Noah (Nooh)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
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, fear Him, and obey me. 3 That He may forgive you somewhat of your sins and respite you to an appointed term. Lo! the term of Allah, when it cometh, cannot be delayed, if ye but knew. 4 He said: My Lord! Lo! I have called unto my people night and day 5 but it has had no effect on them except to make them run away. 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 I invited them publicly. 8 and, behold I preached to them in public; and I spoke to them secretly, in private; 9 And I have said: Seek pardon of your Lord. Lo! He was ever Forgiving. 10 ‘He will send down abundant rain for you from the sky.’ 11 'And give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers." 12 What is the matter with you that you deny the greatness of God, 13 seeing He created you by stages? 14 Do you not see how Allah has created seven heavens, one upon 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 Then He returns you to it, then will He bring you forth a (new) bringing forth: 18 "'And God has made the earth a wide expanse for you, 19 that thereof you may thread ways, ravines." 20