concept

Ark of Noah

سَفِينَةُ نُوح

The Ark of Noah (سَفِينَةُ نُوح) stands as a profound symbol in Islamic tradition, representing divine mercy, steadfast faith, and ultimate salvation. This colossal vessel was built by Prophet Nuh (Noah) under direct command from Allah, a testament to his unwavering obedience in the face of widespread disbelief and ridicule from his people. Allah instructed Nuh to [construct the ship under Our observation and Our inspiration] as a means to escape an impending, devastating flood that would cleanse the earth of its wrongdoing. Despite the mockery, Nuh diligently completed the Ark. When Allah's command for the flood arrived, Nuh was instructed to [load upon the ship of each [creature] two mates and your family, except those about whom the word has preceded, and [include] whoever has believed]. As the waters rose, Nuh called upon those embarking to do so [in the name of Allah is its course and its anchorage], trusting completely in God's protection. The Ark became a sanctuary, carrying Nuh, his family, and a small number of believers, along with pairs of animals, to safety. After the flood subsided, the Ark came to rest upon [the [mountain of] Judiyy], marking a new beginning for humanity. This narrative teaches us about the consequences of rejecting divine guidance and the immense reward for patience and trust in Allah's plan.

Quran 8 verses

وَٱصْنَعِ ٱلْفُلْكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَوَحْيِنَا وَلَا تُخَٰطِبْنِى فِى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ إِنَّهُم مُّغْرَقُونَ

Wasna'il fulka bi-a'yuninaa wa wahyinaa wa laa tukhaa tibnee fil lazeena zalamoo; innahum mughraqoon

And construct the ship under Our observation and Our inspiration and do not address Me concerning those who have wronged; indeed, they are [to be] drowned."

اور ایک کشتی ہمارے حکم سے ہمارے روبرو بناؤ۔ اور جو لوگ ظالم ہیں ان کے بارے میں ہم سے کچھ نہ کہنا کیونکہ وہ ضرور غرق کردیئے جائیں گے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Boat-Making: The Education of a Prophet ﷺ When Sayyidna Nuh (علیہ السلام) was commanded to make an ark, he knew no ark, nor its making. Therefore, in the next verse (37), he got his first lesson. To orient him to the reality of boat making, it was said: وَاصْنَعِ الْفُلْكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَوَحْيِنَا ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Build the Ark the ship under Our eyes under Our watch and protection and by Our inspiration by Our command and do not address Me concerning those who have done evil those who have disbelieved by asking that I should refrain from destroying them; lo! they shall be drowned’.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Revelation to Nuh concerning what would happen to the People and the Command to prepare for It Allah, the Exalted, sent revelation to Nuh when his people hastened the vengeance and punishment of Allah upon themselves. Then, Nuh supplicated against them, as Allah mentioned, when He said; رَّبِّ ل...

وَيَصْنَعُ ٱلْفُلْكَ وَكُلَّمَا مَرَّ عَلَيْهِ مَلَأٌ مِّن قَوْمِهِۦ سَخِرُوا۟ مِنْهُ قَالَ إِن تَسْخَرُوا۟ مِنَّا فَإِنَّا نَسْخَرُ مِنكُمْ كَمَا تَسْخَرُونَ

Wa yasn'ul fulka wa kullamaa marra 'alaihi malaum min qawmihee sakhiroo minh; qaala in taskharoo minnaa fa innaa naskharu minkum kamaa taskharoon

And he constructed the ship, and whenever an assembly of the eminent of his people passed by him, they ridiculed him. He said, "If you ridicule us, then we will ridicule you just as you ridicule.

