سُوْرَةُ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ
Surah Al-Muminoon (23) — Ayah 23
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ فَقَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥٓ ۖ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ ﴿23﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And indeed We sent Nûh (Noah) to his people, and he said: "O my people! Worship Allâh! You have no other Ilâh (God) but Him (Islâmic Monotheism). Will you not then be afraid (of Him i.e. of His punishment because of worshipping others besides Him)?"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَقَدْ
walaqad
And verily
أَرْسَلْنَا
arsalnā
We sent
نُوحًا
nūḥan
Nuh
إِلَىٰ
ilā
to
قَوْمِهِۦ
qawmihi
his people
فَقَالَ
faqāla
and he said
يَـٰقَوْمِ
yāqawmi
O my people
ٱعْبُدُوا۟
uʿ'budū
Worship
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
مَا
mā
not
لَكُم
lakum
for you
مِّنْ
min
(is) any
إِلَـٰهٍ
ilāhin
god
غَيْرُهُۥٓ ۖ
ghayruhu
other than Him
أَفَلَا
afalā
Then will not
تَتَّقُونَ
tattaqūna
you fear
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 23) ➊ { وَ لَقَدْ اَرْسَلْنَا نُوْحًا اِلٰى قَوْمِهٖ:} After mentioning the proofs of Tawheed and the Hereafter and His magnificent blessings, He mentioned the evil end of those nations who denied them and rejected the messengers, and the help given to His messengers. In this context, the mention of Nuh (peace be upon him) and his people comes first, because he was the first messenger sent to the people of the earth, and the transition from the mention of blessings to Nuh (peace be upon him) is made in a very beautiful way, as the last blessing mentioned was making humans ride on ships, and the first to ride a ship were Nuh (peace be upon him) and his believing companions. Later, all ships were made in the same manner. (See Surah Ya-Sin: 41–43) Therefore, after the ships, their mention was made.
➋ After mentioning the blessings and proofs of Tawheed, the conditions of the prophets and those nations are mentioned who, instead of reflecting on Allah’s blessings, acted with ingratitude and arrogance, so Allah’s punishment came upon them. In this, the purpose is to warn the Quraysh and all other disbelievers and to console the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). In the Qur’an, generally after {’’ آلَاءُ اللّٰهِ ‘‘} (Allah’s blessings), the mention of { ’’ أَيَّامُ اللّٰهِ ‘‘ } comes, so that people may take heed.
➌ From { ’’ اِلٰى قَوْمِهٖ ‘‘} it is known that Nuh (peace be upon him) was sent only to his own people; it is another matter that at that time only his people existed. Being sent to all mankind and jinn is a distinction specific to our Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).
➍ { فَقَالَ يٰقَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللّٰهَ : ’’ يٰقَوْمِ ‘‘} is originally {’’يَا قَوْمِيْ‘‘} “O my people!” See how lovingly and gently he addressed them, then said: “Worship Allah.” This has always been the call of every prophet. (See Surah Al-Anbiya: 25) For the incidents of Nuh (peace be upon him), also see Surah Al-A’raf (59–64), Yunus (71–73), Bani Isra’il (3), and Surah Al-Anbiya (76, 77).
➎ With {مَا لَكُمْ مِّنْ اِلٰهٍ غَيْرُهٗ : ’’ مِنْ ‘‘} the generality of deities is emphasized, so the translation will be: “You have no deity at all except Him.” This sentence is the reason for {’’ اعْبُدُوا اللّٰهَ ‘‘}, that is, worship Allah, because you have no deity at all except Him. When there is no other deity, then how can you worship anyone else?
➏ { اَفَلَا تَتَّقُوْنَ :} That is, do you not fear Him and His punishment while associating partners with Allah?
➋ After mentioning the blessings and proofs of Tawheed, the conditions of the prophets and those nations are mentioned who, instead of reflecting on Allah’s blessings, acted with ingratitude and arrogance, so Allah’s punishment came upon them. In this, the purpose is to warn the Quraysh and all other disbelievers and to console the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). In the Qur’an, generally after {’’ آلَاءُ اللّٰهِ ‘‘} (Allah’s blessings), the mention of { ’’ أَيَّامُ اللّٰهِ ‘‘ } comes, so that people may take heed.
➌ From { ’’ اِلٰى قَوْمِهٖ ‘‘} it is known that Nuh (peace be upon him) was sent only to his own people; it is another matter that at that time only his people existed. Being sent to all mankind and jinn is a distinction specific to our Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).
➍ { فَقَالَ يٰقَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللّٰهَ : ’’ يٰقَوْمِ ‘‘} is originally {’’يَا قَوْمِيْ‘‘} “O my people!” See how lovingly and gently he addressed them, then said: “Worship Allah.” This has always been the call of every prophet. (See Surah Al-Anbiya: 25) For the incidents of Nuh (peace be upon him), also see Surah Al-A’raf (59–64), Yunus (71–73), Bani Isra’il (3), and Surah Al-Anbiya (76, 77).
➎ With {مَا لَكُمْ مِّنْ اِلٰهٍ غَيْرُهٗ : ’’ مِنْ ‘‘} the generality of deities is emphasized, so the translation will be: “You have no deity at all except Him.” This sentence is the reason for {’’ اعْبُدُوا اللّٰهَ ‘‘}, that is, worship Allah, because you have no deity at all except Him. When there is no other deity, then how can you worship anyone else?
➏ { اَفَلَا تَتَّقُوْنَ :} That is, do you not fear Him and His punishment while associating partners with Allah?
