CHAPTER 71: NUH (NOAH)

It was revealed in the Mecca period. It takes its name from Prophet Noah and his message, which is the subject of the surah. It consists of 28 verses. (H. T. FEYIZLI, 1/569)

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

71/1-4 IF ONLY YOU KNEW!

Translation

1- Indeed, We sent Noah to his people, [saying], "Warn your people before there comes to them a painful punishment."

2- He said, "O my people, indeed I am to you a clear warner,

3- [Saying], 'Worship Allah, fear Him and obey me.

4- Allah will forgive you of your sins and delay you for a specified term. Indeed, the time [set by] Allah, when it comes, will not be delayed, if you only knew.'"

Commentary

(1) ‘Indeed, We sent Noah to his people, [saying], 'Warn your people before there comes to them a painful punishment.'‘ The Sender is Allah Almighty, the sent is Noah (as), and those to whom the prophet was sent are the people of Noah (as). For before our Prophet, every prophet was sent only to his own people. This supports the view that the Flood did not cover the entire earth but rather encompassed the region where Noah's people lived. (S. HAWWA, 15/346)

Hadith: "Previously, a prophet was sent only to his own people, but I have been sent to all of humanity." (Bukhari Salat 56, Muslim Masajid 3, Darimi Salat 111; I. H. BURSEVI, 22/298)

(2) ‘(Noah) said: 'O my people! Indeed I am to you a clear warner (prophet).'‘ The caller who invites to the way of Allah should introduce his duty and the character of that duty, leaving no opportunity for anyone to form a wrong perception about him. (S. HAWWA, 15/348)

(3, 4) ‘Worship Allah, fear Him and obey me, so that (Allah) may forgive you of your sins.’ First is the worship of Allah, second is taqwa (piety/fearing Allah), and third is obedience to the Messenger. Thus, when Noah began to convey his message, he invited his people to these three things: The meaning of worshiping Allah is to abandon worshiping others, to worship Him alone, and to fulfill His commands. What is meant by taqwa is to avoid all deeds that Allah is not pleased with—which cause Allah's punishment—and to live fearing Allah. Thirdly, what is meant by "obey me" is "Obey the commands that I am conveying to you as the Messenger of Allah." (MAWDUDI, 6/431)

‘Indeed, the time [set by] Allah, when it comes, will not be delayed.’ (...) In the context of the verses (1 to 4), the "appointed time" (ajal) referred to is the communal death term determined for the people of Noah. That is, Almighty Allah determined a term for them as a community on the condition that they believe. However, if they insist on denial, it is a requirement of divine decree that they be punished and destroyed as a community even before the pre-determined term arrives. In the event that they believe, it will be possible for them to continue their communal existence until that pre-determined time. (M. DEMIRCI, 3/428)

71/5-14 WHENEVER I INVITED THEM, THEY PERSISTED

Translation

5- He said, "My Lord, indeed I invited my people night and day.

6- But my invitation increased them not except in flight.

7- And indeed, every time I invited them that You may forgive them, they put their fingers in their ears, covered themselves with their garments, persisted, and were arrogant with [great] arrogance.

8- Then indeed, I invited them publicly.

9- Then I announced to them and I confided to them secretly.

10- And said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver.

11- He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in abundance

12- And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers.

13- What is [the matter] with you that you do not attribute to Allah [due] grandeur

14- While He has created you in stages?'"

