Surah Nuh (نوح) is a Meccan surah of the Quran with 28 verses. Read, listen and memorize this surah with our interactive tools.
Updated on 07 March 2026 at 4:16 PM
📖 2 min readFrom their Lord, for I am not ashamed of Him, nor do I disdain Him. {To them}, meaning He has specified them for this, for no one else has a share in it. I repeated this to them after the obligation had been lifted from me, and I chose to do it openly because it is closer to being free from blame. However, secrecy is more deserving of being aware of inner thoughts and is closer to gentle persuasion. I followed it up by saying: {And I whispered to them}, meaning I called each one of them privately so that I might be more persuasive and more deserving of their acceptance of the advice, and to show my sincerity. All of this I did only for their sake, and not for any personal gain. Since it is very difficult for a person to be alone with no one else present and not be distracted by anything, and thus it is hard for them to be truthful, He said: {In secret}, to emphasize what He had previously mentioned about actions. Apparently, from his situation and this sequence, which he explicitly mentioned as a form of striving, he acted in accordance with wisdom. He first called those closest to him and with whom he had the strongest bond, then moved on to others, until all of them were included in the call. This call was private, with each one of them individually, so they would know of his sincerity and not think that he was trying to deceive or rebuke them. He did it openly so they would know that he is a refuge from God.
The term {ويخرجكم} means to bring you out of it again, and the emphasis through the use of the verbal noun indicates the intensity of care and the inevitability of its occurrence, despite their denial of it. So say: {إخراجاً}, meaning in a strange and unfamiliar manner, not as you know it, but you will be in the utmost state of the enduring life, where your spirits will be clothed in your bodies in a way that will not be separated from each other afterwards. Since what grows from something does not have control over that thing, this indicates the perfection of His power in breaking this habit for them as a favor, so He says, showing the noble name one time after another, to magnify the signs, so that the power is not limited to what is associated with the name. This is to point to the lower world after guidance to the higher world, and the end of the lower world, because His signs are apparent, yet hidden due to their frequent familiarity: {والله}, the One who encompasses all majesty and honor, {جعل لكم}, a blessing upon you, being concerned with your affairs, {الأرض بساطاً}, meaning, made the earth a carpet for you, easy to move around on and walk upon, like the ease of moving on a carpet. Then, He explains this, saying: {لتسلكوا}, meaning, to walk, guided, {منها}, from the earth, repeatedly, {سبلاً}, meaning, clear paths, frequently traveled, {فجاجاً}, meaning, wide and spacious.
And since the multitude of leaders was another strength added to their worldly possessions, and the decree was that they were commanded to have faith but they refused, and they were commanded to disbelieve and they submitted to them. He then turned to them, making it clear that they were numerous, using the plural pronoun referring back to 'those who' and connecting it to 'did not increase', a singular pronoun, to gather the meaning and make the statement comprehensive, thus making it the clearest thing about the intended meaning. So He said: {And they schemed}, meaning these leaders in turning people away from Me. And He emphasized the action with the verbal noun, indicating its strength, so He said: {a scheme}, and further emphasized it with an expression that is the ultimate in exaggeration, saying: {mighty}. For it is more expressive than 'kabbara' (the weakened form), which is more expressive than 'kabir' (great). And they did not leave anyone among them who would follow Me by means of that scheme. {And they said}, meaning they said to themselves in the depths of their scheme, which they had devised. And since the supplication of the Messengers, may peace be upon them, was worthy of acceptance
And by Your mercy. And when he demonstrated the greatness of God, the Exalted, through his humility, he prioritized those being addressed, saying: {And my parents}, who were believers, and they were Lemek bin Metushelakh and Shamkhaa bint Anush. Abu Hayyan said: Ibn Abbas, may God be pleased with them, said: Noah, peace be upon him, did not have an unbelieving father between him and Adam, peace be upon them. And he repeated the neighbor, showing concern, saying: {And for those who enter my home} because the one who is deprived of humanity has a confirmed right, especially if he is sincere in his love. Therefore, he said: {A believer}. And when he specified his uncle and repeated the neighbor again, showing concern, he said: {And for the believing men and believing women}, meaning those who are deeply rooted in this description in every nation until the end of time, and nothing will increase them in any situation except in superiority. And since the estimation is according to what is indicated by the intertwining: and do not honor the rebellious, he followed it up with his statement: {And do not increase the wrongdoers} meaning those who are deeply rooted in wrongdoing in any situation {except in destruction}, meaning destruction, corruption, and annihilation that destroys their images, cuts off their progeny, and informs their dwellings. Just as God, the Exalted, responded to him regarding the people of faith and disbelief from the people of that time, so too will He respond to him regarding the people of faith and the people of loss with happiness and destruction in all ages.
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إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦٓ أَنْ أَنذِرْ قَوْمَكَ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۭ ﴿١﴾
Indeed, We sent Noah to his people, [saying], "Warn your people before there comes to them a painful punishment."
قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ إِنِّى لَكُمْ نَذِيرٌۭ مُّبِينٌ ﴿٢﴾
He said, "O my people, indeed I am to you a clear warner,
أَنِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱتَّقُوهُ وَأَطِيعُونِ ﴿٣﴾
[Saying], 'Worship Allah, fear Him and obey me.
يَغْفِرْ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرْكُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍۢ مُّسَمًّى ۚ إِنَّ أَجَلَ ٱللَّهِ إِذَا جَآءَ لَا يُؤَخَّرُ ۖ لَوْ كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٤﴾
Allah will forgive you of your sins and delay you for a specified term. Indeed, the time [set by] Allah, when it comes, will not be delayed, if you only knew.' "
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى دَعَوْتُ قَوْمِى لَيْلًۭا وَنَهَارًۭا ﴿٥﴾
He said, "My Lord, indeed I invited my people [to truth] night and day.
