سُوْرَةُ هُوْدٍ
Surah Hud (11) — Ayah 40
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا وَفَارَ ٱلتَّنُّورُ قُلْنَا ٱحْمِلْ فِيهَا مِن كُلٍّ زَوْجَيْنِ ٱثْنَيْنِ وَأَهْلَكَ إِلَّا مَن سَبَقَ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْقَوْلُ وَمَنْ ءَامَنَ ۚ وَمَآ ءَامَنَ مَعَهُۥٓ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ ﴿40﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
(So it was) till when Our Command came and the oven gushed forth (water like fountains from the earth). We said: "Embark therein, of each kind two (male and female), and your family - except him against whom the Word has already gone forth - and those who believe. And none believed with him, except a few."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
حَتَّىٰٓ
ḥattā
Till
إِذَا
idhā
when
جَآءَ
jāa
came
أَمْرُنَا
amrunā
Our command
وَفَارَ
wafāra
and overflowed
ٱلتَّنُّورُ
l-tanūru
the oven
قُلْنَا
qul'nā
We said
ٱحْمِلْ
iḥ'mil
Load
فِيهَا
fīhā
in it
مِن
min
of
كُلٍّۢ
kullin
every kind
زَوْجَيْنِ
zawjayni
a pair
ٱثْنَيْنِ
ith'nayni
two
وَأَهْلَكَ
wa-ahlaka
and your family
إِلَّا
illā
except
مَن
man
who
سَبَقَ
sabaqa
has preceded
عَلَيْهِ
ʿalayhi
against him
ٱلْقَوْلُ
l-qawlu
the word
وَمَنْ
waman
and whoever
ءَامَنَ ۚ
āmana
believed
وَمَآ
wamā
And not
ءَامَنَ
āmana
believed
مَعَهُۥٓ
maʿahu
with him
إِلَّا
illā
except
قَلِيلٌۭ
qalīlun
a few
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 40) ➊ {حَتّٰۤى اِذَا جَآءَ اَمْرُنَا وَ فَارَ التَّنُّوْرُ: ’’ فَارَ يَفُوْرُ فَوْرًا ‘‘} To gush forth. Fountain is also from this. The well-known meaning of {’’التَّنُّوْرُ‘‘} (on the pattern of {فَعُّوْلٌ}) is a tannur (oven) in which bread is baked. Allah Almighty had given Noah (peace be upon him) a sign of the flood in his house that when water gushes out from this tannur, then board the ark. (Muwaddih) Most commentators have taken tannur to mean the common oven, but according to the interpretation of Ibn Abbas (Ibn Jarir), {’’ التَّنُّوْرُ ‘‘} means the surface of the earth. It is also written in Qamus: {’’ وَجْهُ الْأَرْضِ وَ كُلُّ مَفْجَرِ مَاءٍ وَ مَحْفَلُ مَاءِ الْوَادِيْ ‘‘} "The surface of the earth, the place where water gushes forth, and the place where the water of the valley gathers." According to this interpretation, it means that the whole earth became a spring of water and water began to gush forth, as mentioned in another place: «{ وَ فَجَّرْنَا الْاَرْضَ عُيُوْنًا }» [القمر : ۱۲ ] "And We burst the earth with springs." Even the tannur, which is a place of fire, became fountains of water. However, the first meaning is more likely, because with the appearance of the sign, there is more opportunity to board the ark and to take a pair of every animal, but when springs gush forth from the whole earth, this task is difficult, and tannur is also commonly known for baking bread. Imam Tabari and Razi have also preferred this meaning, because there is no reason to leave the well-known meaning. Umm Hisham bint Harithah (may Allah be pleased with her) says: [ كَانَ تَنُّوْرُنَا وَ تَنُّوْرُ رَسُوْلِ اللّٰهِ صَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَاحِدًا ] [ مسلم، الجمعۃ، باب تخفیف الصلاۃ والخطبۃ : ۸۷۳ ] "Our tannur and the tannur of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) were the same." {’’ اَمْرُنَا ‘‘} means the command of punishment, that torrential rain began to fall from the sky and water began to gush forth from the earth like springs, both levels met and the earth was submerged in water. See Surah Qamar (11, 12).
