Noah (Nooh)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
WE SENT NOAH to his people to warn them before the painful punishment came upon them. 1 He said: O my people! Surely I am a plain warner to you: 2 (Bidding you): Serve Allah and keep your duty unto Him and obey me, 3 so that He may forgive you some of your sins, and grant you respite until a term known [to Him alone]: but, behold, when the term appointed by God does come, it can never be put back - if you but knew it!" 4 He said: My Lord! Lo! I have called unto my people night and day 5 But all my calling doth but add to their repugnance; 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 And lo! I have called unto them aloud, 8 and preached to them in public, and also addressed them in secret. 9 And I have said: Seek pardon of your Lord. Lo! He was ever Forgiving. 10 'He will send rain to you in abundance; 11 and will provide you with wealth and children, and will bestow upon you gardens and rivers. 12 "'What is amiss with you that you cannot look forward to God's majesty, 13 While He has created you in (different) stages [i.e. first Nutfah, then 'Alaqah and then Mudghah, see (VV. 23:13, 14) the Quran]. 14 Have you not regarded how God created seven heavens one upon another, 15 and has set up within them the moon as a light [reflected] and set up the sun as a [radiant] lamp? 16 And Allah hath caused you to grow from the earth as a growth. 17 And afterward He maketh you return thereto, and He will bring you forth again, a (new) forthbringing. 18 "'And Allah has made the earth for you as a carpet (spread out), 19 That ye may thread the valley-ways thereof. 20