وَمَكَرُوا۟ مَكْرًا كُبَّارًا 22
Translations
And they conspired an immense conspiracy
Transliteration
Wa-makaroo makran kubbara
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers plotted against Prophet Nuh with a great and comprehensive scheme, attempting to discredit him and prevent people from following his message. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers to their mockery, ridicule, and organized opposition to Noah's preaching over his 950 years of da'wah. Their 'great plot' ultimately proved futile against Allah's will, as only the believers were saved in the Ark.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Nuh's narrative of Prophet Noah's struggle against his people's disbelief. It contextualizes the severe resistance and coordinated efforts by the Meccan polytheists (and by extension, all who reject divine messengers) to suppress the truth. The surah was revealed in Mecca during a period of intense opposition to Prophet Muhammad, drawing parallels to Noah's experience.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3344) mentions that the people of Nuh said to him: 'You have not brought us except confusion,' reflecting their coordinated rejection. Additionally, Surah Nuh 71:7 states they 'plotted a plot' - Al-Tirmidhi includes traditions about how disbelievers continuously conspired against the prophets.
Themes
Key Lesson
No matter how elaborate the schemes of those who reject divine guidance may appear, they are ultimately powerless against Allah's plan; believers should remain steadfast in faith despite opposition and ridicule from society.
Related Ayahs
كَذَّبَتْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ
The people of Noah denied the messengers
وَلَقَدْ جَآءَكُمْ يُوسُفُ مِن قَبْلُ بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ فَمَا زِلْتُمْ فِى شَكٍّ مِّمَّا جَآءَكُم بِهِۦ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا هَلَكَ قُلْتُمْ لَن يَبْعَثَ ٱللَّهُ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ رَسُولًا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ مَنْ هُوَ مُسْرِفٌ مُّرْتَابٌ
And Joseph had already come to you before with clear proofs, but you remained in doubt of that which he brought to you, until when he died, you said, 'Never will Allāh send a messenger after him.' Thus does Allāh leave astray he who is a transgressor and skeptic."
ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَهِدَ إِلَيْنَآ أَلَّا نُؤْمِنَ لِرَسُولٍ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَنَا بِقُرْبَانٍ تَأْكُلُهُ ٱلنَّارُ ۗ قُلْ قَدْ جَآءَكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّن قَبْلِى بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَبِٱلَّذِى قُلْتُمْ فَلِمَ قَتَلْتُمُوهُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ
[They are] those who said, "Indeed, Allāh has taken our promise not to believe any messenger until he brings us an offering which fire [from heaven] will consume." Say, "There have already come to you messengers before me with clear proofs and [even] that of which you speak. So why did you kill them, if you should be truthful?"
قَالُوا۟ تَقَاسَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ لَنُبَيِّتَنَّهُۥ وَأَهْلَهُۥ ثُمَّ لَنَقُولَنَّ لِوَلِيِّهِۦ مَا شَهِدْنَا مَهْلِكَ أَهْلِهِۦ وَإِنَّا لَصَـٰدِقُونَ
They said, "Take a mutual oath by Allāh that we will kill him by night, he and his family. Then we will say to his executor, 'We did not witness the destruction of his family, and indeed, we are truthful.'"