فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَنجَيْنَـٰهُ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥ فِى ٱلْفُلْكِ وَأَغْرَقْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَوْمًا عَمِينَ 64
Translations
But they denied him, so We saved him and those who were with him in the ship. And We drowned those who denied Our signs. Indeed, they were a blind people.
Transliteration
Fa-kadhdhäbūhu fa-anjaynāhu wa-alladhīna ma'ahu fī al-fulki wa-aghraqnā alladhīna kadhdhäbū bi-āyātinā. Innahum kānū qawman 'amīn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Prophet Nuh (Noah) and his people, describing how they rejected his message, yet Allah saved Nuh and the believers with him in the Ark while drowning those who rejected Allah's signs. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that the phrase 'qawman 'amīn' (a blind people) refers to spiritual blindness—their refusal to see the truth despite clear evidence. This narrative illustrates the eternal pattern of divine justice: rejection of prophets leads to destruction, while faith and obedience lead to salvation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-A'raf's discussion of various prophets and their peoples, establishing a recurring theme throughout the surah. The context is part of the broader Meccan narrative addressing the Quraysh's rejection of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by referencing historical precedents of nations that rejected their prophets and faced divine punishment.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3156): The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned that only eighty people believed with Nuh from among his people during nine hundred fifty years of preaching. Also, Sunan Ibn Majah contains hadiths about the severity of Nuh's call and the patience required in da'wah despite rejection.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that persistent rejection of divine guidance—despite clear signs—leads to inevitable consequences, while sincere faith and obedience to Allah's messengers result in salvation. For believers today, it reinforces the importance of recognizing spiritual blindness in ourselves and others, and the critical need to respond positively to truth when it becomes apparent.