Commentary

(7) ‘(O my Lord,) Indeed, every time I invited them so that You might forgive them (so that they might come to faith), they thrust their fingers into their ears’ That is, they closed their ears so as not to hear the invitation. The expression "putting fingers in ears" is a metaphorical description of the event, but there is no obstacle to taking it in its literal sense as well. (I. H. BURSEVI, 22/307)

‘They covered themselves with their garments’ Just as they did not want to hear Prophet Noah's words, they did not want to see his face either. Or they did this so that Noah (as) would not recognize them and call out to them when passing by. As a matter of fact, the disbelievers of Mecca displayed the same insolence toward our Prophet (pbuh). (cf. Hud, 11/5, O. CELIK, 5/248)

‘They persisted in disbelief’ They both insisted on walking in their own false paths and remained persistent in not listening to or accepting the true invitation. (O. CELIK, 5/248)

‘And they became increasingly arrogant’ They grew more and more arrogant in not accepting the truth. They said, "How can you expect us to believe in you when those who follow you are the lowliest people of society?" (Shu'ara 26/111, O. CELIK, 5/248) In every era, deniers and hypocrites have turned a deaf ear to divine revelation by binding themselves to taghuts (false deities) and their own whims. At the same time, they have tried to prevent its spread and people's inclination toward it. (H. T. FEYIZLI, 1/569)

(8, 9) ‘Then indeed, I invited them aloud." "Then I both announced to them openly and spoke to them in secret.’ This verse indicates that the invitation to the disbelievers was carried out in all circumstances—after mentioning in the previous verse that it was done at all times. That is, I invited them again and again, in various forms and with different styles. The word "summa: then" is used to express the diversity of the forms of invitation. (I. H. BURSEVI, 22/309)

(10) ‘I said: '(O my Lord,) Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver.' '(Because of your seeking forgiveness and your prayer, Allah) will send rain from the sky upon you in abundance.'‘ Because of this verse, it is mustahabb (recommended) to recite Surah Nuh during the prayer for rain (istisqa). According to what is narrated from the Leader of the Faithful, Umar (ra), he went up to the pulpit to ask for rain from Allah. He asked for forgiveness and recited some verses during his prayer. Among the verses he recited was (Nuh 71/10-11). (From Ibn Kathir, S. HAWWA, 15/356, 357)

The prayer for rain is a sunnah. The Prophet and the four caliphs performed the prayer for rain. Upon a companion's request for a prayer during the Friday sermon due to drought, the Prophet prayed; the rain that started immediately after the prayer lasted for a week. To prevent it from becoming a disaster, he prayed the following week for the rain to spread to the regions where it was needed. According to Abu Hanifa, the prayer for rain consists only of prayer and seeking forgiveness. According to Abu Yusuf and Imam Muhammad, it is recommended to perform two cycles (rak'ah) of prayer with the congregation. (H. DONDUREN, 2/923)

(12) ‘He will support you with wealth and sons, provide gardens for you, and cause rivers to flow for you.’ Ibn Kathir says: "If you repent to Allah, ask for His forgiveness, and obey Him, your provision will increase, the udders of your animals will flow with milk, and Allah will support you with wealth and sons. He will give you wealth, children, and gardens containing various fruits with rivers flowing through them." This is a form of invitation through encouragement. (S. HAWWA, 15/351)

(13) ‘What is the matter with you that you do not attribute grandeur to Allah?’ Why do you not glorify Allah as He deserves? Why do you not fear Allah's calamity and punishment? (S. HAWWA, 15/351)

(14) ‘While He has created you in stages.’ He created you many times through the stages of sperm, then a clinging substance, then a chewed lump of flesh, and then flesh and bones. While this is the case and this situation requires believing, why do you not believe in Allah? (S. HAWWA, 15/352)

71/15-20 HE HAS MADE THE EARTH AS A CARPET FOR YOU

Translation

15- Do you not see how Allah has created seven heavens in layers

16- And made the moon therein a reflected light and made the sun a burning lamp?

17- And Allah has caused you to grow from the earth a [progressive] growth.

18- Then He will return you into it and extract you [again], an extraction.

19- And Allah has made for you the earth an expanse

20- That you may follow therein roads of passage.

