قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ لَيْسَ بِى ضَلَـٰلَةٌ وَلَـٰكِنِّى رَسُولٌ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ 61
Translations
[Noah] said, "O my people, there is not error in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds.
Transliteration
Qala ya qawmi laysa biyya dalalun wa lakinni rasulun mir rabbi al-alameen
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) responds to his people's accusation of being misguided (dall), clarifying that he is not astray but rather a Messenger sent by the Lord of all worlds. This statement emphasizes the divine authority behind Nuh's message and refutes the false claims of his opponents. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that Nuh's declaration demonstrates his conviction in his prophetic mission despite centuries of rejection, establishing that the source of guidance is Allah alone, not human opinion.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Prophet Nuh's preaching to his people over 950 years, as mentioned in Surah Nuh 29:14. The broader context (7:59-64) presents Nuh's monotheistic message and his people's rejection, with this specific verse serving as Nuh's authoritative response to their ridicule and accusation that he was misguided.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3439) where the Prophet Muhammad said, 'The most severe trial will be to the Messengers' relates thematically to the challenges Nuh faced in conveying his message despite opposition. Additionally, the Quran 23:23-29 provides the detailed account of Nuh's similar declaration to his people.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers facing criticism or accusations should anchor themselves firmly in truth and divine purpose, recognizing that conviction comes from Allah's guidance, not from worldly approval. This teaches us that maintaining clarity about one's mission and source of authority provides spiritual strength against opposition and doubt.
Related Ayahs
وَلَمَّا رَجَعَ مُوسَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ غَضْبَـٰنَ أَسِفًا قَالَ بِئْسَمَا خَلَفْتُمُونِى مِنۢ بَعْدِىٓ ۖ أَعَجِلْتُمْ أَمْرَ رَبِّكُمْ ۖ وَأَلْقَى ٱلْأَلْوَاحَ وَأَخَذَ بِرَأْسِ أَخِيهِ يَجُرُّهُۥٓ إِلَيْهِ ۚ قَالَ ٱبْنَ أُمَّ إِنَّ ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱسْتَضْعَفُونِى وَكَادُوا۟ يَقْتُلُونَنِى فَلَا تُشْمِتْ بِىَ ٱلْأَعْدَآءَ وَلَا تَجْعَلْنِى مَعَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And when Moses returned to his people, angry and grieved, he said, "How wretched is that by which you have replaced me after [my departure]. Were you impatient over the matter of your Lord?" And he threw down the tablets and seized his brother by [the hair of] his head, pulling him toward him. [Aaron] said, "O son of my mother, indeed the people overpowered me and were about to kill me, so let not the enemies rejoice over me and do not place me among the wrongdoing people."
۞ وَإِذْ نَتَقْنَا ٱلْجَبَلَ فَوْقَهُمْ كَأَنَّهُۥ ظُلَّةٌ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَنَّهُۥ وَاقِعٌۢ بِهِمْ خُذُوا۟ مَآ ءَاتَيْنَـٰكُم بِقُوَّةٍ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ مَا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
And [mention] when We raised the mountain above them as if it was a dark cloud and they were certain that it would fall upon them, [and Allāh said], "Take what We have given you with determination and remember what is in it that you might fear Allāh."
فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ كَذَّبَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِهِۦٓ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَنَالُهُمْ نَصِيبُهُم مِّنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُنَا يَتَوَفَّوْنَهُمْ قَالُوٓا۟ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ قَالُوا۟ ضَلُّوا۟ عَنَّا وَشَهِدُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ كَـٰفِرِينَ
And who is more unjust than one who invents about Allāh a lie or denies His verses? Those will attain their portion of the decree until, when Our messengers [i.e., angels] come to them to take them in death, they will say, "Where are those you used to invoke besides Allāh?" They will say, "They have departed from us," and will bear witness against themselves that they were disbelievers.
قَالُوٓا۟ أَرْجِهْ وَأَخَاهُ وَأَرْسِلْ فِى ٱلْمَدَآئِنِ حَـٰشِرِينَ
They said, "Postpone [the matter of] him and his brother and send among the cities gatherers