Overview (Verses 35 - 41)

Prophets Act on Their Instructions

At this juncture in Noah’s story we have a remarkable pause. The sūrah makes brief reference to the reception of a similar message by the Quraysh unbelievers. There is a remarkable similarity of attitudes, as the Quraysh claim that Muĥammad too invented these stories. The sūrah quickly refutes their claims before returning to Noah: “Do they claim that he (i.e. Muĥammad] has invented it? Say: ‘If I have invented it, upon me be this crime of mine, but I am innocent of the crimes you perpetrate.’” (Verse 35) To fabricate a falsehood is to commit a crime. Hence, the Prophet is instructed to tell the Quraysh: if I have made any such fabrication, I will bear the responsibility for it. Since I am aware that it is a crime to make such fabrications, it is highly unlikely that I would do so. I am, however, innocent of all your crimes, including your false allegations, your rejection of God’s message and your associating partners with God. This interjection however does not interrupt the Qur’ānic story, rather it serves the purpose of the sūrah.

In the next scene we see Noah receiving God’s revelations and commandments. “Noah received this revelation: None of your people will believe now apart from those who have already accepted the faith. Do not be in distress over anything they may do. Build the ark under Our eyes, and according to Our inspiration. Do not appeal to Me on behalf of the wrongdoers. They shall be drowned.’” (Verses 36-37)

Everything has come to an end: the advocacy of God’s message, the warning, and the argument. “None of your people will believe now apart from those who have already accepted the faith.” (Verse 36) Those who are susceptible to faith have already accepted it. The others are hopeless. God, who knows best what is feasible and what is not, and knows His servants well, has informed Noah of this. Hence, it is pointless to continue with the argument. He is told not to grieve at their rejection or their mockery. “Do not be in distress over anything they may do.” (Verse 36) God’s will has come to pass.

“Build the ark under Our eyes, and according to Our inspiration.” (Verse 37) We will look after you and give you instructions as you do so. “Do not appeal to Me on behalf of the wrongdoers. They shall be drowned.” (Verse 37) Their destiny has been decided and you are not to plead their case. You can neither pray for them to be guided to the truth, nor can you pray for their punishment. Prayers are to no avail when God’s will comes to pass. It is mentioned elsewhere in the Qur’ān19 that he prayed for their destruction. It is understood that his despair came only after he received this revelation.

The next scene shows Noah building the ark, having given up arguing with his people and calling on them to accept the faith: “So he set himself on building the ark. And whenever a group of his people passed by him they scoffed at him. He said: ‘If you are scoffing at us, we are indeed scoffing at you, just as you are scoffing at us.’” (Verse 38)

The present tense is used here to portray the scene. This brings the scene to life. We see everything happening in front of us now. Noah builds the ark and group after group of his insolent people pass by and scoff at him. They scoff at the man who said he was a messenger from God and argued long with them, but who now busies himself making a boat. They mock him because they can only see what appears to them. Noah, on the other hand, is full of confidence as he tells them that their mockery will rebound: “If you are scoffing at us, we are indeed scoffing at you, just as you are scoffing at us.” (Verse 38) We will scoff at you because you cannot visualize that God has a definite purpose beyond all this, and you cannot imagine what awaits you: “You will surely come to know who it is that will be visited by suffering that will cover him with ignominy, and who will be afflicted by long-lasting suffering.” (Verse 39) Will this apply to us or to you when everything will be revealed?

A scene of mobilization follows as the awaited moment draws near: “Until, when Our will came to pass and the fountains of the earth gushed forth, We said [to Noah]: ‘Take into it a pair of every species, as well as your family, except those against whom Our word has passed, and all those who have accepted the faith.’ None believed with him except a few.” (Verse 40)

The Arabic phrase translated here as ‘the fountains of the earth gushed forth’ could also be literally translated as ‘the oven boiled’. There are varying reports about the meaning of this phrase. To pursue each one in an attempt to determine the precise meaning is to go into a maze without guidance. Hence, we confine ourselves to the limits of the text adding nothing to it. The most that we can say is that this phrase may be a reference to a certain signal from God to Noah. It might, on the other hand, have accompanied the execution of God’s will as water started to gush forth from the earth and rain poured down in torrents.

When this took place, God said to Noah: “Take into it a pair of every species, as well as your family, except those against whom Our word has passed, and all those who have accepted the faith.” (Verse 40) It appears that the whole process was revealed to Noah step by step at the right moment. He first received orders to build the ark and he did. The sūrah does not tell us at the beginning why the ark was built, nor does it tell us that Noah was informed of the purpose, until “when Our will came to pass and the fountains of the earth gushed forth,” then, he received his instructions for the following stage: “Take into it a pair of every species, as well as your family, except those against whom Our word has passed, and all those who have accepted the faith.” (Verse 40)

Again the reports we have vary as to the meaning of the expression, ‘a pair of every species.’ They smack of much exaggeration. We, however, will not let imagination carry us away in order to give this statement a precise interpretation. We will only say that Noah was ordered to take into the ark a pair of all such living species as he could take.

“As well as your family, except those against whom Our word has passed,” that is, those who deserved to be punished by God in accordance with the law He has laid down. “And all those who have accepted the faith,” meaning those who did not belong to his family. These, however, were very few as the Qur’ānic statement makes very clear.

Noah carried out his instructions as they were given to him. “He said to them: ‘Embark in it. In the name of God be its course and its riding at anchor. My Lord indeed is Much-Forgiving, Merciful.’” (Verse 41) This statement indicates that he put himself and the ark in God’s hands and trusted in Him. The ark would float and anchor under God’s watchful eyes. For, what could Noah and his people do to steer the ark to safety in such a deluge?