“And recite to them the account of Noah, when he said to his people: ‘My people, if my remaining among you and my reminding you of the signs of Allah have become burdensome to you, then I have placed my trust in Allah. So unite in your plan, along with your partners; then let your plan not remain obscure to you. Then carry it out against me, and grant me no respite. (71) But if you turn away, I have asked no reward of you. My reward is due only from Allah, and I have been commanded to be among those who submit to Him.’ (72)”

“A brief enjoyment” means a small enjoyment which they enjoy, and a provision from which they benefit until their appointed terms expire. The word matāʿ (“a brief enjoyment”) is in the nominative case on account of an implied predicate; that is, “It is a brief enjoyment”: “in this world; then to Us is their return, and then We shall make them taste the severe punishment because of their disbelief.”

Allah’s saying, “And recite to them the account of Noah,” means: Recite, O Muhammad, to the people of Mecca the story of Noah, “when he said to his people”—who were the descendants of Cain—“My people, if my remaining among you” has become burdensome to you; that is, if my lengthy stay among you has become great and onerous for you, “and my reminding you,” meaning my admonishing you, “of the signs of Allah,” meaning His proofs and clear evidences, and you have therefore resolved to kill me and drive me out, “then I have placed my trust in Allah. So unite in your plan,” that is, make your plan firm and resolve upon it, “along with your partners,” meaning call upon your partners—that is, your gods—and seek their help, so that they may join you.

Al-Zajjaj said: Its meaning is: Unite in your plan together with your partners. Since the word “together with” was omitted, the word “your partners” is in the accusative case. Ya‘qub recited it in the nominative case: “and your partners”; that is, Unite in your plan—you and your partners.

“Then let your plan not remain obscure to you,” meaning hidden and ambiguous. This derives from the expression, “The new moon was obscured from the people,” meaning that it was unclear to them. “Then carry it out against me,” meaning: Proceed with what is within yourselves and finish it. One says, “So-and-so fulfilled his term,” when he died and passed on; and, “He settled his debt,” when he finished paying it.

It was also said that it means: Direct yourselves against me with killing and whatever harm you intend.

And it was said: Carry out whatever you are going to carry out. This is like the magicians’ statement to Pharaoh: “So decide whatever you will decide” (Ta-Ha 72); that is, do whatever you are going to do.

“And grant me no respite,” meaning: Do not delay me. This was said as a challenge. Allah informs us that Noah was confident of Allah’s help and was not afraid of his people’s plotting, knowing that neither they nor their gods possessed any power to benefit or harm him, unless Allah willed otherwise.

“But if you turn away,” meaning, if you turn away from my words and refuse to accept my sincere counsel, “I have asked no reward of you” for conveying the message and calling you to Allah—no payment or compensation. “My reward is due only from Allah, and I have been commanded to be among those who submit to Him,” that is, among the believers. It was also said: among those who submit to Allah’s command.