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Noah's Ark and the Flood

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Noah's Ark and the Flood

سَفِينَةُ نُوح وَالطُّوفَان

Prophet Noah's Ark and the Flood is a profound narrative in Islamic tradition, illustrating divine justice, mercy, and unwavering faith. When Noah's persistent calls to monotheism were largely rejected by his people, who persisted in disbelief, Allah decreed a devastating flood. Noah, an exemplary servant, was commanded to [construct the ship under Our observation and Our inspiration]. With divine guidance, he built a magnificent ark, a vessel of salvation. As the floodwaters rose, Noah 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]. Thus, the righteous believers and pairs of all living creatures found refuge. Tragically, [We drowned those who denied Our signs], purifying the earth of corruption. This monumental event serves as a powerful reminder of accountability and Allah's power. It also honors Noah, whom the Quran remembers as a [grateful servant] and among those chosen prophets [upon whom Allah bestowed favor], whose descendants carried forth the message of truth.

Quran 13 verses

فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَنَجَّيْنَٰهُ وَمَن مَّعَهُۥ فِى ٱلْفُلْكِ وَجَعَلْنَٰهُمْ خَلَٰٓئِفَ وَأَغْرَقْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا فَٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُنذَرِينَ

Fakazzaboohu fanajjainaahu wa mamm'ahoo fil fulki wa ja'alnaahum khalaaa'ifa wa aghraqnal lazeena kazzaboo bi aayaatinaa fanzur kaifa kaana 'aaqibatul munzareen

And they denied him, so We saved him and those with him in the ship and made them successors, and We drowned those who denied Our signs. Then see how was the end of those who were warned.

لیکن ان لوگوں نے ان کی تکذیب کی تو ہم نے ان کو اور جو لوگ ان کے ساتھ کشتی میں سوار تھے سب کو (طوفان سے) بچا لیا اور انہیں (زمین میں) خلیفہ بنادیا اور جن لوگوں نے ہماری آیتوں کو جھٹلایا ان کو غرق کر دیا تو دیکھ لو کہ جو لوگ ڈرائے گئے تھے ان کا کیا انجام ہوا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: It was said in the last verse (64) that, for the friends of Allah, there is the good news in the worldly life and in the Hereafter. As for the good news of the Hereafter, it will come at the time of death when the spirit of the deceased will be taken to Allah. At that time, he will hear the good new...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: But they denied him so We saved him and those with him in the Ark and made them that is those with him successors in the earth and We drowned those who denied Our signs by unleashing the Flood. Behold then the nature of the consequence for those who had been warned! in that they were destroyed likew...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Story of Nuh and His People Allah instructed His Prophet , saying: وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ (And recite to them) relate to the disbelievers of the Quraysh who belied you and rejected you, نَبَأَ نُوحٍ (the news of Nuh) meaning, his story and news with his people who belied him. Tell them how Allah des...

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...

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...

ذُرِّيَّةَ مَنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ عَبْدًا شَكُورًا

Zurriyyata man hamalnaa ma'a Nooh innahoo kaana 'abdan shakooraa

O descendants of those We carried [in the ship] with Noah. Indeed, he was a grateful servant.

اے اُن لوگوں کی اولاد جن کو ہم نے نوح کے ساتھ (کشتی میں) سوار کیا تھا۔ بےشک نوح (ہمارے) شکرگزار بندے تھے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary Described in this verse is the event of Mi` raj (the Ascent to the heavens, or al-'Isra', the midnight journey of the Holy Prophet ﷺ which is a signal honor and distinctive miracle of our Messenger of Allah ﷺ). The word: أَسْرَ‌ىٰ (asra) is a derivation from: اِسْرَ‌ىٰ (isra' ) which lite...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: descendants of those whom We carried with Noah in the Ark. Indeed he was a grateful servant giving thanks to Us frequently and offering praise in whichever state he found himself.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Musa and how He was given the Tawrah When Allah mentions how He took His servant Muhammad ﷺ, on the Journey by Night, He follows it by mentioning Musa, His servant and Messenger who also spoke with Him. Allah often mentions Muhammad ﷺ and Musa (AH.) together, may the peace and blessings of Allah be ...

أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مِن ذُرِّيَّةِ ءَادَمَ وَمِمَّنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّةِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ وَمِمَّنْ هَدَيْنَا وَٱجْتَبَيْنَآ إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَٰتُ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ خَرُّوا۟ سُجَّدًا وَبُكِيًّا

Ulaaa'ikal lazeena an'amal laahu 'alaihim minan Nabiyyeena min zurriyyati Aadama wa mimman hamalnaa ma'a Noohinw wa min zurriyyati Ibraaheema wa Israaa'eela wa mimman hadainaa wajta bainaaa; izaa tutlaa 'alaihim Aayaatur Rahmaani kharroo sujjadanw wa bukiyyaa

Those were the ones upon whom Allah bestowed favor from among the prophets of the descendants of Adam and of those We carried [in the ship] with Noah, and of the descendants of Abraham and Israel, and of those whom We guided and chose. When the verses of the Most Merciful were recited to them, they fell in prostration and weeping.

