VisualDhikr|

Noah's Flood

View in graph
event

Noah's Flood

طُوفَانُ نُوحٍ

Noah's Flood (طُوفَانُ نُوحٍ) represents a profoundly significant event in Islamic tradition, recounted throughout the Quran as a powerful testament to Allah's justice and mercy. It describes the catastrophic deluge sent upon the people of Prophet Nuh (Noah) after centuries of their persistent disbelief and rejection of his message to worship the One God. In response to Nuh's earnest pleas, Allah commanded him to build an Ark, saving him, his family, and a pair from every species, while the disbelievers were engulfed by the rising waters. The Quran vividly portrays the scene, with the Ark sailing [through waves like mountains]. Even as Nuh called to his disbelieving son, urging him aboard, the waves came between them, tragically illustrating that [there is no protector today from the decree of Allah, except for whom He gives mercy]. Once Allah's decree was accomplished, it was proclaimed, [O earth, swallow your water, and O sky, withhold [your rain]], bringing the flood to an end and the Ark to rest. This monumental event serves as a timeless [sign for mankind], a powerful reminder of accountability, and the preservation of faith through those whom Allah chose to save.

Quran 9 verses

وَهِىَ تَجْرِى بِهِمْ فِى مَوْجٍ كَٱلْجِبَالِ وَنَادَىٰ نُوحٌ ٱبْنَهُۥ وَكَانَ فِى مَعْزِلٍ يَٰبُنَىَّ ٱرْكَب مَّعَنَا وَلَا تَكُن مَّعَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

Wa hiya tajree bihim fee mawjin kaljibaali wa naadaa Noohunib nahoo wa kaana fee ma'ziliny yaa bunai yarkam ma'anaa wa laa takum ma'al kaafireen

And it sailed with them through waves like mountains, and Noah called to his son who was apart [from them], "O my son, come aboard with us and be not with the disbelievers."

اور وہ ان کو لے کر (طوفان کی) لہروں میں چلنے لگی۔ (لہریں کیا تھیں) گویا پہاڑ (تھے) اس وقت نوح نے اپنے بیٹے کو کہ جو (کشتی سے) الگ تھا، پکارا کہ بیٹا ہمارے ساتھ سوار ہوجا اور کافروں میں شامل نہ ہو

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: As stated in the second (42) and third (43) verse, when the whole family of Sayyidna Nuh (علیہ السلام) had boarded the ark, a son whose name has been reported as Kin` an (Canaan) was left out. Out of his paternal compassion, Sayyidna Nuh (علیہ السلام) called out to him asking him to come on board an...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And it sailed with them amid waves like mountains in terms of their height and size and Noah called out to his son Canaan who was standing away from the ship ‘O my son embark with us and do not be with the disbelievers!’
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...

قَالَ سَـَٔاوِىٓ إِلَىٰ جَبَلٍ يَعْصِمُنِى مِنَ ٱلْمَآءِ قَالَ لَا عَاصِمَ ٱلْيَوْمَ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ وَحَالَ بَيْنَهُمَا ٱلْمَوْجُ فَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُغْرَقِينَ

Qaala sa aaweee ilaa jabaliny ya'simunee minal maaa'; qaala laa 'aasimal yawma min amril laahi illaa mar rahim; wa haala bainahumal mawju fakaana minal mughraqeen

[But] he said, "I will take refuge on a mountain to protect me from the water." [Noah] said, "There is no protector today from the decree of Allah, except for whom He gives mercy." And the waves came between them, and he was among the drowned.

اس نے کہا کہ میں (ابھی) پہاڑ سے جا لگوں گا، وہ مجھے پانی سے بچالے گا۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ آج خدا کے عذاب سے کوئی بچانے والا نہیں (اور نہ کوئی بچ سکتا ہے) مگر جس پر خدا رحم کرے۔ اتنے میں دونوں کے درمیان لہر آحائل ہوئی اور وہ ڈوب کر رہ گیا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: As stated in the second (42) and third (43) verse, when the whole family of Sayyidna Nuh (علیہ السلام) had boarded the ark, a son whose name has been reported as Kin` an (Canaan) was left out. Out of his paternal compassion, Sayyidna Nuh (علیہ السلام) called out to him asking him to come on board an...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: He said ‘I shall take refuge in a mountain that will protect me preserve me from the water’. Said he ‘This day there is none that can protect from God’s command from His chastisement except — but — him on whom He God has mercy’ he will be protected. God exalted be He says And the waves came between ...
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...

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...

وَقَوْمَ نُوحٍ لَّمَّا كَذَّبُوا۟ ٱلرُّسُلَ أَغْرَقْنَٰهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَٰهُمْ لِلنَّاسِ ءَايَةً وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلظَّٰلِمِينَ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا

Wa qawma Noohil lammaa kazzabur Rusula aghraqnaahum wa ja'alnaahum linnaasi Aayatanw wa a'tadnaa lizzaalimeena 'azaaban aleemaa

And the people of Noah - when they denied the messengers, We drowned them, and We made them for mankind a sign. And We have prepared for the wrongdoers a painful punishment.