➋ In { قُلْنَا احْمِلْ فِيْهَا مِنْ كُلٍّ زَوْجَيْنِ اثْنَيْنِ …: ’’ مِنْ كُلٍّ ‘‘ }, the tanween of {’’ كُلٍّ ‘‘} is in place of a deleted genitive: {’’ اَيْ مِنْ كُلِّ نَوْعٍ تَحْتَاجُ اِلَيْهِ ‘‘} When the signs of punishment began, Allah Almighty commanded that from every kind of animal, take a pair into the ark, whose progeny was destined to remain. {’’ وَ اَهْلَكَ اِلَّا مَنْ سَبَقَ عَلَيْهِ الْقَوْلُ وَ مَنْ اٰمَنَ ‘‘} That is, except for your wife, whose mention is in Surah Tahrim, and that son whose mention is coming in the verses under commentary (whose drowning had already been decreed due to their disbelief), take all your household and those who have believed in you into the ark.
➌ {وَ مَاۤ اٰمَنَ مَعَهٗۤ اِلَّا قَلِيْلٌ:} These were the ones whom the people called their lowly ones. Allah Almighty said that very few people believed in him. Many commentators state their number as (79) or (80), such as Alusi and others, who mention the names of Noah's (peace be upon him) three sons: Sam, Ham, and Yafith. The name of the disbelieving son was Canaan. The wives of all four were Muslims, and 72 men and women were other Muslims. Some have stated this number as forty (40). Our Sheikh Muhammad Abduh Al-Fallah (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: "There is no mention of their number in the Qur'an and Hadith." And it is clear that besides these two sources, we have no reliable means of knowing. [ وَاللّٰہُ اَعْلَمُ بِعَدَدِھِمْ ]
➋ In { قُلْنَا احْمِلْ فِيْهَا مِنْ كُلٍّ زَوْجَيْنِ اثْنَيْنِ …: ’’ مِنْ كُلٍّ ‘‘ }, the tanween of {’’ كُلٍّ ‘‘} is in place of a deleted genitive: {’’ اَيْ مِنْ كُلِّ نَوْعٍ تَحْتَاجُ اِلَيْهِ ‘‘} When the signs of punishment began, Allah Almighty commanded that from every kind of animal, take a pair into the ark, whose progeny was destined to remain. {’’ وَ اَهْلَكَ اِلَّا مَنْ سَبَقَ عَلَيْهِ الْقَوْلُ وَ مَنْ اٰمَنَ ‘‘} That is, except for your wife, whose mention is in Surah Tahrim, and that son whose mention is coming in the verses under commentary (whose drowning had already been decreed due to their disbelief), take all your household and those who have believed in you into the ark.
➌ {وَ مَاۤ اٰمَنَ مَعَهٗۤ اِلَّا قَلِيْلٌ:} These were the ones whom the people called their lowly ones. Allah Almighty said that very few people believed in him. Many commentators state their number as (79) or (80), such as Alusi and others, who mention the names of Noah's (peace be upon him) three sons: Sam, Ham, and Yafith. The name of the disbelieving son was Canaan. The wives of all four were Muslims, and 72 men and women were other Muslims. Some have stated this number as forty (40). Our Sheikh Muhammad Abduh Al-Fallah (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: "There is no mention of their number in the Qur'an and Hadith." And it is clear that besides these two sources, we have no reliable means of knowing. [ وَاللّٰہُ اَعْلَمُ بِعَدَدِھِمْ ]
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
40. 1. Some have interpreted this as a bread-baking oven, some as specific places such as Ain al-Wardah, and some as the surface of the earth. Hafiz Ibn Kathir has preferred this last meaning, i.e., the entire earth gushed forth like springs, and the rain from the sky completed what was left.
