَلَمْ تَرَوْا كَيْفَ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ طِبَاقًا {71:15}

[Q71:15] Alam taraw kaifa khalaqaL Laahu sab'a samaawaatin tibaaqaa. 
[Q71:15] Do you not see how ALLAH (SwT) has created the seven heavens~ one above another. 

[Q71:15] Tidakkah kamu mengetahui dan memikirkan bagaimana ALLAH (SwT) telah menciptakan tujuh petala langit bertingkat-tingkat, 

(see commentary for verse 1)

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(71:15) Do you not see how Allah has created seven heavens, one upon the other,

وَجَعَلَ الْقَمَرَ فِيهِنَّ نُورًا وَجَعَلَ الشَّمْسَ سِرَاجًا {71:16}

[Q71:16] Wa ja'alal qamara feehinna nooranw wa ja'alash shamsa Siraajaa.
[Q71:16] And made the moon therein a light, and made the sun a lamp? 

[Q71:16] Dan Dia menjadikan padanya bulan sebagai cahaya serta menjadikan matahari sebagai lampu (yang terang-benderang), 

(see commentary for verse 1)

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(71:16) and has placed the moon in them as a light, and the sun as a radiant lamp?

وَاللَّهُ أَنْبَتَكُمْ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ نَبَاتًا {71:17}

[Q71:17] WaLLaahu ambatakum minal ardi nabaataa.
[Q71:17] And ALLAH (SwT) has made you grow out of the earth as a growth:

[Q71:17] Dan ALLAH (SwT) telah menumbuhkan kamu (hidup dari benda-benda yang berasal) dari bumi, dengan pertumbuhan yang sungguh-sungguh sempurna,  

THE EVOLUTIONARY PROCESS OF THE GROWTH OF MAN IS COMPARED TO THE VEGETATION FROM THE EARTH WHICH GROWS GRADUALLY.

Ì  This confirms the evolutionary course, the development of life on earth, BUT IT DOES not apply to the mechanical evolution of the Darwinian School.

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(71:17) And Allah has caused you to grow out of the earth so wondrously, *15

*15 Here, the creation of man out of the substances of the earth has been compared to the growth of vegetation. Just as at one time there was no vegetation on the earth, then Allah caused it to grow, so at one time man did not exist, then Allah created him. 

ثُمَّ يُعِيدُكُمْ فِيهَا وَيُخْرِجُكُمْ إِخْرَاجًا {71:18}

[Q71:18] Summa yu'eedukum feehaa wa ukhrijukum ikhraajaa 
[Q71:18] Then He returns you to it, then will He bring you forth a (new) bringing forth:

[Q71:18] Kemudian Dia mengembalikan kamu ke dalam bumi (sesudah mati) dan mengeluarkan kamu daripadanya (sesudah dihidupkan semula untuk dihitung amal kamu dan diberi balasan), dengan pengeluaran yang sesungguh-sungguhnya?  

(see commentary for verse 1)

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(71:18) and He will later cause you to return to it and will then again bring you out of it.

وَاللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ بِسَاطًا {71:19}

[Q71:19] WaLLaahu ja‘ala lakumul arda bisaataa, 
[Q71:19] And ALLAH (SwT) has made for you the earth a wide expanse,

[Q71:19] Dan ALLAH (SwT) telah menjadikan bumi bagi kamu sebagai hamparan,  

(see commentary for verse 1)

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(71:19) Allah has made the earth a wide expanse for you

لِتَسْلُكُوا مِنْهَا سُبُلًا فِجَاجًا {71:20}

[Q71:20] Litaslukoo minhaa subulan fijaajaa. 
[Q71:20] That you may go along therein in wide paths.

[Q71:20] Supaya kamu melalui jalan-jalan yang luas padanya. 

(see commentary for verse 1)

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(71:20) so that you may tread its spacious paths.”

SECTION 2

Noah prays for the destruction of the people

Noah prays for the destruction of the people as a whole.

قَالَ نُوحٌ رَبِّ إِنَّهُمْ عَصَوْنِي وَاتَّبَعُوا مَنْ لَمْ يَزِدْهُ مَالُهُ وَوَلَدُهُ إِلَّا خَسَارًا {71:21}

[Q71:21] Qaala Noohur Robbi innahum 'asawnee wattaba'oo mal lam yazid hu maaluhoo wa waladuhooo illaa khasaaraa. 
[Q71:21] Nuh said: My Lord! Surely they have disobeyed me and followed him whose wealth and children have added to him nothing but loss.

