71:1إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَى قَوْمِهِ أَنْ أَنذِرْ قَوْمَكَ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Indeed We sent Noah to his people, [saying,] ‘Warn your people before a painful punishment overtakes them.’
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 71:1
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:1]
For Nuh, his mission, the reaction of the people and the punishment given to them by Allah see commentary of Araf: 59 to 64; Yunus: 71 to 73; Hud: 25 to 49; Anbiya: 76 and 77; Muminun: 23 to 30; Shu-ara: 105 to 122, and Ankabut: 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.
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 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. See commentary of Bara-at: 25. As Baqarah: 10 says: There is a disease in their hearts, so Allah 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 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. One man had sinned a great deal, another did not have any child, the third was very poor. In short each was suffering some misfortune or other. To every bewailer Imam Ali said: "Ask forgiveness from your Lord, for He is oftforgiving." When Ibn Abbas asked him as to why he gave the same advice to every one who had different grievances, Ali replied: "Read verse 10 of Nuh."
According to the authentic traditions from the Ahl ul Bayt if verses 10 and 11 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: 5 and Muminun: 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.
See commentary of Talaq: 12 and Mulk: 3 for verse 15; and Furqan: 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
Manly power
Suwa
Woman
Mutability, Beauty
Yaghuth
Lion (Or Bull)
Brute strength
Ya-ub
Horse
Swiftness
Nasr
Eagle or Falcon
Insight
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. 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.
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. Verse 28 confirms that the parents of the prophets were believers. See commentary of Ibrahim: 41. "Who enters my abode" refers to the Ahl ul Bayt and "believing men and believing women" refers to the followers of the Ahl ul Bayt.
71:2قَالَ يَاقَوْمِ إِنِّي لَكُمْ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ
He said, ‘O my people! Indeed, I am a manifest warner to you.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 71:2
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:2] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:3أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاتَّقُوهُ وَأَطِيعُونِ
Worship Allah and be wary of Him, and obey me,
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 71:3
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:3] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:4يَغْفِرْ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرْكُمْ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى إِنَّ أَجَلَ اللَّهِ إِذَا جَاءَ لَا يُؤَخَّرُ لَوْ كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
that He may forgive you some of your sins and respite you until a specified time. Indeed when Allah’s [appointed] time comes, it cannot be deferred, if you know.’
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 71:4
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:4] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:5قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي دَعَوْتُ قَوْمِي لَيْلًا وَنَهَارًا
He said, ‘My Lord! Indeed, I have summoned my people night and day
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 71:5
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:5] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:6فَلَمْ يَزِدْهُمْ دُعَائِي إِلَّا فِرَارًا
but my summons only increases their evasion.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 71:6
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:6] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:7وَإِنِّي كُلَّمَا دَعَوْتُهُمْ لِتَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ جَعَلُوا أَصَابِعَهُمْ فِي آذَانِهِمْ وَاسْتَغْشَوْا ثِيَابَهُمْ وَأَصَرُّوا وَاسْتَكْبَرُوا اسْتِكْبَارًا
Indeed whenever I have summoned them, so that You might forgive them, they would put their fingers into their ears and draw their cloaks over their heads, and they were persistent [in their unfaith], and disdainful in [their] arrogance.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 71:7
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:7] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:8ثُمَّ إِنِّي دَعَوْتُهُمْ جِهَارًا
Again I summoned them aloud,
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 71:8
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:8] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:9ثُمَّ إِنِّي أَعْلَنتُ لَهُمْ وَأَسْرَرْتُ لَهُمْ إِسْرَارًا
and again appealed to them publicly and confided with them privately,
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 71:9
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:9] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:10فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّارًا
telling [them]: ‘‘Plead to your Lord for forgiveness. Indeed, He is all-forgiving.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:10] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:11يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًا
He will send for you abundant rains from the sky,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:11] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:12وَيُمْدِدْكُم بِأَمْوَالٍ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ أَنْهَارًا
and aid you with wealth and sons, and provide you with gardens and provide you with streams.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:12] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:13مَّا لَكُمْ لَا تَرْجُونَ لِلَّهِ وَقَارًا
What is the matter with you that you do not look upon Allah with veneration,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:13] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:14وَقَدْ خَلَقَكُمْ أَطْوَارًا
though He has created you in [various] stages?
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:14] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:15أَلَمْ تَرَوْا كَيْفَ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ طِبَاقًا
Have you not seen how Allah has created the seven heavens in layers,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:15] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:16وَجَعَلَ الْقَمَرَ فِيهِنَّ نُورًا وَجَعَلَ الشَّمْسَ سِرَاجًا
and has made therein the moon for a light and the sun for a lamp?
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:16] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:17وَاللَّهُ أَنبَتَكُم مِّنَ الْأَرْضِ نَبَاتًا
Allah made you grow from the earth, with a [vegetable] growth.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:17] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:18ثُمَّ يُعِيدُكُمْ فِيهَا وَيُخْرِجُكُمْ إِخْرَاجًا
Then He makes you return to it, and He will bring you forth [without fail].
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:18] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:19وَاللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ بِسَاطًا
Allah has made the earth a vast expanse for you
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:19] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:20لِّتَسْلُكُوا مِنْهَا سُبُلًا فِجَاجًا
so that you may travel over its spacious ways.’’ ’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:20] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:21قَالَ نُوحٌ رَّبِّ إِنَّهُمْ عَصَوْنِي وَاتَّبَعُوا مَن لَّمْ يَزِدْهُ مَالُهُ وَوَلَدُهُ إِلَّا خَسَارًا
Noah said, ‘My Lord! They have disobeyed me, following someone whose wealth and children only add to his loss,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:21] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:22وَمَكَرُوا مَكْرًا كُبَّارًا
and they have devised an outrageous plot.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:22] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:23وَقَالُوا لَا تَذَرُنَّ آلِهَتَكُمْ وَلَا تَذَرُنَّ وَدًّا وَلَا سُوَاعًا وَلَا يَغُوثَ وَيَعُوقَ وَنَسْرًا
They say, ‘‘Do not abandon your gods. Do not abandon Wadd, nor Suwa, nor Yaghuth, Ya‘uq and Nasr,’’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:23] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:24وَقَدْ أَضَلُّوا كَثِيرًا وَلَا تَزِدِ الظَّالِمِينَ إِلَّا ضَلَالًا
and already they have led many astray. Do not increase the wrongdoers in anything but error.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:24] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:25مِّمَّا خَطِيئَاتِهِمْ أُغْرِقُوا فَأُدْخِلُوا نَارًا فَلَمْ يَجِدُوا لَهُم مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَنصَارًا
They were drowned because of their iniquities, then made to enter a Fire, and they did not find any helpers for themselves besides Allah.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:25] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:26وَقَالَ نُوحٌ رَّبِّ لَا تَذَرْ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ دَيَّارًا
And Noah said, ‘My Lord! ‘Do not leave on the earth any inhabitant from among the faithless.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:26] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:27إِنَّكَ إِن تَذَرْهُمْ يُضِلُّوا عِبَادَكَ وَلَا يَلِدُوا إِلَّا فَاجِرًا كَفَّارًا
If You leave them, they will lead astray Your servants, and will beget none except vicious ingrates.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:27] (see commentary for verse 1)
71:28رَّبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِمَن دَخَلَ بَيْتِيَ مُؤْمِنًا وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَلَا تَزِدِ الظَّالِمِينَ إِلَّا تَبَارًا
My Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and whoever enters my house in faith, and the faithful men and women, and do not increase the wrongdoers in anything but ruin.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 71:28] (see commentary for verse 1)
