قَالُوا۟ يَـٰنُوحُ قَدْ جَـٰدَلْتَنَا فَأَكْثَرْتَ جِدَٰلَنَا فَأْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ 32
Translations
They said, "O Noah, you have disputed [i.e., opposed] us and been frequent in dispute of us. So bring us what you threaten us, if you should be of the truthful."
Transliteration
Qāloo yā Nūḥu qad jādaltnā fa-aktharta jidālanā fa-'tinā bimā ta'idunā in kunta mina aṣ-ṣādiqīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelieving people of Noah mocked him after prolonged debate, demanding that he bring upon them the threatened punishment if he truly spoke the truth. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this statement reflects their arrogant rejection and mockery—they wanted to see the actual punishment to prove Noah's claims, not realizing they were testing the patience of Allah's messenger. Their demand for immediate divine retribution showed their spiritual blindness and stubborn denial despite Noah's 950 years of preaching.
Revelation Context
This verse occurs within the narrative of Prophet Noah in Surah Hud, depicting the final stages of his people's rejection. The context shows Noah's lengthy struggle with his community; after centuries of calling them to monotheism with patience and wisdom, they resort to mocking demands, which precipitated Allah's final decision to send the Flood.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said regarding Noah: 'The most tested of people are the Prophets, then those nearest to them in righteousness' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the Quran itself mentions Noah's people's mockery in 21:40, showing the recurring pattern of rejecting messengers.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that demanding proof on our own terms rather than accepting guidance with humility is a sign of spiritual arrogance, and that those who persistently reject truth despite clear signs ultimately hasten their own destruction. For believers, it exemplifies the patience required when conveying truth in the face of mockery and disbelief.
Related Ayahs
وَلَئِنْ أَذَقْنَـٰهُ نَعْمَآءَ بَعْدَ ضَرَّآءَ مَسَّتْهُ لَيَقُولَنَّ ذَهَبَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتُ عَنِّىٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَفَرِحٌ فَخُورٌ
But if We give him a taste of favor after hardship has touched him, he will surely say, "Bad times have left me." Indeed, he is exultant and boastful -
وَأُوحِىَ إِلَىٰ نُوحٍ أَنَّهُۥ لَن يُؤْمِنَ مِن قَوْمِكَ إِلَّا مَن قَدْ ءَامَنَ فَلَا تَبْتَئِسْ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْعَلُونَ
And it was revealed to Noah that, "No one will believe from your people except those who have already believed, so do not be distressed by what they have been doing.
قَالُوا۟ يَـٰشُعَيْبُ مَا نَفْقَهُ كَثِيرًا مِّمَّا تَقُولُ وَإِنَّا لَنَرَىٰكَ فِينَا ضَعِيفًا ۖ وَلَوْلَا رَهْطُكَ لَرَجَمْنَـٰكَ ۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ عَلَيْنَا بِعَزِيزٍ
They said, "O Shuʿayb, we do not understand much of what you say, and indeed, we consider you among us as weak. And if not for your family, we would have stoned you [to death]; and you are not to us one respected."
وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ طَرَفَىِ ٱلنَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلْحَسَنَـٰتِ يُذْهِبْنَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ذِكْرَىٰ لِلذَّٰكِرِينَ
And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember.