فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَنجَيْنَـٰهُ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥ فِى ٱلْفُلْكِ وَأَغْرَقْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَوْمًا عَمِينَ 64
Translations
But they denied him, so We saved him and those who were with him in the ship. And We drowned those who denied Our signs. Indeed, they were a blind people.
Transliteration
Fa-kadhdhäbūhu fa-anjaynāhu wa-alladhīna ma'ahu fī al-fulki wa-aghraqnā alladhīna kadhdhäbū bi-āyātinā. Innahum kānū qawman 'amīn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Prophet Nuh (Noah) and his people, describing how they rejected his message, yet Allah saved Nuh and the believers with him in the Ark while drowning those who rejected Allah's signs. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that the phrase 'qawman 'amīn' (a blind people) refers to spiritual blindness—their refusal to see the truth despite clear evidence. This narrative illustrates the eternal pattern of divine justice: rejection of prophets leads to destruction, while faith and obedience lead to salvation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-A'raf's discussion of various prophets and their peoples, establishing a recurring theme throughout the surah. The context is part of the broader Meccan narrative addressing the Quraysh's rejection of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by referencing historical precedents of nations that rejected their prophets and faced divine punishment.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3156): The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned that only eighty people believed with Nuh from among his people during nine hundred fifty years of preaching. Also, Sunan Ibn Majah contains hadiths about the severity of Nuh's call and the patience required in da'wah despite rejection.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that persistent rejection of divine guidance—despite clear signs—leads to inevitable consequences, while sincere faith and obedience to Allah's messengers result in salvation. For believers today, it reinforces the importance of recognizing spiritual blindness in ourselves and others, and the critical need to respond positively to truth when it becomes apparent.
Related Ayahs
كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ وَعَادٌ وَفِرْعَوْنُ ذُو ٱلْأَوْتَادِ
The people of Noah denied before them, and [the tribe of] ʿAad and Pharaoh, the owner of stakes,
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُدْخِلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يَتَمَتَّعُونَ وَيَأْكُلُونَ كَمَا تَأْكُلُ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمُ وَٱلنَّارُ مَثْوًى لَّهُمْ
Indeed, Allāh will admit those who have believed and done righteous deeds to gardens beneath which rivers flow, but those who disbelieve enjoy themselves and eat as grazing livestock eat, and the Fire will be a residence for them.
وَيَسْتَفْتُونَكَ فِى ٱلنِّسَآءِ ۖ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ يُفْتِيكُمْ فِيهِنَّ وَمَا يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ فِى يَتَـٰمَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ ٱلَّـٰتِى لَا تُؤْتُونَهُنَّ مَا كُتِبَ لَهُنَّ وَتَرْغَبُونَ أَن تَنكِحُوهُنَّ وَٱلْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ ٱلْوِلْدَٰنِ وَأَن تَقُومُوا۟ لِلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمًا
And they request from you, [O Muḥammad], a [legal] ruling concerning women. Say, "Allāh gives you a ruling about them and [about] what has been recited to you in the Book concerning the orphan girls to whom you do not give what is decreed for them - and [yet] you desire to marry them - and concerning the oppressed among children and that you maintain for orphans [their rights] in justice." And whatever you do of good - indeed, Allāh is ever Knowing of it.
تَلْفَحُ وُجُوهَهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ وَهُمْ فِيهَا كَـٰلِحُونَ
The Fire will sear their faces, and they therein will have taut smiles.