Surah Hud (11) — Ayah 41

(Ayah 41) ➊ {وَ قَالَ ارْكَبُوْا فِيْهَا بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ مَجْرٖىهَا وَ مُرْسٰىهَا : ’’ ارْكَبُوْا فِيْهَا ‘‘} . Generally, for mounting, the phrase {’’رَكِبَ عَلَيْهِ ‘‘} is used, but here instead of {’’رَكِبَ عَلَيْهِ ‘‘}, it is said {’’ اِرْكَبُوْا عَلَيْهَا ‘‘} because in a ship one enters and sits like in a room, whereas on horses and the like, one mounts on top. (Ibn Ashur) From this, it is also understood that the ship was not just planks upon which they mounted, but rather, the ship prepared under Allah’s supervision was of the best rooms, comfortable seats, and multiple stories, in which they boarded. {’’مَجْرَي ‘‘ ’’ جَرَي يَجْرِيْ ‘‘} (ض) is from the masdar mimi, meaning to move. Some reciters have made imalah in it, that is, they incline the alif towards ya and the fathah towards kasrah in their recitation. {’’ مُرْسَي‘‘} This is from the masdar mimi of the form if‘al {’’اَرْسَي يُرْسِيْ‘‘ } ( {ر س و}), meaning its stopping. When boarding the ship, Nuh (peace be upon him) recited this supplication, so this supplication at the time of boarding a ship is established from the Noble Quran. In Surah Al-Mu’minun, that supplication is also mentioned which Allah commanded to be recited after boarding the ship and sitting comfortably: «{ فَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِيْ نَجّٰىنَا مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظّٰلِمِيْنَ }» and «{ رَبِّ اَنْزِلْنِيْ مُنْزَلًا مُّبٰرَكًا وَّ اَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْمُنْزِلِيْنَ }» [ المؤمنون : ۲۸، ۲۹ ] In Surah Az-Zukhruf, whether it is a ship or any ride, Allah has taught this supplication to be recited when boarding: «{ سُبْحٰنَ الَّذِيْ سَخَّرَ لَنَا هٰذَا وَ مَا كُنَّا لَهٗ مُقْرِنِيْنَ (13) وَ اِنَّاۤ اِلٰى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُوْنَ۠ }» [ الزخرف : ۱۳، ۱۴ ] “Glory be to Him Who has subjected this to us, and we could not have subdued it, and surely to our Lord we must return.” In Sahih Muslim, there is a hadith from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) about reciting this supplication when mounting a camel, and there are additional words in it. [ دیکھیے مسلم، الحج، باب استحباب الذکر إذا رکب دابتہ متوجھا… : ۱۳۴۲، عن ابن عمر رضی اللہ عنھما]

➋ {اِنَّ رَبِّيْ لَغَفُوْرٌ رَّحِيْمٌ :} The meaning is that all of us who boarded the ship and were saved from the punishment, it is not because we are completely free from sins, but the reason is that my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful. Because of faith, He overlooked our slips and granted us this honor.