Surah 71. Nuh

1.

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

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.

2.

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

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.

3.

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

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.

4.

"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

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.

5.

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

6.

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

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.

7.

"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

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.

8.

"So I have called to them aloud;

9.

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

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.

10.

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

11.

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

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.

12.

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

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.

13.

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

14.

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

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?

15.

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

See n. 5559 to lxvii. 3.

16.

"`And made the moon a light in their midst and made the sun as a (Glorious) Lamp? ⁵⁷¹⁶

Cf. xxv. 61, where the sun is referred to as the glorious Lamp of the heavens: "Blessed is He Who made the Constellations in the skies, and placed therein a lamp, and a moon giving light."

17.

"`And Allah has produced you from the earth growing (gradually) ⁵⁷¹⁷

Cf. iii. 37, where the growth of the child Mary the Mother of Jesus is described by the same word nabat, ordinarily denoting the growth of plants and trees. The simile is that of a seed sown, that germinates, grows, and dies, and goes back to the earth. In man, there is the further process of the Resurrection. Cf. also xx. 55.

18.

"`And in the End He will return you into the (earth) and raise you forth (again at the Resurrection)?

19.

"`And Allah has made the earth for you as a carpet (spread out) ⁵⁷¹⁸

Cf. xx. 53.

20.

"`That ye may go about therein in spacious roads.' " ⁵⁷¹⁹

Fijaj implies valley-roads or passes between mountains. Though there are mountain chains on the earth, Allah's artistry has provided even in such regions, valleys and channels by which men may go about. Mountain roads usually follow the valleys. A) Sinners always resent it as a reproach that righteous men should speak to them for their own good. They prefer smooth flatterers, and they worship power even though the depositaries of power are selfish men, who neither profit themselves nor profit others by the wealth and man-power that they collect round themselves. They forget that mere material things may be a delusion and a snare unless the moral and spiritual factor behind them sanctifies them.

21.

Noah said: "O my Lord! they have disobeyed me but they follow (men) whose wealth and children give them no Increase but only Loss.

22.

"And they have devised a tremendous Plot. ⁵⁷²⁰

Having got material resources the wicked devise plots to get rid of the righteous whose presence is a reproach to them. For a time their plots may seem tremendous and have the appearance of success, but they can never defeat Allah's Purpose.

23.

"And they have said (to each other) abandon not your gods; abandon neither Wadd nor Suwa neither Yaguth nor Yauq nor Nasr ⁵⁷²¹

For an account of how these Pagan gods and superstitions connected with them originated, and how they became adopted into the Arabian Pagan Pantheon.

24.

"They have already misled many; and grant Thou no increase to the wrongdoers but in straying (from their mark)." ⁵⁷²²

Such Pagan superstitions and cults do not add to human knowledge or human well-being. They only increase error and wrong-doing. For example, how much lewdness resulted from the Greek and Roman Saturnalia! And how much lewdness results from ribald Holi songs! This is the natural result, and Noah in his bitterness of spirit prays that Allah's grace may be cut off from men who hug them to their hearts. They mislead others: let them miss their own mark! See also verse 28 below.

25.

Because of their sins they were drowned (in the flood) and were made to enter the Fire (of Punishment): and they found in lieu of Allah none to help them. ⁵⁷²³

The Punishment of sin seizes the soul from every side and in every form. Water (drowning) indicates death by suffocation, through the nose, ears, eyes, mouth, throat, and lung. Fire has the opposite effects: it burns the skin, the limbs, the flesh, the brains, the bones, and every part of the body. So the destruction wrought by sin is complete from all points of view. And yet it is not death (xx. 74); for death would be a merciful release from the Penalty, and the soul steeped in sin has closed the gates of Allah's Mercy on itself. There they will abide, unless and "except as Allah willeth" (vi. 128). For time and eternity, as we conceive them now, have no meaning in the wholly new world.

26.

And Noah said: "O my Lord! Leave not of the Unbelievers a single one on earth! ⁵⁷²⁴

The Flood was sent in order to purge all sin. The prayer of Noah is not vindicfive. It simply means, "Cut off all the roots of sin". See next note.

27.

"For if Thou dost leave (any of) them they will but mislead thy devotees and they will breed none but wicked ungrateful ones.

28.

"O my Lord! Forgive me my parents all who enter my house in Faith and (all) believing men and believing women: and to the wrongdoers grant Thou no increase but in Perdition!" ^{5725 5726}

Indeed he prays for himself, his parents, his guests, and all who in earnest faith turn to Allah, in all ages and in all places. Praying for their forgiveness is also praying for the destruction of sin.

This is slightly different in form from verse 24 above, where see n. 5722. See also last note.