And indeed We sent Nuh (Noah) to his people, and he said: "O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Him (Islamic Monotheism). Will you not then be afraid (of Him i.e. of His Punishment because of worshipping others besides Him)?" 23 But the great ones among his people, who refused to acknowledge the truth, replied: "This [man] is nothing but a mortal like yourselves who wants to make himself superior to you! For, if God had willed [to convey a message unto us,] He would surely have sent down angels; [moreover,] we have never heard [anything like] this from our forebears of old! 24 He is only a man possessed; so wait and watch him for a time." 25 [Nuh (Noah)] said: "O my Lord! Help me because they deny me." 26 Thereupon We inspired him thus: "Build, under Our eyes and according to Our inspiration, the ark [that shall save thee and those who follow thee]. And when Our judgment comes to pass, and waters gush forth in torrents over the face of the earth, place on board of this [ark] one pair of each [kind of animal] of either sex, as well as thy family - excepting those on whom sentence has already been passed; and do not appeal to Me [any more] in behalf of those who are bent on evildoing - for, behold, they are destined to be drowned! 27 And when thou art settled, thou and those with thee, in the ark, say thou: praise unto Allah who hath delivered us from the wrong doing people. 28 And say: O my Lord! cause me to disembark a blessed alighting, and Thou art the best to cause to alight. 29 Indeed in that are signs, and indeed, We are ever testing [Our servants]. 30 Then, after them, We brought forth another generation; 31 and [every time] We sent unto them an apostle from among themselves, [he told them:] "Worship God [alone]: you have no deity other than Him. Will you not, then, become conscious of Him?" 32