[Q71:21] Nabi Nuh (merayu lagi dengan) berkata: Wahai Tuhanku! Sesungguhnya, mereka telah menderhaka kepadaku dan mereka telah menurut orang yang harta bendanya dan anak-pinaknya tidak menambahinya melainkan kerugian (di akhirat kelak). 

(see commentary for verse 1)

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(71:21) Noah said: “My Lord, they did not pay heed to what I said, and followed those (nobles) whose possession of wealth and children has led them to an even greater loss.

وَمَكَرُوا مَكْرًا كُبَّارًا {71:22}

[Q71:22] Wa makaroo makran kubbaaraa. 
[Q71:22] And they have planned a very great plan.

[Q71:22] Dan mereka telah menjalankan tipu daya dengan merancangkan rancangan yang amat besar jahatnya (untuk menentang seruanku). 

(see commentary for verse 1)

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(71:22) They contrived a plot of great magnitude. *16

*16 "Mighty plot": AlI those deceits, deceptions and frauds which the cheifs and religious guides were employing in an attempt to mislead the common people against the teachings of the Prophet Noah. For example, they said; "Noah is no more than a mere man like yourselves. How can one believe that AIIah sends down Revelations to him? (Al-A'raf: 63, Hud: 27). "We also see that only the meanest of us have become his followers without due thought. Had there been some weight in what he says, the elders of the people would have believed in him." (Hud: 27). "Had Allah willed, He would have sent down angels." (A1Mu'minun: 24). "Had he been sent by Allah, he would possess treasures, he would know the un-seen, and he would be free from all human needs, like the angels (Hud: 31).  "We tied nothing in him that might give him superiority over us." (Hud: 27). "He merely intends to obtain superiority over you." (AlMu'minun: 24). "Obviously, this man is possessed." (AI-Mu'minun: 25). Similar were the things that the Quraish chiefs said to mislead the people against the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace).

وَقَالُوا لَا تَذَرُنَّ آلِهَتَكُمْ وَلَا تَذَرُنَّ وَدًّا وَلَا سُوَاعًا وَلَا يَغُوثَ وَيَعُوقَ وَنَسْرًا {71:23}

[Q71:23] Wa qaaloo laa tazarunna aalihatakum wa laa tazarunna Waddanw wa laa Suwaa'anw wa laa Yaghoosa wa Ya'ooqa wa Nasraa;
[Q71:23] And they say: By no means leave your gods, nor leave Wadd, nor Suwa; nor Yaghus, and Yauq and Nasr.

[Q71:23] Dan (ketua-ketua) mereka (menghasut dengan) berkata: Jangan kamu meninggalkan (penyembahan) tuhan-tuhan kamu, terutama (penyembahan) Wadd dan Suwaa' dan Yaghuth dan Ya'uuq, serta Nasr.   

 ‘Wadd’ (an idol) was worshipped in the form of a man, another idol ‘Yaghus’ in that of a Lion, ‘Ya’uq’ in that of a Horse, and ‘Nasr’ in that of an Eagle---by the tribes of Kalb, Hamdan, Mazhaj, Muraj and Hamyar. The deluge of Noah’s time buried all these idols under the earth but Satan caused them to be brought out and as each one of the idols came out, some tribe took it for its worship---until those idols reached Arabia.

‘Wadd’ was worshipped by the tribe Qaasa’a---‘Sawa’ was worshipped by the Ale-Zul-Kalagh, ‘Yaghus’ was taken by Batnan, from ‘Tai’, ‘Ya’uq’ was worshipped by Bani Kahlan and ‘Nasr’ was worshipped by Khas’am until the advent of Islam.

There is a theory that the idols worshipped by the Makkans and in other parts of Arabia were imported from other countries. ‘Hubal’ the chief Arab idol in Ka’bah was brought by Amr ibne-Lohay, from Belka in Syria saying that it would get rain for the land which needed it so badly. The idols ‘Us’af’ and ‘Na’ila’ are also said to have been brought from Syria.

