قَالَ رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِى كَذَّبُونِ 117
Translations
He said, "My Lord, indeed my people have denied me.
Transliteration
Qala Rabbi inna qawmi kaththabun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Nuh (peace be upon him) appeals to his Lord, expressing his distress that his people have rejected him and his message despite his 950 years of patient preaching. This statement reflects Nuh's sincere supplication and his acknowledgment of the people's obstinate rejection, demonstrating the emotional and spiritual burden borne by the messengers. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari note that this supplication precedes Nuh's request for divine judgment against those who rejected him, showing the proper etiquette of complaint before Allah—one must first inform the Lord before requesting action.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah Ash-Shu'ara, which presents stories of various messengers and their peoples' rejection of the message. The context here is Nuh's conversation with Allah after his people's sustained disbelief. This surah was revealed in Mecca during a period when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was experiencing rejection from the Quraysh, making these stories of past messengers particularly relevant for consolation and encouragement.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3156) mentions that Nuh preached for 950 years and his people did not believe except for a few believers, directly supporting the context of this ayah. Additionally, Surah 71:5-6 elaborates on Nuh's lament: 'Indeed, I invited them to faith, but they increased me not except in flight [from the truth].'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that sincere effort in conveying truth does not guarantee acceptance, and that disappointment in this regard should drive us closer to Allah in supplication rather than away from faith. It reminds us that even the greatest messengers faced rejection, so we should not despair when our good intentions and actions are met with resistance.