This is another early Meccan Sura, of which the date has no significance. The theme is that while Good must uphold the standard of Truth and Righteousness, a stage is reached when it must definitely part company with Evil, lest Evil should spread its corruption abroad. This theme is embodied in the prayer of Noah just before the Flood. The story of Noah's agony is almost a Parable for the holy Prophet's persecution in the Meccan period.
C.251-(Verses 1 to 28)-The Prophet's Message, as was that of Noah, is a warning against sin, and the Good news of Mercy through the door of Repentance: For Allah is loving and long-suffering, and His Signs are within us and around us. But the sinners are obstinate: They plot against Righteousness, and place their trust in futile falsehoods. They will be swept away, and the earth will be purged of Evil. Let us pray for Mercy and Grace for ourselves, for those nearest and dearest to us, and for all who turn in faith to Allah, in all ages and all countries, and amongst all Peoples.
71:1 SURA 71. Nuh, or Noah. In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. We sent Noah to his People (with the Command): "Do thou warn thy People before there comes to them a grievous Penalty. "
71:2 He said: "O my People! I am to you a Warner, clear and open:
71:3 "That ye should worship Allah, fear Him, and obey
me:
71:4 "So He may forgive you your sins and give you respite for a stated Term: For when the Term given by Allah is accomplished, it cannot be put forward: If ye only knew. "
71:5 He said: "O my Lord! I have called to my People night and day:
71:6 "But my call only increases (their) flight (from the Right).
71:7 "And every time I have called to them, that Thou mightest forgive them, they have (only) thrust their fingers into their ears, covered themselves up with their garments, grown obstinate, and given themselves up to arrogance.
71:8 "So I have called to them aloud;
71:9 "Further I have spoken to them in public and secretly in private,
71:10 "Saying, `Ask forgiveness from your Lord; for He is Oft-Forgiving;
71:11 "`He will send rain to you in abundance;
71:12 "`Give you increase in wealth and sons; and bestow on you Gardens and bestow on you Rivers (of flowing water).
71:13 "`What is the matter with you, that ye place not hope for kindness and long-suffering in Allah, --
71:14 "`Seeing that it is He that has created you in diverse stages?
71:15 "`See ye not how Allah has created the seven heavens one above another,
71:16 "`And made the moon a light in their midst, and made the sun as a (Glorious) Lamp?
71:17 "`And Allah has produced you from the earth, growing (gradually),
71:18 "`And in the End He will return you into the (earth), and raise you forth (again at the Resurrection)?
71:19 "`And Allah has made the earth for you as a carpet (spread out),
71:20 "`That ye may go about therein, in spacious roads. '"
71:21 Section 2. Noah said: "O my Lord! They have disobeyed me, but they follow (men) whose wealth and children give them no Increase but only Loss.
71:22 "And they have devised a tremendous Plot.
71:23 "And they have said (to each other), `Abandon not your gods: Abandon neither Wadd nor Suwa, neither Yaguth nor Yauq, nor Nasr'; --
71:24 "They have already misled many; and grant Thou no increase to the wrongdoers but in straying (from their mark). "
71:25 Because of their sins they were drowned (in the flood), and were made to enter the Fire (of Punishment): And they found -- in lieu of Allah -- none to help them.
71:26 And Noah said: "O my Lord! Leave not of the Unbelievers, a single one on earth!
71:27 "For, if Thou dost leave (any of) them, they will but mislead Thy devotees, and they will breed none but wicked ungrateful ones.
71:28 "O my Lord! Forgive me, my parents, all who enter my house in Faith, and (all) believing men and believing women: And to the wrongdoers grant Thou no increase but in Perdition!"
