Chapter71/ Al Nuh

Links included for English audio, video, urdu tafseer and recitation

https://youtu.be/RUudm4xZgso?si=Mx174V3gWpqrVYK7

Audio summary discussion link as follows

https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/f689c8bc-014e-40b4-90a7-c9dd15e57788/audio

Mesmerizing recitation with translation txt link as follows:

https://surahquran.com/sorah-english-71.html

Here is a concise summary of Surah Nuh (Chapter 71) based exclusively on Tafheem-ul-Quran by Syed Abu-al-A’la Maududi :

1. Introduction and Theme

  • Name: The surah is named “Nuh” after Prophet Noah, whose story dominates its content .
  • Revelation Context: Revealed in Makkah during intense opposition to Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). It warns the Makkan disbelievers that their rejection mirrors Noah’s people, inviting similar divine consequences .

2. Noah’s Mission (Verses 1–4)

  • Allah commands Noah to warn his people of a “painful punishment” if they persist in disbelief .
  • Noah’s core message:
    • Worship Allah alone.
    • Fear disobedience (Taqwa).
    • Obey Allah’s messenger.
  • Promise: Repentance brings forgiveness of sins and respite until a “fixed term” (natural death). Once Allah’s appointed time arrives, it cannot be delayed .

3. People’s Rejection (Verses 5–20)

  • Methods of Preaching: Noah called his people:
    • Day and night, publicly and privately .
    • Advised seeking Allah’s forgiveness for abundant rain, wealth, children, gardens, and rivers .
  • Response:
    • They covered their ears and faces with garments .
    • Arrogantly persisted in idolatry (e.g., worship of Wadd, Suwāʿ, Yaghūth, Yaʿūq, and Nasr) .
  • Logical Arguments: Noah cited Allah’s signs: human creation in stages, seven-layered heavens, the sun as a “lamp,” the moon as “light,” and Earth’s fertility and resurrection .

4. Noah’s Supplication (Verses 21–28)

  • Final Appeal: After 950 years of rejection, Noah declares:
    • His people follow leaders whose wealth/children bring only “loss” .
    • They mislead others and breed “none but wicked disbelievers” .
  • Punishment: Allah drowns them in the Flood and casts them into Hell with “no helpers” .
  • Noah’s Dua:
    • “Leave not a single disbeliever on Earth!” .
    • Forgive believers, including Noah’s family and all faithful men/women .
    • “Grant the wrongdoers no increase but in destruction!” .

5. Key Theological Lessons

  • Divine Patience: Allah grants prolonged opportunities for repentance, but persistent defiance invites irreversible punishment .
  • Universal Warning: The surah underscores that rejecting messengers leads to collective annihilation, while believers receive mercy .

Key Points

  • Research suggests Surah Nuh (chapter 71) is a Meccan surah narrating Prophet Nuh’s mission to warn his people.
  • It seems likely Nuh called his people to worship Allah, seek forgiveness, and avoid idolatry, but they rejected him, leading to their punishment by drowning and being cast into the Fire.
  • The evidence leans toward Nuh praying for the destruction of disbelievers and forgiveness for believers, highlighting themes of divine justice and repentance.

Summary of Chapter 71 (Surah Nuh)

Overview
Surah Nuh, the 71st chapter of the Quran, consists of 28 verses and is likely a Meccan surah. It focuses on Prophet Nuh’s (Noah’s) mission to guide his people toward monotheism and away from idolatry.

Nuh’s Mission and Rejection
Research suggests Allah sent Nuh to warn his people of a painful punishment if they did not abandon their errors and moral evils, urging them to worship Allah, be pious, and obey him. Despite Nuh’s persistent calls, both day and night, his people rejected him, covering their ears and faces, and persisted in arrogance.

Call to Repentance and Creation
Nuh invited his people publicly and privately to seek forgiveness from Allah, promising blessings like rain, wealth, children, gardens, and rivers if they repented. He highlighted Allah’s creation, such as humans from earth, their return to it, and the earth as a wide expanse, but they remained unmoved, failing to fear Allah’s majesty despite signs like the seven layered heavens, the moon as light, and the sun as a lamp.

