فَأَنجَيْنَـٰهُ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنَّا وَقَطَعْنَا دَابِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا ۖ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ مُؤْمِنِينَ 72
Translations
So We saved him and those with him by mercy from Us. And We eliminated those who denied Our signs, and they were not [at all] believers.
Transliteration
Fa-anjaynahu wa-alladhina maʿahu bi-raḥmatin minnā wa-qaṭaʿnā dābira alladhina kadhdhabhū bi-āyātinā wa-mā kānū muʾminīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah's salvation of Nuh (Noah) and the believers with him through His mercy, while He completely destroyed those who rejected His signs and refused to believe. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this demonstrates Allah's pattern of protecting His messengers and righteous followers while obliterating the disbelievers—'qaṭaʿnā dābir' (we cut off the roots/lineage) signifies complete annihilation. The ayah underscores divine justice: believers receive salvation while rejectors face total destruction.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-A'raf's narrative account of Noah's mission and the flood, revealed in Mecca during the period when the Prophet Muhammad faced similar rejection from the Quraysh. The context illustrates the historical pattern of how Allah dealt with messengers and their peoples, providing consolation to the Prophet that his persecution was not unique and that divine justice would ultimately prevail.
Related Hadiths
The story of Noah's flood is referenced in numerous hadiths. See Sunan Ibn Majah where the Prophet mentions Noah preaching for 950 years. Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim about the Day of Judgment where Noah will be the first messenger to intercede, highlighting his significance and the reward for those who believed with him.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that steadfastness in faith and following the messengers brings divine protection and salvation, while persistent rejection of divine signs inevitably leads to destruction. For believers facing opposition, it provides assurance that Allah protects His truth and those who uphold it, regardless of how powerful their opponents may seem.