فَلَمْ يَزِدْهُمْ دُعَآءِىٓ إِلَّا فِرَارًۭا ﴿٦﴾
But my invitation increased them not except in flight.
وَإِنِّى كُلَّمَا دَعَوْتُهُمْ لِتَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ جَعَلُوٓا۟ أَصَـٰبِعَهُمْ فِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَٱسْتَغْشَوْا۟ ثِيَابَهُمْ وَأَصَرُّوا۟ وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ ٱسْتِكْبَارًۭا ﴿٧﴾
And indeed, every time I invited them that You may forgive them, they put their fingers in their ears, covered themselves with their garments, persisted, and were arrogant with [great] arrogance.
ثُمَّ إِنِّى دَعَوْتُهُمْ جِهَارًۭا ﴿٨﴾
Then I invited them publicly.
ثُمَّ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَنتُ لَهُمْ وَأَسْرَرْتُ لَهُمْ إِسْرَارًۭا ﴿٩﴾
Then I announced to them and [also] confided to them secretly
فَقُلْتُ ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ غَفَّارًۭا ﴿١٠﴾
And said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver.
يُرْسِلِ ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًۭا ﴿١١﴾
He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers
وَيُمْدِدْكُم بِأَمْوَٰلٍۢ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍۢ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ أَنْهَـٰرًۭا ﴿١٢﴾
And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers.
مَّا لَكُمْ لَا تَرْجُونَ لِلَّهِ وَقَارًۭا ﴿١٣﴾
What is [the matter] with you that you do not attribute to Allah [due] grandeur
وَقَدْ خَلَقَكُمْ أَطْوَارًا ﴿١٤﴾
While He has created you in stages?
أَلَمْ تَرَوْا۟ كَيْفَ خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ سَبْعَ سَمَـٰوَٰتٍۢ طِبَاقًۭا ﴿١٥﴾
Do you not consider how Allah has created seven heavens in layers
وَجَعَلَ ٱلْقَمَرَ فِيهِنَّ نُورًۭا وَجَعَلَ ٱلشَّمْسَ سِرَاجًۭا ﴿١٦﴾
And made the moon therein a [reflected] light and made the sun a burning lamp?
وَٱللَّهُ أَنۢبَتَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ نَبَاتًۭا ﴿١٧﴾
And Allah has caused you to grow from the earth a [progressive] growth.
ثُمَّ يُعِيدُكُمْ فِيهَا وَيُخْرِجُكُمْ إِخْرَاجًۭا ﴿١٨﴾
Then He will return you into it and extract you [another] extraction.
وَٱللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ بِسَاطًۭا ﴿١٩﴾
And Allah has made for you the earth an expanse
لِّتَسْلُكُوا۟ مِنْهَا سُبُلًۭا فِجَاجًۭا ﴿٢٠﴾
That you may follow therein roads of passage.' "
قَالَ نُوحٌۭ رَّبِّ إِنَّهُمْ عَصَوْنِى وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ مَن لَّمْ يَزِدْهُ مَالُهُۥ وَوَلَدُهُۥٓ إِلَّا خَسَارًۭا ﴿٢١﴾
Noah said, "My Lord, indeed they have disobeyed me and followed him whose wealth and children will not increase him except in loss.
وَمَكَرُوا۟ مَكْرًۭا كُبَّارًۭا ﴿٢٢﴾
And they conspired an immense conspiracy.
وَقَالُوا۟ لَا تَذَرُنَّ ءَالِهَتَكُمْ وَلَا تَذَرُنَّ وَدًّۭا وَلَا سُوَاعًۭا وَلَا يَغُوثَ وَيَعُوقَ وَنَسْرًۭا ﴿٢٣﴾
And said, 'Never leave your gods and never leave Wadd or Suwa' or Yaghuth and Ya'uq and Nasr.
وَقَدْ أَضَلُّوا۟ كَثِيرًۭا ۖ وَلَا تَزِدِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا ضَلَـٰلًۭا ﴿٢٤﴾
And already they have misled many. And, [my Lord], do not increase the wrongdoers except in error."
مِّمَّا خَطِيٓـَٔـٰتِهِمْ أُغْرِقُوا۟ فَأُدْخِلُوا۟ نَارًۭا فَلَمْ يَجِدُوا۟ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَنصَارًۭا ﴿٢٥﴾
Because of their sins they were drowned and put into the Fire, and they found not for themselves besides Allah [any] helpers.
وَقَالَ نُوحٌۭ رَّبِّ لَا تَذَرْ عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ دَيَّارًا ﴿٢٦﴾
And Noah said, "My Lord, do not leave upon the earth from among the disbelievers an inhabitant.
إِنَّكَ إِن تَذَرْهُمْ يُضِلُّوا۟ عِبَادَكَ وَلَا يَلِدُوٓا۟ إِلَّا فَاجِرًۭا كَفَّارًۭا ﴿٢٧﴾
Indeed, if You leave them, they will mislead Your servants and not beget except [every] wicked one and [confirmed] disbeliever.
رَّبِّ ٱغْفِرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَىَّ وَلِمَن دَخَلَ بَيْتِىَ مُؤْمِنًۭا وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ وَلَا تَزِدِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا تَبَارًۢا ﴿٢٨﴾
My Lord, forgive me and my parents and whoever enters my house a believer and the believing men and believing women. And do not increase the wrongdoers except in destruction."