وَقَدْ أَضَلُّوا۟ كَثِيرًا ۖ وَلَا تَزِدِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا ضَلَـٰلًا 24
Translations
And already they have misled many. And, [my Lord], do not increase the wrongdoers except in error."
Transliteration
Wa qad adallu kathiran wa la tazidi az-zalimina illa dalalan
Tafsir (Explanation)
In this ayah, Prophet Noah supplicates to Allah against those who rejected his message, acknowledging that they have led many people astray and asking Allah not to increase the wrongdoers except in misguidance. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this represents Noah's urgent plea to Allah after centuries of preaching without success, seeking divine justice against those whose obstinacy and arrogance caused others to reject the truth. The phrase 'do not increase the wrongdoers except in misguidance' reflects a profound understanding that those who persistently reject guidance often become more entrenched in their error, and Noah is asking Allah to let this natural consequence of their rejection be their punishment.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs near the end of Surah Nuh, within Noah's recorded supplication to Allah (verses 26-28) after he spent 950 years calling his people to monotheism with minimal response. The broader context of the surah presents Noah's patient preaching and his people's arrogant rejection, setting the stage for his final, emotional appeal to the Almighty for justice and divine intervention.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari reports that the Prophet Muhammad said, 'The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth; some of which was fertile soil that absorbed rain water and brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance; and some tracts were hard and rejected the water' - illustrating how the same message affects people differently based on their receptiveness, similar to Noah's experience.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that persistence in truth-calling is valuable even when results are limited, and that ultimate judgment and justice belong to Allah alone; it also warns against the spiritual danger of prolonged rejection of guidance, which hardens the heart and deepens misguidance.
Related Ayahs
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِۦ ثُمَّ أَعْرَضَ عَنْهَآ ۚ إِنَّا مِنَ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ مُنتَقِمُونَ
And who is more unjust than one who is reminded of the verses of his Lord; then he turns away from them? Indeed We, from the criminals, will take retribution.
وَيَوْمَ يُعْرَضُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ أَلَيْسَ هَـٰذَا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّنَا ۚ قَالَ فَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ
And the Day those who disbelieved are exposed to the Fire [it will be said], "Is this not the truth?" They will say, "Yes, by our Lord." He will say, "Then taste the punishment for what you used to deny."
وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ نَاكِسُوا۟ رُءُوسِهِمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ رَبَّنَآ أَبْصَرْنَا وَسَمِعْنَا فَٱرْجِعْنَا نَعْمَلْ صَـٰلِحًا إِنَّا مُوقِنُونَ
If you could but see when the criminals are hanging their heads before their Lord, [saying], "Our Lord, we have seen and heard, so return us [to the world]; we will work righteousness. Indeed, we are [now] certain."
بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ
Rather, we have been deprived."