وَقَوْمَ نُوحٍ لَّمَّا كَذَّبُوا۟ ٱلرُّسُلَ أَغْرَقْنَـٰهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ لِلنَّاسِ ءَايَةً ۖ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا 37
Translations
And the people of Noah - when they denied the messengers, We drowned them, and We made them for mankind a sign. And We have prepared for the wrongdoers a painful punishment.
Transliteration
Wa qawma Noohin lamma kaththaboo ar-rusul aghraaqnāhum wa jaʿalnāhum lin-nāsi āyah wa aʿtadnā liz-zālimīn ʿadhāban alīmā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah references the people of Prophet Noah who rejected the message of the messengers, resulting in their drowning as a punishment from Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that their destruction served as a clear sign (ayah) and warning for subsequent generations, while Al-Tabari notes that the phrase 'we made them a sign for mankind' indicates their bodies and the remnants of their civilization became visible reminders of divine punishment. The ayah concludes by emphasizing that such oppressors are prepared for a painful torment in the Hereafter.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Furqan (The Criterion), a Meccan chapter that establishes clear distinctions between truth and falsehood. It is part of a broader passage (25:37-39) recounting the fates of nations that rejected their prophets—including the people of Noah, Ad, and Thamud—providing historical evidence to the Meccan disbelievers of the consequences of rejecting prophetic guidance.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari reports that the Flood of Noah lasted forty days and nights. Additionally, Jami' at-Tirmidhi records that Prophet Muhammad mentioned Noah spent 950 years calling his people to Allah, yet only a few believers followed him, demonstrating the severity of their rejection.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that persistent rejection of divine guidance inevitably results in severe consequences, both in this world and the next, while simultaneously serving as a warning to future generations. It reinforces the importance of heeding prophetic messages and recognizing that oppressors cannot escape divine justice, encouraging reflection on one's own acceptance of truth.