Idolatry and Influence of Nobles
The evidence leans toward the people following their wealthy nobles, whose riches and children led to their loss. These nobles plotted against Nuh and refused to abandon their idols: Wadd, Suwa, Yaghuth, Yauq, and Nasr, which were also worshipped by later Arabian tribes, with specific historical contexts provided for each.

Punishment and Nuh’s Prayer
It seems likely that due to their sins, the disbelievers were drowned in a flood and then cast into the Fire, finding no helpers besides Allah, serving as a warning. Nuh prayed for no disbelievers to remain, as they would mislead others, and sought forgiveness for himself, his parents, those entering his house as believers, and all believing men and women, asking that wrongdoers not be increased except in destruction.

Supporting Resources


Comprehensive Analysis of Chapter 71 (Surah Nuh) from Tafheemul Quran

This section provides an in-depth exploration of chapter 71 (Surah Nuh) from Tafheemul Quran, offering a detailed breakdown of its themes, commentary, and implications, based on the insights from Syed Abul Ala Maududi’s interpretation. The analysis aims to cover all aspects discussed in the initial summary, expanding on each with additional context and scholarly references, ensuring a thorough understanding for readers interested in Islamic exegesis.

Background and Context

Surah Nuh, the 71st chapter of the Quran, is a Meccan surah, revealed during the early period of Prophet Muhammad’s mission in Mecca, when opposition had started but was not yet tyrannical. Tafheemul Quran, authored by Syed Abul Ala Maududi, is a significant work of tafsir that combines traditional exegesis with modernist interpretations, providing detailed commentary on the Quranic text. This surah is noted for its emphasis on prophethood, divine justice, and the consequences of disbelief, aligning with the Meccan chapters’ focus on establishing monotheism and warning against idolatry.

Thematic Analysis

The surah can be divided into several thematic sections, each addressing different aspects of faith, accountability, and divine revelation. Below is a detailed examination, supported by the commentary from Tafheemul Quran.

1. Divine Mission of Nuh (Verses 1-3)

The surah opens with Allah stating, “Indeed, We sent Noah to his people, [saying], ‘Warn your people before there comes to them a painful punishment’” (verse 1). Tafheemul Quran interprets this as Nuh being commissioned to warn his people of the consequences of their errors and moral evils, urging them to worship Allah, practice piety, and obey him. The commentary notes that this mission was to prepare them for divine accountability, similar to other prophets’ missions in Meccan surahs.

  • Key Insight: This section establishes Nuh as a messenger, emphasizing the prophetic role of warning and guidance, with a focus on monotheism and moral reform.
2. Rejection by the People (Verses 5-7)

Verses 5-7 detail Nuh’s persistent efforts: “He said, ‘My Lord, indeed I invited my people [to truth] night and day, but my invitation only increased them in flight’” (verse 5). Tafheemul Quran explains that despite calling them day and night, they covered their ears and faces, turning away in arrogance. This rejection is likened to the Quraish’s attitude toward Prophet Muhammad, highlighting a recurring theme of disbelief.

  • Key Insight: The commentary underscores the people’s arrogance, interpreting their actions as a refusal to accept truth, a theme prevalent in Meccan surahs like Surah Al-Aaraf (7) and Surah Houd (11).
3. Invitation to Repentance and Creation (Verses 8-20)

Verses 8-16 describe Nuh’s invitation to seek forgiveness, promising blessings: “And said, ‘Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver’” (verse 10). Tafheemul Quran notes he promised rain, wealth, children, gardens, and rivers if they repented, but they remained unmoved. Verses 15-16 highlight creation signs, such as the seven layered heavens, the moon as light, and the sun as a lamp, urging fear of Allah’s majesty.

Verses 17-20 further emphasize creation: “And Allah has caused you to grow from the earth a [progressive] growth” (verse 17), with Nuh reminding them of their origin from earth, return to it, and the earth as a wide expanse for paths.