Commentary

(15) ‘Do you not see? How Allah has created the seven heavens in layers one above another?’ According to Abdullah b. Abbas and Suddi, the phrase "seb’a samawatin tibaka" expressed in this verse refers to "seven layers of heaven formed one on top of the other." (M. DEMIRCI, 3/429) (...) The moon, sun, stars, and all planets are in the near heaven. The near heaven is one of the seven heavens. We do not have information about the [entire] seven heavens. These are some of the matters belonging to the realm of the unseen (ghayb) which we are commanded to believe in without seeing. (S. HAWWA, 15/359)

(16) ‘And He made the moon therein a light and the sun a lamp.’ Noah (as) had drawn attention in the previous verses to the evidence regarding the formation and development of man, which shows the existence and power of Allah; here, examples are given from the evidence in the outer world. (For information about the seven heavens, see Bakara 2/29; Talâk 65/12; QUR’AN WAY, 5/466)

Almighty Allah created each of the earth and the sun separately so that night and day could be known. With the rising of the sun, the day is known, and with its setting, the night is known. He also ordained certain stations and constellations for the moon. Its light sometimes increases to become a full moon, then begins to decrease; it completely disappears to show that the months and years have ended. As a matter of fact, Almighty Allah says: "It is He who made the sun a shining light and the moon a derived light and determined for it phases - that you may know the number of years and account [of time]. Allah has not created this except in truth. He details the signs for a people who know." (Yunus, 10/5; S. HAWWA, 15/358)

(17, 18) ‘And Allah has caused you to grow from the earth just as plants.’ Undoubtedly, this is a striking phenomenon. Because this fact points to the unity of the source of life on earth. It explains that humans, just like plants, sprout from the soil; that they are composed of certain basic elements found in the soil, and that they develop by being nourished with foods composed of these elements. In that case, man is also a kind of plant emerging from the soil. Just as Almighty Allah bestowed that kind of life to plants, He bestowed this kind of life to humans. But both are products of the soil. (S. KUTUB, 10/203)

‘Then He will return you to the earth when you die’ Every human will die one day. (21/35). The body of the deceased person is given to the soil. In time, the body rots in the soil and turns into soil. (...) ‘When the Resurrection occurs, He will resurrect you and bring you out of the earth.’ With the angel named Israfil blowing into the instrument called the Sur for the second time, all the dead are resurrected (39/68) and emerge from their graves. (I. KARAGOZ,8/237)

(19, 20) ‘And Allah has made the earth a carpet for you, so that you may go along wide roads therein.’ Ibn Kathir says: "He created the earth for you so that you may settle on it and travel in whichever country and corner of it you wish." (S. HAWWA, 15/352)

71/21-28 INCREASE THE DESTRUCTION OF THE WRONGDOERS

Translation

21- Noah said, "My Lord, indeed they have disobeyed me and followed him whose wealth and children will not increase him except in loss."

22- And they conspired a gigantic conspiracy.

23- And said, 'Never leave your gods and never leave Wadd or Suwa' or Yaghuth and Ya'uq and Nasr.'

24- And already they have misled many. And, [my Lord], do not increase the wrongdoers except in error."

25- Because of their sins they were drowned and put into the Fire, and they found not for themselves besides Allah any helpers.

26- And Noah said, "My Lord, do not leave upon the earth from among the disbelievers an inhabitant."

27- "Indeed, if You leave them, they will mislead Your servants and not beget except [every] wicked disbeliever."

28- "My Lord, forgive me and my parents and whoever enters my house a believer and the believing men and believing women. And do not increase the wrongdoers except in destruction."

Commentary

(21) Noah (as) said in complaint: ‘My Lord, indeed they have rebelled against me.’ They did not listen to my commands regarding worship, taqwa, obedience, seeking forgiveness, and glorification. ‘And they followed the one whose wealth and child only brought him loss.’ The common folk and the poor followed the leaders—those with great wealth and many children—whose assets will only bring them harm in the hereafter. (S. HAWWA, 15/353)

(22) ‘They conspired a gigantic conspiracy.’ The meaning of the verse is: they set up great traps to show their people that they themselves were on the path of truth and guidance. As a matter of fact, on the Day of Resurrection, their followers will say to them: "Rather, it was your conspiracy by night and day when you were commanding us to disbelieve in Allah and attribute partners to Him." (Saba 34/33) (From Ibn Kathir; S. HAWWA, 15/360)