Ì  This verse indicate that those idols which the Arabs worshipped when the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) had his advent, are traced back to the ancient days of pre-deluge age which means that star worshipping in the form of idols is an ancient creed.

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(71:23) They said: “Do not abandon your deities; do not abandon Wadd, nor Suwa, nor Yaghuth, nor Yauq, nor Nasr. *17

*17 Of the gods of the Prophet Noah's people only those gods have been mentioned whom later the people of Arabia also had started worshipping and whose shrines were found all over the country at the advent of Islam. It is not impossible that the later generations heard the names of the ancient gods of Noah's people from the people who were saved from the flood, and when ignorance once again spread among their children, they made idols of the same gods and started worshipping them again. Wadd was the god of the Bani Kalb bin Wabash, a branch of the Quda`ah tribe, whose shrine had been built at Daumat al-Jandal. In the ancient Arabian inscriptions he has been named as Waddam ibam (father Wadd). Kalbi has stated that the image built to him was of a tnan of enormous size. The Quraish also acknowledged him as god and called him Wudd. It is after him that a person has been named 'Abd-i Wudd (slave of Wudd) in history. Suwa was the goddess of the Hudhayl tribe and her idol was a female figure. Her temple was situated at Ruhat near Yanbu. Yaghuth was the god of An'um, a branch of the Tay tribe, and of some branches of the Madhjih tribe. The people of Madhjih had installed its idol, the image of a lion, at Jurash, a place between Yaman and Hijaz. Among the Quraish also some people had been named `Abd-i Yaghuth. Ya'uq was the god of Khaywan, a branch of the Hamdan tribe, in the territory of Hamdan in Yaman; its idol was of the horse's figure. Nasr was the god of AI-i dhul-Kula', a branch of the Himyar tribe, in the territory of Himyar; it had its idol installed at Balkha` and had the image of the vulture. In the ancient inscriptions of Saba its name has been written as Nasor. Its temple was called bayt Nasor (house of Nasor) and its devotees ahl Nasor (people of Nasor). The ruins of the ancient temples that are found in Arabia and in the adjoining lands have the image of the vulture made on the doors of most of them. 

وَقَدْ أَضَلُّوا كَثِيرًا ۖ وَلَا تَزِدِ الظَّالِمِينَ إِلَّا ضَلَالًا {71:24}

[Q71:24] Wa qad adalloo kasee ranw wa laa tazidiz zaalimeena illaa dalaalaa. 
[Q71:24] And indeed they have led astray many, and do not increase the unjust in aught but error.

[Q71:24] dan sesungguhnya mereka telah menyesatkan ramai orang dan janganlah Engkau tambahkan bagi orang yang zalim itu selain kesesatan.

(see commentary for verse 1)

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(71:24) They have misled many. So do not enable these evildoers to increase in anything except straying (from the Right Way).” *18

*18 As we have explained in the introduction to this Surah, the Prophet Noah did not invoke this curse out of impatience but he invoked it when, after doing full justice to the preaching of his mission for many centuries, he became totally despaired of any success with his people. Similar were the conditions under which the Prophet Moses also had cursed Pharaoh and his people, thus: "Lord, destroy their wealth and harden their hearts in a manner so that they do not believe until they see the painful torment." And Allah, in response, had said: "The prayer of you both has been granted" Yunus: 88-89). Like the Prophet Moses', the Prophet Noah's curse also was in complete conformity with Divine Will. Thus, in Surah Hud it has been said: "And it was revealed to Noah: No more of your people will believe in you now than those who have already believed. So, do not grieve at their misdeeds." (v. 36). 

مِمَّا خَطِيئَاتِهِمْ أُغْرِقُوا فَأُدْخِلُوا نَارًا فَلَمْ يَجِدُوا لَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَنْصَارًا {71:25}

[Q71:25] Mimmaa khateee' aatihim ughriqoo fa udkhiloo Naaran falam yajidoo lahum min doonil laahi ansaaraa. 
[Q71:25] Because of their wrongs they were drowned, then made to enter fire, so they did not find any helpers besides ALLAH (SwT). 

[Q71:25] Disebabkan kesalahan-kesalahan mereka, mereka ditenggelamkan, lalu dimasukkan kedalam neraka, maka mereka tidak dapat penolong selain ALLAH (SwT).