تو نوح نے کشتی بنانی شروع کردی۔ اور جب ان کی قوم کے سردار ان کے پاس سے گزرتے تو ان سے تمسخر کرتے۔ وہ کہتے کہ اگر تم ہم سے تمسخر کرتے ہو تو جس طرح تم ہم سے تمسخر کرتے ہو اس طرح (ایک وقت) ہم بھی تم سے تمسخر کریں گے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In the third verse (38), mentioned there is the total lack of concern for their sad end shown by the people of Sayyidna Nuh (علیہ السلام) during the period he was making the ark. When the chieftains of his people saw him busy with his project under a Divine command, they would ask him, ` what are yo...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And he was building the Ark yasna‘ is narrating a past state in the present tense and whenever a council a group of his people passed him they scoffed at him mocked him. He said ‘Though you scoff at us yet we scoff at you even as you scoff when we are saved while you drown;
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Revelation to Nuh concerning what would happen to the People and the Command to prepare for It Allah, the Exalted, sent revelation to Nuh when his people hastened the vengeance and punishment of Allah upon themselves. Then, Nuh supplicated against them, as Allah mentioned, when He said; رَّبِّ ل...

حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا وَفَارَ ٱلتَّنُّورُ قُلْنَا ٱحْمِلْ فِيهَا مِن كُلٍّ زَوْجَيْنِ ٱثْنَيْنِ وَأَهْلَكَ إِلَّا مَن سَبَقَ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْقَوْلُ وَمَنْ ءَامَنَ وَمَآ ءَامَنَ مَعَهُۥٓ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ

Hattaaa izaa jaaa'a amrunaa wa faarat tannooru qulnah mil feehaa min kullin zawjainis naini wa ahlaka illaa man sabaqa 'alaihil qawlu wa man aaman; wa maaa aamana ma'ahooo illaa qaleel

[So it was], until when Our command came and the oven overflowed, We said, "Load upon the ship of each [creature] two mates and your family, except those about whom the word has preceded, and [include] whoever has believed." But none had believed with him, except a few.

یہاں تک کہ جب ہمارا حکم آپہنچا اور تنور جوش مارنے لگا تو ہم نے نوح کو حکم دیا کہ ہر قسم (کے جانداروں) میں سے جوڑا جوڑا (یعنی) دو (دو جانور۔ ایک ایک نر اور ایک ایک مادہ) لے لو اور جس شخص کی نسبت حکم ہوچکا ہے (کہ ہلاک ہوجائے گا) اس کو چھوڑ کر اپنے گھر والوں کو جو ایمان لایا ہو اس کو کشتی میں سوار کر لو اور ان کے ساتھ ایمان بہت ہی کم لوگ لائے تھے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: From the fifth verse (40) begins the description of the coming of the flood, related instructions and events as they unfolded. So, first it was said: حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَ أَمْرُ‌نَا وَفَارَ‌ التَّنُّورُ‌ (At last, when Our command came and the oven overflowed). The word: (tannur: تَّنُّور oven) is us...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Such that when hattā represents the objective for the action of ‘building’ Our command came for their destruction and the baker’s oven gushed forth with water — this was the sign for Noah — We said ‘Load therein in the ship of every kind of every male and female that is of every species of these two...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The beginning of the Flood and Nuh loads Every Creature in Pairs upon the Ship This was the promise of Allah to Nuh , when the command of Allah came, the rain was continuous and there was a severe storm which did not slacken or subside, as Allah said, فَفَتَحْنَآ أَبْوَبَ السَّمَآءِ بِمَاءٍ مُّنْهَم...

وَقَالَ ٱرْكَبُوا۟ فِيهَا بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ مَجْر۪ىٰهَا وَمُرْسَىٰهَآ إِنَّ رَبِّى لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Wa qaalar kaboo feehaa bismil laahi majraihaa wa mursaahaa; inna Rabbee la Ghafoorur Raheem

And [Noah] said, "Embark therein; in the name of Allah is its course and its anchorage. Indeed, my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful."

