وَنُوحًا إِذْ نَادَىٰ مِن قَبْلُ فَٱسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُۥ فَنَجَّيْنَـٰهُ وَأَهْلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلْكَرْبِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ 76
Translations
And [mention] Noah, when he called [to Allāh] before [that time], so We responded to him and saved him and his family from the great affliction [i.e., the flood].
Transliteration
Wa Nūḥan idh nādā min qablu fa-astajabnā lahu fa-najjaynāhu wa-ahlahu mina al-karbi al-ʿaẓīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah references Prophet Noah's sincere supplication to Allah before the Great Flood, highlighting how Allah answered his prayer and saved him along with his family from the immense distress of drowning while the disbelievers perished. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, Noah's invocation (duʿāʾ) is mentioned in Surah Nūḥ (71:26-28), where he called upon Allah against the disbelievers, demonstrating the power of authentic faith and sincere prayer. The phrase 'al-karb al-ʿaẓīm' (the great distress) refers both to the psychological anguish of witnessing his people's rejection and the physical catastrophe of the flood.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within a Meccan surah that enumerates various prophets and their steadfastness, serving to console Prophet Muhammad during early Meccan opposition. Noah's story is presented as a precedent of divine assistance granted to a faithful messenger despite overwhelming rejection from his community, contextually relevant to the struggles faced by the early Muslim community in Mecca.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad said: 'The first messenger to be sent to the people of the earth was Noah' (Sahih Bukhari 3156). Additionally, 'The best prayer is the prayer of Noah' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3505) underscores the excellence of Noah's supplication.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that sincere, persistent prayer to Allah combined with unwavering faith yields divine assistance even in the darkest circumstances, and reminds believers that family and loved ones are a mercy from Allah worthy of protection and spiritual guidance.