Surah 10. Yunus, Ayah 71

Sc., "because they run counter to the idolatrous beliefs which you have inherited from your ancestors". The story of Noah, briefly mentioned in verses {71-73}, is told at greater length in {11:36-48} (see also {7:59-64}). Here it connects with verse {47} above, and thus with the main theme of this surah: the truth of God's revelation of His will through His prophets, and the suffering which in the life to come is bound to befall those who give the lie to His messages.

Lit., "upon your course of action" (which is the meaning of the term amr in this context).

Lit., "your [God -]partners". For an explanation of this term, see surah {6}, note [15].

This is a free rendering of the elliptic phrase, "and let not your course of action (amrukum) be an uncertainty to you".

The reference to Noah's story here is only incidental, to illustrate a special point. The fuller story will be found in xi. 25-48, and in many other passages, e.g., vii. 59-64, xxiii 23-32, xxvi, 105-122, and xxxvii, 75-82. At each place there is a special point in the context. The special point here is that Noah's very life and preaching among his wicked people was a cause of offence to them. But he feared nothing, trusted in Allah, delivered his message, and was saved from the Flood.

Firm in his sense of Truth from Allah. Noah plainly told his people to condemn him to death if they liked, openly and in concert, so that he should at least know who would listen to his Message and who would not. He wanted them to be frank and direct, for he feared nothing.