(نوح نے) کہا کہ خدا کا نام لے کر (کہ اسی کے ہاتھ میں اس کا) چلنا اور ٹھہرنا (ہے) اس میں سوار ہوجاؤ۔ بےشک میرا پروردگار بخشنے والا مہربان ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary Etiquette of boarding boats and other modes of conveyance The first verse (41) teaches the etiquette of boarding boats and other modes of conveyance. One should board by saying: بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ مَجْرَ‌اهَا وَمُرْ‌سَاهَا (With the name of Allah it sails and anchors). The word: مجرے (majra ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And he Noah said ‘Embark therein! In the Name of God be its course and its mooring read majrāhā and marsāhā or mujrāhā and mursāhā both being verbal nouns meaning the length of its course and where it docks in other words the entire journey. Truly my Lord is Forgiving Merciful’ for He did not destro...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The beginning of the Flood and Nuh loads Every Creature in Pairs upon the Ship This was the promise of Allah to Nuh , when the command of Allah came, the rain was continuous and there was a severe storm which did not slacken or subside, as Allah said, فَفَتَحْنَآ أَبْوَبَ السَّمَآءِ بِمَاءٍ مُّنْهَم...

وَقِيلَ يَٰٓأَرْضُ ٱبْلَعِى مَآءَكِ وَيَٰسَمَآءُ أَقْلِعِى وَغِيضَ ٱلْمَآءُ وَقُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ وَٱسْتَوَتْ عَلَى ٱلْجُودِىِّ وَقِيلَ بُعْدًا لِّلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

Wa qeela yaaa ardubla'ee maaa'aki wa yaa samaaa'u aqi'ee wa gheedal maaa'u wa qudiyal amru wastawat 'alal joodiyyi wa qeela bu'dal lilqawmiz zaalimeen

And it was said, "O earth, swallow your water, and O sky, withhold [your rain]." And the water subsided, and the matter was accomplished, and the ship came to rest on the [mountain of] Judiyy. And it was said, "Away with the wrongdoing people."

اور حکم دیا گیا کہ اے زمین اپنا پانی نگل جا اور اے آسمان تھم جا۔ تو پانی خشک ہوگیا اور کام تمام کردیا گیا اور کشی کوہ جودی پر جا ٹھہری۔ اور کہہ دیا گیا کہ بےانصاف لوگوں پر لعنت

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: At the end of the fourth verse (44), it was said that the heaven and the earth obeyed the orders and the matter of the flood was all over. The Ark of Sayyidna Nuh (علیہ السلام) came to rest on the Mount Judiyy and it was declared that the unjust people have been cast far ` away from the mercy of All...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And it was said ‘O earth swallow your waters that have sprung forth from you — and it reabsorbed it all except for what came down from the sky and formed rivers and seas — and O heaven abate!’ withhold the rain and it did. And the waters subsided decreased. And the affair was accomplished the matter...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The End of the Flood Allah, the Exalted, informs that when the people of the earth were all drowned, except for the people on the ship, He commanded the earth to swallow its water, which had sprang from it and gathered upon it. Then He commanded the sky to cease raining. وَغِيضَ الْمَآءُ (And the wa...

فَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْهِ أَنِ ٱصْنَعِ ٱلْفُلْكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَوَحْيِنَا فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا وَفَارَ ٱلتَّنُّورُ فَٱسْلُكْ فِيهَا مِن كُلٍّ زَوْجَيْنِ ٱثْنَيْنِ وَأَهْلَكَ إِلَّا مَن سَبَقَ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْقَوْلُ مِنْهُمْ وَلَا تُخَٰطِبْنِى فِى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ إِنَّهُم مُّغْرَقُونَ

Fa awhainaaa ilaihi anis na'il fulka bi a'yuninaa wa wahyinaa fa izaa jaaa'a amrunaa wa faarat tannooru fasluk feehaa min kullin zawjainis naini wa ahlaka illaa man sabaqa 'alaihil qawlu minhum wa laa tukhaat ibnee fil lazeena zalamooo innaahum mughraqoon

So We inspired to him, "Construct the ship under Our observation, and Our inspiration, and when Our command comes and the oven overflows, put into the ship from each [creature] two mates and your family, except those for whom the decree [of destruction] has proceeded. And do not address Me concerning those who have wronged; indeed, they are to be drowned.

