Surah 71. Nuh

Indeed, We sent Noah to his people 'saying to him', 'Warn your people before a painful punishment comes to them.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

We sent Noah to his People (with the Command): "Do thou warn thy people before there comes to them a grievous Penalty." ⁵⁷⁰⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Noah's mission is referred to in many places. See specially xi. 25-49 and notes. His contemporaries had completely abandoned the moral law. A purge had to be made, and the great Flood made it. This gives a new starting point in history for Noah's People,-i.e., for the remnant saved in the Ark.

Noah proclaimed, 'O my people! I am truly sent to you with a clear warning:

  - Mustafa Khattab

He said: "O my People! I am to you a Warner clear and open: ⁵⁷⁰⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

His Warning was to be both clear (i.e., unambiguous) and open (i.e., publicly proclaimed). Both these meanings are implied in Mubin. Cf. lxvii. 26. The meaning of the Warning was obviously that if they had repented, they would have obtained mercy.

worship Allah 'alone', fear Him, and obey me.

  - Mustafa Khattab

"That ye should worship Allah fear Him and obey me: ⁵⁷⁰⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Three aspects of man's duty are emphasized: (1) true worship with heart and soul; (2) God-fearing recognition that all evil must lead to self-deterioration and Judgment; (3) hence repentance and amendment of life, and obedience to good men's counsels.

He will forgive your sins, and delay your end until the appointed time.¹ Indeed, when the time set by Allah comes, it cannot be delayed, if only you knew!'

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Meaning, it is out of Allah’s mercy that He does not hasten your punishment but allows you more time to repent.

"So He may forgive you your sins and give you respite for a stated Term: For when the Term given by Allah is accomplished it cannot be put forward: if ye only knew." ⁵⁷⁰⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Allah gives respite freely; but it is for Him to give it. His command is definite and final; neither man nor any other authority can alter or in any way modify it. If we could only realise this to the full in our inmost soul, it would be best for us and lead to our happiness.

He cried, 'My Lord! I have surely called my people day and night,

  - Mustafa Khattab

He said: "O my Lord! I have called to my People night and day:

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

but my calls only made them run farther away.

  - Mustafa Khattab

"But my call only increases (their) flight (from the Right)." ⁵⁷⁰⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

When convincing arguments and warnings are placed before sinners, there are two kinds of reactions. Those who are wise receive admonition, repent, and bring forth fruits of repentance, i.e., amend their lives and turn to Allah. On the other hand, those who are callous to any advice take it up as a reproach, fly farther and farther from righteousness, and shut out more and more the channels through which Allah's healing Grace can reach them and work for them.

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.

  - Mustafa Khattab

"And every time I have called to them that thou mightest forgive them they have (only) thrust their fingers into their ears covered themselves up with their garments grown obstinate and given themselves up to arrogance. ⁵⁷¹⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The literal meaning would be that, just as they thrust their fingers into their ears to prevent the voice of the admonisher reaching them, so they covered their bodies with their garments that the light of truth should not penetrate to them and that they should not even be seen by the Prophet.

Then I certainly called them openly,

  - Mustafa Khattab

"So I have called to them aloud;

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

then I surely preached to them publicly and privately,

  - Mustafa Khattab

"Further I have spoken to them in public and secretly in private ⁵⁷¹¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Noah used all the resources of the earnest preacher: he dinned the Message of Allah into their ears; he spoke in public places; and he took individuals into his confidence, and appealed privately to them; but all in vain.

saying, 'Seek your Lord's forgiveness, 'for' He is truly Most Forgiving.

  - Mustafa Khattab

"Saying `Ask forgiveness from your Lord; for He is Oft-Forgiving;

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

He will shower you with abundant rain,

  - Mustafa Khattab

"`He will send rain to you in abundance; ⁵⁷¹²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

They had perhaps been suffering from drought or famine. If they had taken the message in the right way, the rain would have been a blessing to them. They took it in the wrong way, and the rain was a curse to them, for it flooded the country and drowned the wicked generation. In the larger Plan, it was a blessing all the same; for it purged the world, and gave it a new start, morally and spiritually.

supply you with wealth and children, and give you gardens as well as rivers.

  - Mustafa Khattab

"`Give you increase in wealth and sons; and bestow on you Gardens and bestow on you Rivers (of flowing water). ⁵⁷¹³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Each of these blessings-rain and crops, wealth and man-power, flourishing gardens, and perennial streams-are indications of prosperity, and have not only a material but also a spiritual meaning. Note the last point, "rivers of flowing water". The perennial springs make the prosperity as it were permanent: they indicate a settled population, honest and contented, and enjoying their blessings here on earth as the foretaste of the eternal joys of heaven. A) I.e., why don't you fear Allah's Majesty, His greatness and consequent punishment for your sinfulness, and hope for His mercy, kindness and reward for your faith and good deeds. The words of the verse contain the twin strands-fear and hope-simultaneously.

What is the matter with you that you are not in awe of the Majesty of Allah,

  - Mustafa Khattab

"`What is the matter with you that ye place not your hope for kindness and long-suffering in Allah

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

when He truly created you in stages 'of development'?¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 See 22:5 and 23:12-14.

"`Seeing that it is He that has created you in diverse stages? ⁵⁷¹⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xxii. 5, and notes 2773-2777; also xxiii. 12-17, and notes 2872-2875. The meaning here may be even wider. Man in his various states exhibits various wonderful qualities or capacities, mental and spiritual, that may be compared with the wonderful workings of nature on the earth and in the heavens. Will he not then be grateful for these Mercies and turn to Allah, Who created all these marvels?

Do you not see how Allah created seven heavens, one above the other,

  - Mustafa Khattab

"`See ye not how Allah has created the seven heavens one above another ⁵⁷¹⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See n. 5559 to lxvii. 3.