یہ وہ لوگ ہیں جن پر خدا نے اپنے پیغمبروں میں سے فضل کیا۔ (یعنی) اولاد آدم میں سے اور ان لوگوں میں سے جن کو نوح کے ساتھ (کشتی میں) سوار کیا اور ابراہیم اور یعقوب کی اولاد میں سے اور ان لوگوں میں سے جن کو ہم نے ہدایت دی اور برگزیدہ کیا۔ جب ان کے سامنے ہماری آیتیں پڑھی جاتی تھیں تو سجدے میں گر پڑتے اور روتے رہتے تھے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: أُولَـٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّـهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ مِن ذُرِّ‌يَّةِ آدَمَ "Those are the people whom Allah has blessed with bounties, the prophets from the progeny of Adam." - 19.58. This relates only to Sayyidna Idris (علیہ السلام) . وَمِمَّنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ "And from those ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Those ūlā’ika is the subject to whom God has been gracious alladhīna an‘ama’Llāhu ‘alayhim is an adjectival qualification of it of the subject from among the prophets mina’l-nabīyyīna an explication of it of the subject functioning like an adjectival qualification in terms of import. That which foll...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): These Prophets are the Chosen Ones Allah, the Exalted, says that these Prophets (were favored), but this does not mean only these Prophets who were mentioned in this Surah. Rather, it is referring to all of those who were Prophets. Allah merely changes the implication of the discussion from specific...

وَنُوحًا إِذْ نَادَىٰ مِن قَبْلُ فَٱسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُۥ فَنَجَّيْنَٰهُ وَأَهْلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلْكَرْبِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

Wa noohan iz naadaa min qablu fastajabnaa lahoo fanajjainaahu wa ahlahoo minal karbil 'azeem

And [mention] Noah, when he called [to Allah] before [that time], so We responded to him and saved him and his family from the great flood.

اور نوح (کا قصہ بھی یاد کرو) جب (اس سے) پیشتر انہوں نے ہم کو پکارا تو ہم نے ان کی دعا قبول فرمائی اور ان کو اور ان کے ساتھیوں کو بڑی گھبراہٹ سے نجات دی

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary وَنُوحًا إِذْ نَادَىٰ مِن قَبْلُ And (remember) Nuh, when he called (for help) earlier - 21:76 Here مِن قَبْلُ (earlier) means before the time of Sayyidna Ibrahim and Sayyidna Lut (علیہما السلام) ، whose account has just preceded in previous verses. As for the prayer of Nuh علیہ السلام wh...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And mention Noah what follows Nūhan substitutes for it when he called when he supplicated to God against his people — with the words My Lord do not leave upon the earth any inhabitant from among the disbelievers … to the end of the verse Q. 7126 before that is before the time of Abraham and Lot. And...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Nuh and His People Allah tells us how He responded to His servant and Messenger Nuh, peace be upon him, when he prayed to Him against his people for their disbelief in him: فَدَعَا رَبَّهُ أَنُّى مَغْلُوبٌ فَانتَصِرْ (Then he invoked his Lord (saying): "I have been overcome, so help (me)!") 54:10 وَ...

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...

فَأَنجَيْنَٰهُ وَمَن مَّعَهُۥ فِى ٱلْفُلْكِ ٱلْمَشْحُونِ

Fa anjainaahu wa mamma'ahoo fil fulkil mashhoon

So We saved him and those with him in the laden ship.

پس ہم نے ان کو اور جو ان کے ساتھ کشتی میں سوار تھے، ان کو بچا لیا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Nobility of a person depends on deeds and moral qualities and not on family or status قَالُوا أَنُؤْمِنُ لَكَ وَاتَّبَعَكَ الْأَرْ‌ذَلُونَ ﴿111﴾ قَالَ وَمَا عِلْمِي بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿112﴾ They said, "Shall we believe in you while you are followed by the lowest people?" [ 111] He said, "I do...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: He exalted be He says So We delivered him and those who were with him in the laden ark the ship filled with humans animals and birds.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): His People's Threat, Nuh's Prayer against Them, and Their Destruction Nuh stayed among his people for a long time, calling them to Allah night and day, in secret and openly. The more he repeated his call to them, the more determined were they to cling to their extreme disbelief and resist his call. ...

