إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ أَخُوهُمْ نُوحٌ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ 106
Translations
When their brother Noah said to them, "Will you not fear Allāh?
Transliteration
Idh qala lahum akhuhum Nuhun ala tattaqun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents Prophet Nuh (Noah) addressing his people as their brother, exhorting them to adopt taqwa (God-consciousness and piety). According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, Nuh's appeal emphasizes the fraternal relationship and shared humanity with his people, making his call to righteousness more relatable and urgent. The question "Ala tattaqun?" (Will you not fear Allah?) serves as a rhetorical device to awaken their conscience and convict them of their negligence in religious observance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ash-Shu'ara, which recounts the stories of various prophets and their calls to tawhid (monotheism). This specific verse is part of the narrative of Prophet Nuh's preaching to his people over 950 years, establishing the pattern of prophetic exhortation that characterizes the surah's thematic structure.
Related Hadiths
The Quranic narrative of Nuh is supported by Hadith Qudsi and various ahadeeth about the patience of the prophets. Sahih Muslim contains a hadith where the Prophet Muhammad mentions Nuh as one of the most patient messengers despite his people's rejection over centuries.
Themes
Key Lesson
A caller to Allah's path must approach people with compassion and brotherhood, recognizing their shared humanity, while remaining firm in the message of God-consciousness. Modern believers can learn from Nuh's gentle yet persistent approach to inviting others to righteousness, understanding that effective da'wah combines love for the audience with unwavering commitment to divine truth.