قَالُوا۟ يَـٰنُوحُ قَدْ جَـٰدَلْتَنَا فَأَكْثَرْتَ جِدَٰلَنَا فَأْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ 32
Translations
They said, "O Noah, you have disputed [i.e., opposed] us and been frequent in dispute of us. So bring us what you threaten us, if you should be of the truthful."
Transliteration
Qāloo yā Nūḥu qad jādaltnā fa-aktharta jidālanā fa-'tinā bimā ta'idunā in kunta mina aṣ-ṣādiqīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelieving people of Noah mocked him after prolonged debate, demanding that he bring upon them the threatened punishment if he truly spoke the truth. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this statement reflects their arrogant rejection and mockery—they wanted to see the actual punishment to prove Noah's claims, not realizing they were testing the patience of Allah's messenger. Their demand for immediate divine retribution showed their spiritual blindness and stubborn denial despite Noah's 950 years of preaching.
Revelation Context
This verse occurs within the narrative of Prophet Noah in Surah Hud, depicting the final stages of his people's rejection. The context shows Noah's lengthy struggle with his community; after centuries of calling them to monotheism with patience and wisdom, they resort to mocking demands, which precipitated Allah's final decision to send the Flood.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said regarding Noah: 'The most tested of people are the Prophets, then those nearest to them in righteousness' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the Quran itself mentions Noah's people's mockery in 21:40, showing the recurring pattern of rejecting messengers.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that demanding proof on our own terms rather than accepting guidance with humility is a sign of spiritual arrogance, and that those who persistently reject truth despite clear signs ultimately hasten their own destruction. For believers, it exemplifies the patience required when conveying truth in the face of mockery and disbelief.
Related Ayahs
فَلَمَّا رَءَآ أَيْدِيَهُمْ لَا تَصِلُ إِلَيْهِ نَكِرَهُمْ وَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً ۚ قَالُوا۟ لَا تَخَفْ إِنَّآ أُرْسِلْنَآ إِلَىٰ قَوْمِ لُوطٍ
But when he saw their hands not reaching for it, he distrusted them and felt from them apprehension. They said, "Fear not. We have been sent to the people of Lot."
وَٱمْرَأَتُهُۥ قَآئِمَةٌ فَضَحِكَتْ فَبَشَّرْنَـٰهَا بِإِسْحَـٰقَ وَمِن وَرَآءِ إِسْحَـٰقَ يَعْقُوبَ
And his wife was standing, and she smiled. Then We gave her good tidings of Isaac and after Isaac, Jacob.
وَلَآ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِندِى خَزَآئِنُ ٱللَّهِ وَلَآ أَعْلَمُ ٱلْغَيْبَ وَلَآ أَقُولُ إِنِّى مَلَكٌ وَلَآ أَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ تَزْدَرِىٓ أَعْيُنُكُمْ لَن يُؤْتِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ خَيْرًا ۖ ٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ إِنِّىٓ إِذًا لَّمِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And I do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of Allāh or that I know the unseen, nor do I tell you that I am an angel, nor do I say of those upon whom your eyes look down that Allāh will never grant them any good. Allāh is most knowing of what is within their souls. Indeed, I would then be among the wrongdoers [i.e., the unjust]."
إِنَّ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ لَحَلِيمٌ أَوَّٰهٌ مُّنِيبٌ
Indeed, Abraham was forbearing, grieving and [frequently] returning [to Allāh].