وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ فَلَبِثَ فِيهِمْ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ إِلَّا خَمْسِينَ عَامًا فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱلطُّوفَانُ وَهُمْ ظَـٰلِمُونَ 14
Translations
And We certainly sent Noah to his people, and he remained among them a thousand years minus fifty years, and the flood seized them while they were wrongdoers.
Transliteration
Wa-laqad arsalnā Nūḥan ilā qawmihi fa-labitha fīhim alfa sanatin illā khamsīna ʿāman fa-akhdhahumu al-ṭūfānu wa-hum ẓālimūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes Prophet Nuh's extraordinary patience in calling his people to Allah for 950 years, during which they rejected his message. Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note that despite this lengthy period of preaching with wisdom and gentleness, his people persisted in disbelief and wrongdoing, resulting in Allah's punishment through the Great Flood. The ayah demonstrates both the mercy of Allah in granting extended opportunity for repentance and the inevitable consequence of sustained rejection of divine guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-'Ankabut, a Meccan chapter addressing the Meccan polytheists' persecution of early Muslims. The reference to Nuh's lengthy mission serves as a consolation to Prophet Muhammad and the believers, showing that patience in da'wah (call to Allah) despite rejection is a Sunnah (established practice) of the prophets, and that Allah's judgment ultimately comes upon the persistent rejecters.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad said, 'The most patient one among the prophets is Nuh, who called his people for 950 years and did not become angry with them.' (Recorded in various collections with similar wording). Also related is the hadith in Sahih Muslim describing Nuh as one of the five greatest messengers (al-'Ulu al-'Azm).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that patience in calling others to the path of Allah, even when facing prolonged rejection, is a noble Sunnah exemplified by the greatest prophets, and that ultimately those who persistently reject divine guidance will face consequences while the faithful remain steadfast. It also reminds us that Allah's mercy extends lengthy opportunities for repentance, but His justice is certain when signs are rejected.
Related Ayahs
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ
Every soul will taste death. Then to Us will you be returned.
وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥٓ إِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَجَعَلْنَا فِى ذُرِّيَّتِهِ ٱلنُّبُوَّةَ وَٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ أَجْرَهُۥ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
And We gave to him Isaac and Jacob and placed in his descendants prophethood and scripture. And We gave him his reward in this world, and indeed, he is in the Hereafter among the righteous.
وَمَا كُنتَ تَتْلُوا۟ مِن قَبْلِهِۦ مِن كِتَـٰبٍ وَلَا تَخُطُّهُۥ بِيَمِينِكَ ۖ إِذًا لَّٱرْتَابَ ٱلْمُبْطِلُونَ
And you did not recite before it any scripture, nor did you inscribe one with your right hand. Then [i.e., otherwise] the falsifiers would have had [cause for] doubt.
قُلْ كَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكُمْ شَهِيدًا ۖ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ وَكَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ
Say, "Sufficient is Allāh between me and you as Witness. He knows what is in the heavens and earth. And they who have believed in falsehood and disbelieved in Allāh - it is those who are the losers."