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
وَإِلَىٰ عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُودًا ۚ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥٓ ۖ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا مُفْتَرُونَ
And to ʿAad [We sent] their brother Hūd. He said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. You are not but inventors [of falsehood].
قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَعْجَبِينَ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ رَحْمَتُ ٱللَّهِ وَبَرَكَـٰتُهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ ٱلْبَيْتِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ حَمِيدٌ مَّجِيدٌ
They said, "Are you amazed at the decree of Allāh? May the mercy of Allāh and His blessings be upon you, people of the house. Indeed, He is Praiseworthy and Honorable."
قَالَ سَـَٔاوِىٓ إِلَىٰ جَبَلٍ يَعْصِمُنِى مِنَ ٱلْمَآءِ ۚ قَالَ لَا عَاصِمَ ٱلْيَوْمَ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ ۚ وَحَالَ بَيْنَهُمَا ٱلْمَوْجُ فَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُغْرَقِينَ
[But] he said, "I will take refuge on a mountain to protect me from the water." [Noah] said, "There is no protector today from the decree of Allāh, except for whom He gives mercy." And the waves came between them, and he was among the drowned.
قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن كُنتُ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّى وَءَاتَىٰنِى رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِهِۦ فَعُمِّيَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنُلْزِمُكُمُوهَا وَأَنتُمْ لَهَا كَـٰرِهُونَ
He said, "O my people, have you considered: if I should be upon clear evidence from my Lord while He has given me mercy from Himself but it has been made unapparent to you, should we force it upon you while you are averse to it?