سُوْرَةُ نُوْحٍ
Surah Nooh (71) — Ayah 1
إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦٓ أَنْ أَنذِرْ قَوْمَكَ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿1﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Verily, We sent Nûh (Noah) to his people (saying): "Warn your people before there comes to them a painful torment."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِنَّآ
innā
Indeed, We
أَرْسَلْنَا
arsalnā
[We] sent
نُوحًا
nūḥan
Nuh
إِلَىٰ
ilā
to
قَوْمِهِۦٓ
qawmihi
his people
أَنْ
an
that
أَنذِرْ
andhir
Warn
قَوْمَكَ
qawmaka
your people
مِن
min
from
قَبْلِ
qabli
before
أَن
an
[that]
يَأْتِيَهُمْ
yatiyahum
comes to them
عَذَابٌ
ʿadhābun
a punishment
أَلِيمٌۭ
alīmun
painful
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.
It is narrated from Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): "What was the period between Adam and Nuh (peace be upon them)?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ عَشَرَةُ قُرُوْنٍ ] "Ten generations." [ صحیح ابن حبان، التاریخ، باب ذکر الإخبار عما کان… : ۶۱۹۰ ] Hafiz Ibn Kathir has declared it Sahih according to the conditions of Muslim. [ البدایۃ والنہایۃ، جلد : ۱، قصۃ نوح ] It is narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them), he said: [ كَانَ بَيْنَ نُوْحٍ وَ آدَمَ عَشَرَةُ قُرُوْنٍ كُلُّهُمْ عَلٰي شَرِيْعَةٍ مِّنَ الْحَقِّ فَاخْتَلَفُوْا فَبَعَثَ اللّٰهُ النَّبِيِّيْنَ مُبَشِّرِيْنَ وَ مُنْذِرِيْنَ ] [ مستدرک حاکم : 546/2، ح : ۴۰۰۹ ] "There were ten generations between Adam and Nuh, and all of them were established upon the true religion. Then, when they differed, Allah sent prophets (who gave them glad tidings of Paradise) and warned (them of punishment)." The researcher Hikmat bin Basheer has said under the verse (213) of Surah Al-Baqarah in Ibn Kathir that this hadith is also in Tabari and its chain is Sahih. From this, it is known that in the beginning all people were established upon the oneness of Allah and there was no existence of shirk and idol worship. Then, as is coming in the explanation of verse (23) of the surah under discussion, idol worship started by the teaching of Satan, so Allah sent Nuh (peace be upon him) to forbid them from shirk and to preach the worship of Allah alone. He is the first messenger of Allah who was sent to the people of the earth, as is mentioned in the hadith of intercession. [ دیکھیے بخاري، الأنبیاء، باب : «ذریۃ من حملنا…» : ۴۷۱۲ ] After receiving messengership, he (peace be upon him) kept advising his people for nine hundred and fifty (950) years. When they did not desist from disobedience, they were drowned by the flood. (See Al-Ankabut: 14) This entire surah consists of the invitation of Nuh (peace be upon him), the response of his people, and the details of their end, and its name is also after this great prophet.
(Ayah 1){ اِنَّاۤ اَرْسَلْنَا نُوْحًا اِلٰى قَوْمِهٖۤ …:} The shirk and idol worship in which the people of Nuh (peace be upon him) were involved, its inevitable result was a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. But the rule of Allah is that He does not punish without warning and admonition. (See Bani Isra'il: 15) So, to warn them of this painful punishment, Allah sent Nuh (peace be upon him) to his people.
(Ayah 1){ اِنَّاۤ اَرْسَلْنَا نُوْحًا اِلٰى قَوْمِهٖۤ …:} The shirk and idol worship in which the people of Nuh (peace be upon him) were involved, its inevitable result was a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. But the rule of Allah is that He does not punish without warning and admonition. (See Bani Isra'il: 15) So, to warn them of this painful punishment, Allah sent Nuh (peace be upon him) to his people.