(23) Those leaders and pioneers said to their followers and low-level people, ‘Never leave your gods,’ meaning absolutely do not stop worshiping them. Do not attempt to worship Noah's Lord (they said). (I. H. BURSEVI, 22/326)

In the 23rd verse, the names of five idols worshiped by Noah's people are mentioned. According to Ibn Abbas (ra), these names originally belonged to righteous people. After they died, Satan suggested to that people: "Erect monuments for them opposite your meeting places and give them their names!" At first, no one worshiped them. But after those people passed away, the knowledge about the owners of these names was forgotten, and people began to worship them. (From Bukhari Tafsir 71/1; O. CELIK, 5/251)

(24) ‘My Lord! Increase these wrongdoers only in confusion.’ This curse rises from a heart that has struggled for a long time, suffered much hardship, and after resorting to every possible way, realized there is no good in the hearts of the cruel, rebellious, and narrow-minded; seeing that they do not deserve guidance and are not worthy of salvation. (S. KUTUB, 10/206)

(25) ‘The people of Noah were drowned because of their sins; (then) they were put into the fire.’ They were drowned and put into the fire due to their mistakes, sins, and rebellions. The use of the conjunction "fa" (then/immediately) in this verse serves a purpose. Because there is no long time between their being put into the fire and their drowning. The time difference is short, almost non-existent. For time does not represent a value in Allah's measure. The sequence and succession stem from their drowning in the world and being put into the fire in the hereafter. (S. KUTUB, 10/206)

Alusi says regarding the verse ‘they were cast into the fire’: "This fire is the fire of the barzakh (intermediate realm). What is meant by this is the punishment of the grave. Whether one drowns in water, dies by burning in fire, or becomes prey to wild animals, they will still see the punishment they will face in the grave." (S. HAWWA, 15/354)

‘They could not find any helpers for themselves besides Allah.’ That is, the deities they thought were their helpers could not save them. This was, in a way, a warning to the people of Mecca. When Allah's punishment comes, these deities you trust will be of no help to you either. (MAWDUDI, 6/436)

(26) ‘Noah said: 'My Lord! Do not leave any of the disbelievers on earth!'‘ When Prophet Noah learned through revelation that no more believers would emerge from among the deniers after this, he prayed to Almighty Allah not to leave anyone from the deniers on earth. The continuation of the verse shows that Noah made such a curse not for personal reasons, but for the salvation of future generations. (QUR’AN WAY, 5/468)

(27) ‘Because if You leave them, they will mislead Your servants and bring into the world only immoral and disbelieving children.’ They take the lead in spreading false and deviant traditions within society. They create traditions, regimes, orders, and laws based on these. In their shadow, as Prophet Noah said, only immoral people and disbelievers grow up. (S. KUTUB, 10/207)

(28) ‘My Lord! Forgive me, my mother, my father, those who enter my house (mosque or ship) as believers, and the believing men and believing women (who will come until the Day of Judgment). Do not increase the wrongdoers in anything but destruction!’ Sources record that Prophet Noah's parents were believers, which is why he prayed for them. It is understood from the expression "those who enter my house as believers" that he excluded his wife and son, who were not believers, from his prayer. It is accepted that Noah's (as) prayer covers all believers until the Day of Judgment, and similarly, his curse against the wrongdoers is valid for all wrongdoers until the Day of Judgment. (QUR’AN WAY, 5/468)

Ibn Kathir says: "The phrase 'li'l-mu'minina wa'l-mu'minat' is a prayer for all male and female believers. It includes the dead and the living among them. It is mustahabb (recommended) to pray in this way by following Noah (as). Likewise, it is recommended to pray with the prayers that have reached us in a famous and legitimate way in the hadiths." (S. HAWWA, 15/356)