فَأَنجَيْنَٰهُ وَأَصْحَٰبَ ٱلسَّفِينَةِ وَجَعَلْنَٰهَآ ءَايَةً لِّلْعَٰلَمِينَ

Fa anjainaahu wa as haabas safeenati wa ja'alnaahaaa Aayatal lil'aalameen

But We saved him and the companions of the ship, and We made it a sign for the worlds.

پھر ہم نے نوحؑ کو اور کشتی والوں کو نجات دی اور کشتی کو اہل عالم کے لئے نشانی بنا دیا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary It was described in the previous verses that infidels keep on their opposition and afflictions on Muslims as a routine. In the above verses the Holy Prophet ﷺ was consoled by relating some incidents of earlier people that this practice of harassment of believers by the infidels is going o...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Then We delivered him namely Noah and the occupants of the ship those who were with him in it and We made this a sign a lesson for all peoples for all peoples that would come after them should they disobey the messengers sent to them. Noah lived for a further sixty years or more after the Flood unti...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Nuh and His People Here Allah consoles His servant and Messenger Muhammad ﷺ by telling him that Nuh, peace be upon him, stayed among his people for this long period of time, calling them night and day, in secret and openly, but in spite of all that they still persisted in their aversion to the truth...

وَءَايَةٌ لَّهُمْ أَنَّا حَمَلْنَا ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ فِى ٱلْفُلْكِ ٱلْمَشْحُونِ

Wa Aayatul lahum annaa hamalnaa zurriyatahum fil fulkil mashhoon

And a sign for them is that We carried their forefathers in a laden ship.

اور ایک نشانی ان کے لئے یہ ہے کہ ہم نے ان کی اولاد کو بھری ہوئی کشتی میں سوار کیا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In verse 41 and 42, it was said: وَآيَةٌ لَّهُمْ أَنَّا حَمَلْنَا ذُرِّ‌يَّتَهُمْ فِي الْفُلْكِ الْمَشْحُونِ وَخَلَقْنَا لَهُم مِّن مِّثْلِهِ مَا يَرْ‌كَبُونَ (And a sign for them is that We boarded their children at the loaded ship, and created for them things similar to it on which they ride.). Me...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And a sign for them of Our power is that We carried their seed dhurriyatahum a variant reading has dhurriyyātihim that is to say their original ancestors in the laden Ark that is Noah’s fully-loaded ship
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Among the Signs of Allah is that He carried Them in the laden Ship Allah tells us: another sign for them of His might and power is that He has subjugated the sea to carry ships, including -- most significantly -- the ship of Nuh , peace be upon him, in which Allah saved him and the believers, apart ...

وَنَجَّيْنَٰهُ وَأَهْلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلْكَرْبِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

Wa jajainaahu wa ahlahoo minal karbil 'azeem

And We saved him and his family from the great affliction.

اور ہم نے ان کو اور ان کے گھر والوں کو بڑی مصیبت سے نجات دی

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary In the previous verses, it was said that Allah had sent messengers to warn the earlier communities as well, but most of the people did not listen to them, therefore, they met a very sad end. Now, from here details of that brief statement made earlier are being given. As a corollary, event...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And We delivered him and his family from the great distress which was the drowning
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Nuh and His People When Allah tells us about how most of the early people went astray from the path of salvation, He starts the detailed explanation of that with the story of Nuh and the rejection of his people. Only a few of Nuh's people believed in him, despite the long period of time he spent amo...

وَجَعَلْنَا ذُرِّيَّتَهُۥ هُمُ ٱلْبَاقِينَ

Wa ja'alnaa zurriyyatahoo hummul baaqeen

And We made his descendants those remaining [on the earth]

اور ان کی اولاد کو ایسا کیا کہ وہی باقی رہ گئے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: And in verse 77, it was said: وَجَعَلْنَا ذُرِّ‌يَّتَهُ هُمُ الْبَاقِينَ (And [ We ] made his progeny the sole survivors.). According to most commentators, this verse means that the majority of world population was annihilated in the great flood during the time of Sayyidna Nuh (علیہ السلام) . After ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: and made his descendants the survivors thus all human beings are descended from him peace be upon him. He had three sons Shem Sām the ancestor of the Arabs the Persians and the Byzantines; Ham Hām the ancestor of the Negroes; and Japheth Yāfith the ancestor of the Turks the Khazar and the peoples of...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Nuh and His People When Allah tells us about how most of the early people went astray from the path of salvation, He starts the detailed explanation of that with the story of Nuh and the rejection of his people. Only a few of Nuh's people believed in him, despite the long period of time he spent amo...

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 ...

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