اور نوح کی قوم نے بھی جب پیغمبروں کو جھٹلایا تو ہم نے انہیں غرق کر ڈالا اور لوگوں کے لئے نشانی بنا دیا۔ اور ظالموں کے لئے ہم نے دکھ دینے والا عذاب تیار کر رکھا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary In the above verses it is mentioned that it had been the common practice of the people through the ages to rebuff the prophets and the message they had brought. In order to give weight to this assertion a few of the well known prophets are mentioned who were rejected by their people and t...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And mention the people of Noah when they denied the messengers in denying Noah — it is as though he were many messengers given the length of time he remained among them; or it is thus expressed in the plural because to deny him is equivalent to denying all the other messengers for they all came with...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Frightening the Idolators of Quraysh Allah threatens the idolators who denied and opposed His Messenger Muhammad ﷺ and He warns them of the punishment and painful torment He sent upon the previous nations who rejected their Messengers. Allah begins by mentioning Musa, upon him be peace, whom He sent...

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ فَلَبِثَ فِيهِمْ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ إِلَّا خَمْسِينَ عَامًا فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱلطُّوفَانُ وَهُمْ ظَٰلِمُونَ

Wa laqad arsalnaa Noohan ilaa qawmihee falabisa feehim alfa sanatin illaa khamseena 'aaman fa akhazahumut toofaanu wa hum zaalimoon

And We certainly sent Noah to his people, and he remained among them a thousand years minus fifty years, and the flood seized them while they were wrongdoers.

اور ہم نے نوحؑ کو اُن کی قوم کی طرف بھیجا تو وہ ان میں پچاس برس کم ہزار برس رہے پھر اُن کو طوفان (کے عذاب) نے آپکڑا۔ اور وہ ظالم تھے

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: And verily We sent Noah to his people when he was forty years of age or older and he remained among them a thousand-less-fifty years calling them to affirm God’s Oneness but they denied him; so the Flood engulfed them a deluge of water drifted against them rising above them and drowning them for the...
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...

فَفَتَحْنَآ أَبْوَٰبَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ بِمَآءٍ مُّنْهَمِرٍ

Fafatahnaaa abwaabas sa maaa'i bimaa'im munhamir

Then We opened the gates of the heaven with rain pouring down

پس ہم نے زور کے مینہ سے آسمان کے دہانے کھول دیئے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The Story of the People of Nuh (علیہ السلام) and the Lesson Learnt from it مَجْنُونٌ وَازْدُجِرَ‌ (and said, " (He is) a madman", and he was threatened...54:9). The word wazdujira literally denotes 'he was rebuked'. It refers to the attitude of the people of Nuh علیہ السلام who rebuked and threaten...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Then We opened read fa-fatahnā or fa-fattahnā the gates of the heaven with torrential waters waters pouring down intensely
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 ...

وَفَجَّرْنَا ٱلْأَرْضَ عُيُونًا فَٱلْتَقَى ٱلْمَآءُ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرٍ قَدْ قُدِرَ

Wa fajjamal arda 'uyoonan faltaqal maaa'u 'alaaa amrin qad qudir

And caused the earth to burst with springs, and the waters met for a matter already predestined.

اور زمین میں چشمے جاری کردیئے تو پانی ایک کام کے لئے جو مقدر ہوچکا تھا جمع ہوگیا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: فالْتَقَى الْمَاءُ عَلَىٰ أَمْرٍ‌ قَدْ قُدِرَ‌ (so the water [ of both kinds ] met together for a destined event....54:12). In other words, the rain water pouring down from the skies in torrents and also bubbling water gushing forth from under the ground, caused the Deluge [ a huge flood ] which eng...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: and We made the earth burst forth with springs that flowed forth and the waters the waters of the heaven and the earth met for a purpose a circumstance that was preordained a matter which had been decreed since pre-eternity namely their destruction by drowning.
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 ...

وَلَقَد تَّرَكْنَٰهَآ ءَايَةً فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ

Wa laqat taraknaahaad aayatan fahal mim muddakir

And We left it as a sign, so is there any who will remember?

اور ہم نے اس کو ایک عبرت بنا چھوڑا تو کوئی ہے کہ سوچے سمجھے؟

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 verily We left it We preserved this deed as a sign for whomever might be admonished by it in other words the news of this deed became widely-known and endured. So is there anyone who will remember? anyone who will take heed from or be admonished by it? muddakir is actually mudhtakir but the tā’ ...
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 ...

A detailed scholarly analysis for this topic is not yet available. Get in touch to request one.

Related Topics