إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦٓ أَنْ أَنذِرْ قَوْمَكَ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ 1
Translations
Indeed, We sent Noah to his people, [saying], "Warn your people before there comes to them a painful punishment."
Transliteration
Inna arsalna Noohan ila qawmihi an andhir qawmaka min qabli an ya'tiyhum adhábun aleem
Tafsir (Explanation)
This opening ayah of Surah Nuh establishes the divine mission of Prophet Noah, commanding him to warn his people before the arrival of a painful punishment. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah emphasizes the fundamental role of prophethood: to deliver clear warnings to humanity so they may repent and avoid divine retribution. The 'painful punishment' refers to the great flood that would eventually destroy those who rejected Noah's message after 950 years of preaching.
Revelation Context
This surah was revealed in Mecca during the early Meccan period and recounts Noah's prophetic mission and his people's rejection of his message. The ayah sets the historical and theological context for the longest preaching period of any prophet—Noah warned his people for 950 years—making this surah a powerful example of patience and perseverance in da'wah (Islamic preaching) despite widespread rejection.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of people are those of my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them.' (Sahih Bukhari 3456). This relates thematically to Noah being sent as a warner to guide his generation. Additionally, the Quran states that Noah is 'the first of the messengers' (Quran 21:25), emphasizing his pivotal role in human history.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that conveying God's message—whether through Islamic education, ethical conduct, or sincere advice—is a sacred responsibility that requires patience even when facing rejection. Modern readers should reflect on how Noah's example of unwavering commitment to warning his people for centuries demonstrates that the measure of success in faith is obedience and sincerity, not necessarily immediate results.