  • Key Insight: This section serves as a rhetorical appeal, using creation as evidence of Allah’s power, encouraging repentance, and contrasting with their disbelief, similar to Surah Adh-Dhariyat (51:20-23).
4. Influence of Nobles and Idolatry (Verses 21-24)

Verses 21-24 detail the people’s following of nobles: “Noah said, ‘My Lord, indeed they have disobeyed me and followed him whose wealth and children will not increase him except in loss’” (verse 21). Tafheemul Quran explains these nobles plotted against Nuh, refusing to abandon their gods: Wadd, Suwa, Yaghuth, Yauq, and Nasr. The commentary provides historical context:

  • Wadd: God of Bani Kalb, shrine at Daumat al-Jandal, image of a man, also worshipped by Quraish (Abd-i Wudd named after him).
  • Suwa: Goddess of Hudhayl, female figure, temple at Ruhat near Yanbu.
  • Yaghuth: God of Anum (Tay) and Madhjih, lion image at Jurash, some Quraish named Abd-i Yaghuth.
  • Yauq: God of Khaywan (Hamdan), horse figure, in Yaman territory.
  • Nasr: God of Al-i dhul-Kula (Himyar), vulture image at Balkha, temple called bayt Nasor, ruins show vulture images.

These deities misled many, with Nuh praying not to increase wrongdoers except in straying after despairing of their belief.

  • Key Insight: This section critiques idolatry, linking it to social hierarchy, and warns of its consequences, with historical parallels to Meccan idolatry.
5. Punishment of the Disbelievers (Verse 25)

Verse 25 states, “Because of their sins they were drowned, then made to enter a Fire, and they found not for themselves besides Allah any helpers.” Tafheemul Quran interprets this as the flood drowning them, followed by their souls being cast into the Fire, illustrating barzakh (the intermediate state between death and resurrection). This serves as a warning to Makkah’s people of a similar fate for disbelief.

  • Key Insight: The commentary emphasizes divine justice, with drowning not the final punishment, referencing Surah Al-Momin (40:45-46) for Pharaoh’s similar fate, reinforcing eschatological themes.
6. Nuh’s Prayer (Verses 26-28)

Verses 26-28 detail Nuh’s prayer: “And Noah said, ‘My Lord, do not leave upon the earth from among the disbelievers an inhabitant’” (verse 26). He warned that if left alive, they would mislead Allah’s servants and beget only sinners and unbelievers. He sought forgiveness for himself, his parents, those entering his house as believers, and all believing men and women, asking not to increase wrongdoers except in destruction (verse 28).

Tafheemul Quran notes this curse was in conformity with divine will, similar to Moses’ curse on Pharaoh (Surah Younus, 10:88-89), emphasizing prophetic intercession and divine justice.

  • Key Insight: This section highlights Nuh’s role as a supplicant, balancing justice and mercy, with theological implications for divine response to disbelief.

Comparative Analysis and Scholarly References

Tafheemul Quran’s interpretation aligns with traditional exegesis but includes modernist elements, such as historical and sociological analysis of idolatry. For instance, the idols’ names are linked to Arabian tribes, providing context for Meccan audiences. References to other surahs, such as Al-Aaraf (7:63), Houd (11:27, 31, 36), and Al-Mominoon (23:24, 25), enrich the commentary, offering a holistic understanding.

Summary Table of Key Themes and Verses

ThemeVersesKey Message Divine Mission 1-3 Nuh sent to warn of punishment, urging worship, piety, and obedience. Rejection by People 5-7 People rejected Nuh, covering ears and faces, persisting in arrogance. Call to Repentance 8-16 Nuh invited forgiveness, promised blessings, but they ignored creation signs. Creation and Earth 17-20 Highlighted human origin from earth, return, and earth’s expanse. Idolatry and Nobles’ Influence 21-24 People followed nobles, worshipped idols like Wadd, Suwa, leading to loss. Punishment of Disbelievers 25 Drowned and cast into Fire, no helpers besides Allah, warning for Makkah. Nuh’s Prayer 26-28 Prayed for no disbelievers left, sought forgiveness for believers, destruction for wrongdoers.

Conclusion

Surah Nuh, as interpreted in Tafheemul Quran, is a multifaceted chapter addressing prophethood, divine justice, and the consequences of disbelief. It details Nuh’s mission, the people’s rejection, their idolatry, and eventual punishment, concluding with Nuh’s prayer for justice and mercy. The commentary enriches understanding by connecting themes to historical contexts and broader Quranic narratives, making it a valuable resource for theological and moral reflection.

Supporting Resources
For further reading, refer to:

For deeper analysis, refer to Tafheem-ul-Quran directly .