RENAISSANCE DECEMBER 2021

Qur’ ā nic Exegesis 6 Monthly Renaissance December 2021 me. And I do not ask you for any recompense on this. My recompense rests with the Lord of the worlds. Hence, fear God and obey me.” They replied: “Should we believe in you even though the lowly have followed you.” Noah replied: “What do I know of what they have been doing? Their account rests with my Lord if you want to understand! And I am not going to forsake the believers. I am only an open warner.” (105-115) They said: “Noah! If you do not desist, you will surely be stoned to death.” (116) He prayed: “Lord! My nation has rejected me; so, now deliver a clear judgement between me and them, and deliver me and the believers who are with me.” Thus, We saved him and his companions in a laden ship. Then after this, We drowned the rest. (117-120) Indeed, there is a great sign in this; and most among them are not going to believe. And your Lord, indeed, is Mighty and Merciful. (121-122) Explanation ۡ ﻛﺬﺑﺖ ﻗﻮۡم ﴿ ۡ ﻧﻮۡح ﻟۡﻤﺮۡﺳﻠ ١٠٥﴾ 1 The people of Noah (sws) had only denied one messenger: Noah (sws). However, the plural “messengers” is used. It has been explained at another instance that the real basis of acceptance or rejection is the mentality of people. All messengers presented the same message to their people as the one Noah presented (sws). Thus if they rejected Noah’s message, it was as if they rejected the message of every messenger. It is evident from this that just as the message of every messenger remained the same, the mentality of those who denied them also remained the same. And then all met the same fate as well. Abraham’s anecdote has been mentioned here to point to this fact so that those were rejecting Prophet Mu ḥ ammad (sws) should learn a lesson from it. ذۡ ﻗﺎلﻟﻬﻢۡ ﺧﻮۡﻫﻢۡ ﻧﻮۡحٌ ﻵﻹﺗﺘﻘﻮۡن﴿ ١٠٦ ۚ﴾ ۡ 01 ﻟﻜﻢۡ ٌۡ رﺳﻮۡلٌ ﻣ ﴿ ١٠٧ ۙ﴾ 2 The expression “Do you people not have fear?” carries an element of warning in it. The mention of Noah (sws) as a trusted 1. The nation of Noah also similarly denied the messengers. 2. When their brother Noah informed them: “Do you people not have fear? I am for you a trusted messenger.”