40. 2. By this is meant both masculine and feminine, i.e., male and female. In this way, a pair of every living creature was placed in the ark, and some say that plants were also included. And Allah knows best.
40. 3. That is, those whose drowning was decreed in the divine decree. By this is meant the general disbelievers, or this exception is from "Ahlak"—that is, have your family members board the ark, except those upon whom Allah's word has already passed, i.e., one son (Canaan or Yam) and the wife of Prophet Nuh ؑ (وَ عِلَۃ)—both of them were disbelievers, and they were excluded from those who boarded the ark.
40. 4. That is, have all the believers board the ark.
40. 5. Some have stated their total number (men and women combined) as 80, and some have mentioned even less than this. Among them were the three sons of Prophet Nuh ؑ, who were among the believers: Sam, Ham, and Yafith, and their wives, and the fourth wife was the wife of Yam, who himself was a disbeliever, but because his wife was a Muslim, she boarded the ark. (Ibn Kathir)
40. 2. By this is meant both masculine and feminine, i.e., male and female. In this way, a pair of every living creature was placed in the ark, and some say that plants were also included. And Allah knows best.
40. 3. That is, those whose drowning was decreed in the divine decree. By this is meant the general disbelievers, or this exception is from "Ahlak"—that is, have your family members board the ark, except those upon whom Allah's word has already passed, i.e., one son (Canaan or Yam) and the wife of Prophet Nuh ؑ (وَ عِلَۃ)—both of them were disbelievers, and they were excluded from those who boarded the ark.
40. 4. That is, have all the believers board the ark.
40. 5. Some have stated their total number (men and women combined) as 80, and some have mentioned even less than this. Among them were the three sons of Prophet Nuh ؑ, who were among the believers: Sam, Ham, and Yafith, and their wives, and the fourth wife was the wife of Yam, who himself was a disbeliever, but because his wife was a Muslim, she boarded the ark. (Ibn Kathir)
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
40. Until, when Our command came and the oven [46] overflowed, We said, "Load upon the Ark a pair of every kind, and your family—except those against whom the word has already gone forth—and those who have believed." But none believed with him except a few.
[46]
The Beginning of the Flood of Nuh:
The beginning of the flood of Nuh started with a spring gushing forth from the tannur. According to one opinion, tannur refers to the well-known oven in which bread is baked, and according to another opinion, tannur refers to the surface of the earth. Then, from the surrounding land, many more springs began to gush forth, and continuous rain started to fall from above. Upon the gushing of the first spring, Nuhؑ was commanded to board all the believers onto the ark, and to also take a pair (i.e., male and female) of every animal that existed on the earth at that time and reproduced in pairs (male and female) onto the ark. He was also to board all the members of his household who were believers, and they were Ham, Sam, Yafith, and their families. Those who did not believe were not to be boarded onto the ark, and among them was Nuh’sؑ son Yam, who is also called Canaan, and Nuh’sؑ wife Wa’ilah, who was a disbeliever and the mother of Canaan. These two individuals from his family were also among those who perished in the flood, and the number of those who believed was very small, not exceeding 80.
[46]
The Beginning of the Flood of Nuh:
The beginning of the flood of Nuh started with a spring gushing forth from the tannur. According to one opinion, tannur refers to the well-known oven in which bread is baked, and according to another opinion, tannur refers to the surface of the earth. Then, from the surrounding land, many more springs began to gush forth, and continuous rain started to fall from above. Upon the gushing of the first spring, Nuhؑ was commanded to board all the believers onto the ark, and to also take a pair (i.e., male and female) of every animal that existed on the earth at that time and reproduced in pairs (male and female) onto the ark. He was also to board all the members of his household who were believers, and they were Ham, Sam, Yafith, and their families. Those who did not believe were not to be boarded onto the ark, and among them was Nuh’sؑ son Yam, who is also called Canaan, and Nuh’sؑ wife Wa’ilah, who was a disbeliever and the mother of Canaan. These two individuals from his family were also among those who perished in the flood, and the number of those who believed was very small, not exceeding 80.
