فَأَنجَيْنَـٰهُ وَأَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلسَّفِينَةِ وَجَعَلْنَـٰهَآ ءَايَةً لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ 15
Translations
But We saved him and the companions of the ship, and We made it a sign for the worlds.
Transliteration
Fa-anjaynahu wa-ashaba as-safinati wa-ja'alnaha ayatan lil-'alamin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Allah's salvation of Prophet Nuh (Noah) and the believers who were with him on the ark, while the disbelievers were drowned. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that Allah made the ark itself a sign (ayah) for all peoples and generations—a testimony to Allah's power, justice, and the consequences of rejecting His messengers. The preservation of the ark as a miraculous vessel demonstrates divine protection for the faithful and serves as an eternal lesson about obedience to Allah's commands.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-'Ankabut's discussion of Prophet Nuh and his lengthy call to monotheism over 950 years, with only a few believers responding. The context illustrates how Allah's judgment against those who reject His messengers is inevitable and absolute, while those who believe are saved. This passage serves as a Meccan reassurance to early Muslims facing persecution, showing that Allah protects the believers and punishes the disbelievers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said regarding the signs of Allah: 'Every prophet was given miracles because of which people believed, but what I have been given is the Divine Inspiration which Allah has revealed to me' (Sahih Bukhari 4981). Additionally, the story of Nuh's ark is referenced in multiple hadiths as a sign of Allah's mercy and power, such as in Jami' at-Tirmidhi regarding the Day of Judgment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that steadfastness in faith leads to salvation, while rejection of Allah's guidance results in destruction—a timeless principle. For modern Muslims, it reinforces trust in Allah's protection when facing opposition and the importance of heeding the message of the messengers, regardless of how few believers there may be initially.