Noah (Nooh)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
WE SENT NOAH to his people to warn them before the painful punishment came upon them. 1 He said: 'My nation, I am a clear warner for you. 2 (Bidding you): Serve Allah and keep your duty unto Him and obey me, 3 "He (Allah) will forgive you of your sins and respite you to an appointed term. Verily, the term of Allah when it comes, cannot be delayed, if you but knew." 4 He said: "O my Lord! Verily, I have called my people night and day (i.e. secretly and openly to accept the doctrine of Islamic Monotheism). 5 but my calling has only increased them in flight. 6 And every time I called them so that You might forgive them, they thrust their fingers into their ears and wrapped up their faces with their garments and obstinately clung to their attitude, and waxed very proud. 7 Then surely I called to them aloud: 8 And declared to them in public and in private, 9 "Saying, 'Ask forgiveness from your Lord; for He is Oft-Forgiving; 10 He will send down abundant rain from the sky for you, 11 And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers. 12 What is the matter with you that you deny the greatness of God, 13 Knowing that He has created you by various stages? 14 Do you not see how Allah has created seven heavens, one upon the other, 15 And has made the moon a light therein, and made the sun a lamp? 16 And Allah hath caused you to grow as a growth from the earth, 17 how He will then return you to it and bring you forth again, 18 And Allah has made for you the earth an expanse 19 so that you might walk thereon on spacious paths.'" 20