پس ہم نے ان کی طرف وحی بھیجی کہ ہمارے سامنے اور ہمارے حکم سے ایک کشتی بناؤ۔ پھر جب ہمارا حکم آ پہنچے اور تنور (پانی سے بھر کر) جوش مارنے لگے تو سب (قسم کے حیوانات) میں جوڑا جوڑا (یعنی نر اور مادہ) دو دو کشتی میں بٹھا دو اور اپنے گھر والوں کو بھی، سو ان کے جن کی نسبت ان میں سے (ہلاک ہونے کا) حکم پہلے صادر ہوچکا ہے۔ اور ظالموں کے بارے میں ہم سے کچھ نہ کہنا، وہ ضرور ڈبو دیئے جائیں گے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: وَفَارَ‌ التَّنُّورُ‌ (And the oven gushes forth - 23:27). The word تَّنُّور‌ means oven which is used for making flat, round bread, and is also used in the sense of the whole earth. According to some people تَّنُّور‌ is a specific oven in the Kufah mosque, while others believe that it was somewhere...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: So We revealed to him saying ‘Build the Ark the ship under Our watch under Our observation and protection and by Our revelation Our command. Then when Our command comes that they be destroyed and the oven of the baker gushes with water — and this was Noah’s sign — bring into it admit into the ship o...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Allah tells us that Nuh, peace be upon him, invoked his Lord to help him against his people, as Allah mentions in another Ayah: فَدَعَا رَبَّهُ أَنُّى مَغْلُوبٌ فَانتَصِرْ (Then he invoked his Lord (saying): "I have been overcome, so help (me)!") 54:10. Here he says: رَبِّ انصُرْنِى بِمَا كَذَّبُونِ...

وَحَمَلْنَٰهُ عَلَىٰ ذَاتِ أَلْوَٰحٍ وَدُسُرٍ

Wa hamalnaahu 'alaa zaati alwaahinw wa dusur

And We carried him on a [construction of] planks and nails,

اور ہم نے نوحؑ کو ایک کشتی پر جو تختوں اور میخوں سے تیار کی گئی تھی سوار کرلیا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: ذَاتِ أَلْوَاحٍ وَدُسُرٍ‌ (to board that [ ship ] which had planks and nails...54:13). The word alwah is the plural of lawh and it refers to a board or a plank. The word dusur is the plural of disar and it stands for nail. It also means a cord of fibres of the palm tree with which the planks of a sh...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And We bore him that is Noah on one a ship made of planks and nails dusur is what boards are fastened down with of nails and the like; the singular is disār similar in pattern to kutub kitāb ‘book’
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Story of the People of Nuh and the Lesson from it Allah the Exalted said, كَذَّبَتْ (denied) `before your people, O Muhammad,' قَوْمُ نُوحٍ فَكَذَّبُواْ عَبْدَنَا (the people of Nuh. They rejected Our servant) means, they denied him categorically and accused him of madness, وَقَالُواْ مَجْنُونٌ ...

إِنَّا لَمَّا طَغَا ٱلْمَآءُ حَمَلْنَٰكُمْ فِى ٱلْجَارِيَةِ

Innaa lammaa taghal maaa'u hamalnaakum fil jaariyah

Indeed, when the water overflowed, We carried your ancestors in the sailing ship

جب پانی طغیانی پر آیا تو ہم نے تم (لوگوں) کو کشتی میں سوار کرلیا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: سَبْعَ لَيَالٍ وَثَمَانِيَةَ أَيَّامٍ (seven nights and eight consecutive days'... 69:7). According to some of the narratives, the punishment of windstorm started on Wednesday morning, and lasted till the following Wednesday evening. In this way, it makes up eight days and seven nights. The word hus...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Truly when the waters rose high when they rose above all things including mountains and otherwise at the time of the Flood We carried you meaning your forefathers you being in their loins in the sailing vessel the ark which Noah built and by which he and those with him were saved while all the other...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Which was revealed in Makkah بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Warning concerning the Greatness of the Day of Judgement Al-Haqqah is one of the names of the Day of Judgement, because during it the promise and the threat will inevitably...

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