(see commentary for verse 1)

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(71:25) And so they were drowned on account of their sins, and then cast into the Fire, *19 and did not find any other than Allah, *20 to come forth to their help.

*19 That is, "Drowning was not their end, but after death their souls were immediately subjected to the punishment of the Fire." This precisely was the treatment that was meted out to Pharaoh and his people, as has been stated in Surah Al-Mu'min: 45-46. (For explanation, see E.N. 63 of Al-Mu'min). This verse also is of those verses which prove the punishment of barzakh (intermediary stage between death and Resurrection). 
*20 That is, "None of the gods whom they looked upon as their supporters and helpers came to their rescue." This, in fact, was a warning to the people of Makkah, as if to say: "If you too are subjected to the torment of Allah, these gods on whom you have placed all your reliance, will avail you absolutely nothing." 

وَقَالَ نُوحٌ رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ دَيَّارًا {71:26}

[Q71:26] Wa qaala Noohur Rabbi laa tazar 'alal ardi minal kaafireena dayyaaraa. 
[Q71:26] And Nuh said: My Lord! Leave not upon the land any dweller from among the unbelievers:

[Q71:26] Dan Nuh berkata: “Ya Tuhanku, janganlah Engkau biarkan seorang pun di antara orang kafir itu tinggal di atas bumi.” 

The justification for Noah’s curse against the unbelievers and his praying for their total destruction is given in the next verse, Verse 27. 

As a matter of principle, a tree is maintained by the gardener for its fruits and when he realises that the tree has ceased to yield good fruits, he cuts it down. THIS SAME PRINCIPLE IS APPLIED TO INDIVIDUALS, NATIONS, GENERATIONS AND THE SYSTEMS IN NATURE. See verses 91:1-2.

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(71:26) Noah said: “My Lord, do not leave out of these unbelievers even a single dweller on earth,

إِنَّكَ إِنْ تَذَرْهُمْ يُضِلُّوا عِبَادَكَ وَلَا يَلِدُوا إِلَّا فَاجِرًا كَفَّارًا {71:27}

[Q71:27] Innaka in tazarhum yudil loo 'ibaadaka wa laa yalidooo illaa faajiran kaffaaraa. 
[Q71:27] For surely if Thou leave them they will lead astray Thy servants, and will not beget any but immoral, ungrateful (children) 

[Q71:27] Sesungguhnya jika Engkau biarkan mereka tinggal, nescaya mereka akan menyesatkan hamba-hambaMu dan mereka hanya akan melahirkan anak-anak yang jahat dan tidak tahu bersyukur.

¥  When Noah realised that no good issues could be expected from the disbelievers of his time, he cursed them.

It is said that at the battle of Suffin, Ali sometimes hesitated in using his sword against the insurgents and when he was asked the reason, he replied: ‘I left those who would give forth a good issue even after his seventieth generation.’

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(71:27) for certainly if You should leave them (alive), they will mislead Your servants, and will beget none but sinners and utter unbelievers.

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِمَنْ دَخَلَ بَيْتِيَ مُؤْمِنًا وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَلَا تَزِدِ الظَّالِمِينَ إِلَّا تَبَارًا {71:28}

[Q71:28] Rabbigh fir lee wa liwaa lidaiya wa liman dakhala baitiya mu'minanw wa lil mu'mineena wal mu'minaati wa laa tazidiz zaalimeena illaa tabaaraa. 
[Q71:28] My Lord! Forgive me and my parents and him who enters my house believing, and the believing men and the believing women; and do not increase the unjust in aught but destruction! 

[Q71:28] Ya Tuhanku, ampunkanlah aku, ibu bapaku, dan siapa pun yang memasuki rumahku dengan beriman dan semua orang yang beriman lelaki dan perempuan. Dan janganlah Engkau tambahkan bagi orang yang zalim itu selain kehancuran.”

Also refer to verse 14:41.

They are the [a] i.e., the Ahlul Bait [b] the faithful followers of the Ahlul Bait.

Ë  THIS CONFIRMS THAT PARENTS OF THE PROPHETS WERE BELIEVERS.

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(71:28) My Lord, forgive me and my parents, and whoever enters my house as a believer, and forgive all believers, both men and women, and do not increase the wrong-doers in anything except perdition.”

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