Surah as-Saffat (Those Lined Up) 37 : 70

Overview (Verses 69 - 82)

The sūrah gives brief accounts of Noah, Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac, Moses and Aaron, Elijah, Lot and Jonah. It dwells more on Abraham’s and Ishmael’s story as it puts before us an example of supreme faith and sacrifice showing us the nature of true surrender to God’s will. This particular episode is not mentioned anywhere else in the Qur’ān. Together, these stories make up the entire passage.
 
The Fate of Noah’s People
 
They found their forefathers astray, and rushed to follow in their footsteps. Most of the people of old went astray before them; although We had sent them warners. Behold what happened in the end to those that had been warned. Not so God’s true servants. (Verses 69-74)
 
These people are hardened in following error, but at the same time they are simply following the footsteps of others, without thinking or reflection. They rush to follow their fathers’ lead taking no opportunity to question or examine: “They found their forefathers astray, and rushed to follow in their footsteps.” (Verses 69-70) Both they and their fathers are examples of going astray, which was also the case of the majority of earlier communities: “Most of the people of old went astray before them.” (Verse 71) Yet they did receive warnings, but paid no heed: “although We had sent them warners.” (Verse 72) What did this lead to in the end? What was the outcome of the unbelievers’ attitude, as compared with the outcome of heeding the warnings and accepting the faith? This is shown in the stories that follow. The verses that ensue serve as a mere announcement of what is to come: “Behold what happened in the end to those that had been warned. Not so God’s true servants.” (Verses 73-74)
 
The first story is Noah’s, but the account here dwells only briefly on the outcome, highlighting the care God took of His true servants: Noah cried to Us, and We are the best to answer prayer: We saved him and his household from great distress; and caused his offspring to be the survivors. We caused him to be praised by later generations: Peace be upon Noah in all the worlds! Thus do we reward those who do good. He was truly one of Our believing servants. Then We caused the others to drown. (Verses 75-82)
 
This reference to Noah includes his appeal to God and the full answer to his prayer by the best to give such an answer. It also tells of the fact that he and his household were saved from the great floods that drowned all except those whom God willed to be saved. It speaks of God’s will to make of his offspring communities which build the earth and establish its heritage, while he himself, would he remembered by future generations until the end of time. “We caused him to be praised by later generations.” (Verse 78) It declares to all the worlds God’s greeting to Noah, as he was one who fulfilled well the assignment given him: “Peace be upon Noah in all the worlds! Thus do We reward those who do good.” (Verses 79-80) What reward could anyone wish for when he has received God’s own greetings and is to be remembered for the rest of time? The mark of Noah’s doing well that so ensured his great reward was his unshakeable faith: “He was truly one of Our believing servants.” (Verse 81) This outcome is brought about by faith. The unbelievers among Noah’s people met their own ruin: “Then We caused the others to drown.” (Verse 82) This has set the rule ever since the dawn of history. It is the pattern given in general terms immediately before these stories: “We had sent them warners. Behold what happened in the end to those that had been warned. Not so God’s true servants.”