Therefore they said:
“O Noah, you have disputed with us and disputed at length. Bring upon us what you threaten us with, if you are truly one of the truthful.” He replied, “Only Allah will bring it upon you, if He so wills, and you will not be able to thwart Him.” (Hūd 32–33)
In other words, only Allah is capable of doing that, for nothing can frustrate Him and no affair is burdensome to Him; He merely declares to a thing, “Be,” and it is.
“My counsel will not benefit you, however keen I may be to advise you, if Allah intends to let you stray. He is your Lord, and to Him you shall return.” (Hūd 34)
That is: whomever Allah wills to test, no one can guide. He guides whom He wills and leads astray whom He wills. He acts as He pleases; He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise, fully aware of those who deserve guidance and those who merit misguidance. His wisdom is perfect and His proof decisive.
It was revealed to Noah: “None of your people will believe except those who have already believed, so do not grieve over what they are doing.” (Hūd 36)
This was a consolation to Noah that no one beyond the present believers would ever accept faith, and a comfort regarding his people’s treatment of him: “so do not grieve over what they are doing,” meaning, let not their deeds distress you; victory is near and the outcome wondrous.
[Allah further said:] “Build the Ark under Our watchful eye and by Our revelation, and do not plead with Me regarding those who have done wrong; they shall surely be drowned.” (Hūd 37)
When Noah despaired of their reform and salvation, saw that no good remained in them, and found them employing every word and deed to harm, oppose, and belie him, he invoked against them in anger. Allah answered his supplication and granted his request:
“Noah called upon Us, and how excellent are We as responders! We delivered him and his family from the great distress.” (al-Ṣāffāt 75–76)
“And Noah—when earlier he cried out—We answered him and saved him and his family from the great distress.” (al-Anbiyāʾ 76)
“Therefore decide decisively between me and them, and save me and those believers who are with me.” (al-Shuʿarāʾ 117–118)
“He called upon his Lord: ‘I am overpowered, so help me!’” (al-Qamar 10)
“He said, ‘My Lord, help me, for they have denied me.’” (al-Muʾminūn 26)
“Because of their sins they were drowned and were made to enter a Fire, and they found no helpers for themselves against Allah. Noah said, ‘My Lord, leave not upon the earth a single dweller from among the disbelievers. If You leave them, they will mislead Your servants and will beget none but a profligate, stubborn disbeliever.’” (Nūḥ 25–27)
Their disbelief, wickedness, and the supplication of their Prophet combined against them. At that point Allah commanded him to build the Ark—an immense vessel the like of which had never existed before, nor would its equal be seen again.
Allah had already informed him that, once His command came and His punishment—never averted from a guilty people—descended, Noah was not to address Him on their behalf, for compassion might seize him when he witnessed the punishment with his own eyes; hearing is not like seeing.
Hence He said: “And do not plead with Me regarding those who have done wrong; they shall surely be drowned.’ So he began building the Ark, and whenever the notables of his people passed by him …”