10. Surah Yunus
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَاتْلُ
عَلَيْهِمْ
نَبَأَ نُوحٍ ...
10: 71. Relate to them the story of Noah.
C1456. The reference to Noah's story here is only incidental, to illustrate a special point. The fuller story will be found in 11:25-48, and in many other passages,
e.g., 7:59-64, 23:23-32, 26:105-122, and 37:75-82.
At each place there is a special point in the context.
The special point here is that Noah's very life and preaching among his wicked people was a cause of offence to them. But he feared nothing, trusted in Allah, delivered his message, and was saved from the Flood.
... إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ...
Behold! he said to his People:
...يَا قَوْمِ إِن كَانَ كَبُرَ عَلَيْكُم مَّقَامِي وَتَذْكِيرِي بِآيَاتِ اللّهِ فَعَلَى اللّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ...
"O my People! if it be hard on your (mind) that I should stay (with you) and commemorate the Signs of Allah -- yet I put my trust in Allah.
...فَأَجْمِعُواْ أَمْرَكُمْ وَشُرَكَاءكُمْ...
Get ye then an agreement about your plan and among your Partners,
...ثُمَّ لاَ يَكُنْ أَمْرُكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ غُمَّةً...
so your plan be not to you dark and dubious.
C1457. Firm in his sense of Truth from Allah. Noah plainly told his people to condemn him to death if they liked, openly and in concert, so that he should at least know who would listen to his Message and who would not. He wanted them to be frank and direct, for he feared nothing.
...ثُمَّ اقْضُواْ إِلَيَّ وَلاَ تُنظِرُونِ ﴿٧١﴾
Then pass your sentence on me, and give me no respite.
فَإِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ
فَمَا سَأَلْتُكُم
مِّنْ أَجْرٍ ...
10: 72. "But if ye turn back, (consider): no reward have I asked of you:
C1458. The Prophet of Allah preaches for the good of his people. But he claims no reward from them, but on the contrary is reviled, persecuted, banished, and often slain.
... إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلاَّ عَلَى اللّهِ...
my reward is only due from Allah,
...وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ﴿٧٢﴾
and I have been commanded to be of those who submit to Allah's Will (in Islam)."
10: 73. They rejected him,
...فَنَجَّيْنَاهُ وَمَن مَّعَهُ فِي الْفُلْكِ وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ خَلاَئِفَ...
but We delivered him, and those with him, in the Ark, and We made them inherit (the earth),
...وَأَغْرَقْنَا الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِآيَاتِنَا...
while We overwhelmed in the Flood those who rejected Our Signs.
C1459. Cf. 7:64.
...فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُنذَرِينَ ﴿٧٣﴾
Then see what was the end of those who were warned (but heeded not)!
10: 71
Asad …….”O my people ! If my presence and my announcement of God’s messages are repugnant to you – well, in God have I placed my trust. Decide, then, upon what you are going to do, and those beings to whom you ascribe a share in God’s divinity; and once you have chosen your course of action, let no hesitation deflect you from it………”
Pickthall Recite unto them the story of Noah, when he told his people: O my people! If my sojourn (here) and my reminding you by Allah's revelations are an offence unto you, in Allah have I put my trust, so decide upon your course of action, you and your partners. Let not your course of action be in doubt, for you. Then have at me, give me no respite.
Yuksel Recite for them the news of Noah as he said to his people: "My people, if my position has become too troublesome for you, and my reminding you of God's signs, then in God I place my trust. So, gather your action and your partners together, then make certain your action does not cause you regret, then come to judge me, and do not hold back."
Transliteration Watlu 'alaihim naba'a nu_h(in), iz qa_la li qaumihi ya_ qaumi in ka_na kabura 'alaikum maqa_mi wa tazkiri bi a_ya_tilla_h fa 'alalla_hi tawakkaltu fa ajmi'u_ amrakum wa syuraka_'akum summa la_ yakun amrukum 'alaikum gummatan summa-qdu_ ilayya wa la_ tunziru_n(a).
[[ Ruby’s note 10:71 – This particular expression shows Noah’s trust in God and firmness in his pursuit. Noah challenged his wicked people to inflict him with the severest penalty and see if he changes a bit by that. That in itself is the proof of the prophet-hood. If he was an imposter he would have asked something from the society and his fellows. Here Noah is establishing the fact that he does not ask anything in return from his society. On top he would bear the severe consequence of bringing the Message himself and he was willing to do so without a flinch. This fearlessness and assertiveness of a human being -- in going against the entire society and perhaps against most of his people around him and as a result giving up what a life needs and aspires -- is the proof that one is guided by Divine Will and for a higher purpose. Any other type of activists would ask something from his/her society and life and would make some compromise even with good and understandable justification and motive. A person of God on the other hand makes no such compromises and willingly accepts the consequence even death in establishing fundamental truth. The differences between these two groups and their mindsets are different and distinct. ]]
10: 72
Pickthall But if ye are averse I have asked of you no wage. My wage is the concern of Allah only, and I am commanded to be of those who surrender (unto Him).
Yuksel "But if you turn away, then I have not asked you for any reward, for my reward is with God. I have been commanded to be of those who have peacefully surrendered."
Transliteration Fa in tawallaitum fama_ sa'altukum min ajr(in), in ajriya illa_ 'alalla_h(i), wa umirtu an aku_na minal muslimin(a).
10: 73
Asad ………….and made them inherit [the earth]
Pickthall But they denied him, so We saved him and those with him in the ship, and made them viceroys (in the earth), while We drowned those who denied Our revelations. See then the nature of the consequence for those who had been warned.
Yuksel They denied him, so We saved him and those with him in the Ship, and We made them to succeed each other, and We drowned those who denied Our signs. So see how the punishment of those who were warned was!
Transliteration Fa kazzabu_hu fa najjaina_hu wa mam ma'ahu_ fil fulki wa ja'alna_hum khlala_'ifa wa agraqnal lazina kazzabu_ bi a_ya_tina_, fanzur kaifa ka_na 'a_qibatul munzarin(a).
[[ Ali’s notes - 1456 The reference to Noah's story here is only incidental, to illustrate a special point. The fuller story will be found in xi. 25-48, and in many other passages, e.g., vii. 59-64, xxiii 23-32, xxvi, 105-122, and xxxvii, 75-82. At each place there is a special point in the context. The special point here is that Noah's very life and preaching among his wicked people was a cause of offence to them. But he feared nothing, trusted in Allah, delivered his message, and was saved from the Flood. (10.71)
1457 Firm in his sense of Truth from Allah. Noah plainly told his people to condemn him to death if they liked, openly and in concert, so that he should at least know who would listen to his Message and who would not. He wanted them to be frank and direct, for he feared nothing. (10.71)
1458 The Prophet of Allah preaches for the good of his people. But he claims no reward from them, but on the contrary is reviled, persecuted, banished, and often slain. (10.72)
1459 Cf. vii. 64. (10.73) ]]