Noah (Nooh)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
WE SENT NOAH to his people to warn them before the painful punishment came upon them. 1 [And Noah] said: "O my people! I am but a plain warner to you, [sent to tell you] 2 Worship Allah, and fear Him, and obey me. 3 He will forgive you some of your faults and grant you a delay to an appointed term; surely the term of Allah when it comes is not postponed; did you but know! 4 He said, "My Lord, indeed I invited my people [to truth] night and day. 5 but my pleas have only increased their aversion. 6 "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. 7 Then verily I have called unto them publicly 8 And lo! I have made public proclamation unto them, and I have appealed to them in private. 9 I said to them: “Ask forgiveness from your Lord; surely He is Most Forgiving. 10 He will shower upon you torrents from heaven, 11 increase your wealth and sons; and grant you gardens and waterways. 12 What is the matter with you that you do not want the Greatness of Allah, 13 While He has created you in stages? 14 Have you not seen how Allah created the seven heavens one above the other, 15 And has placed the moon therein, an illumination, and has placed the sun, a lighted lamp? 16 And Allah has brought you forth from the (dust of) earth. [Tafsir At-Tabari, Vol. 29, Page 97]. 17 and to it He will return you. Then, He will bring you forth. 18 And Allah hath made the earth a wide expanse for you 19 so that you may walk along its spacious paths?" 20