(1–28) “In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. Indeed, We sent Noah to his people, saying, ‘Warn your people.’”
And so on, to the end of the surah. In this surah, Allah mentions only the story of Noah because of his long stay among his people, his repeated calls to monotheism, and his prohibition of polytheism. Allah Most High informs us that He sent him (1) to his people as a mercy to them and to warn them of Allah’s painful punishment, lest they persist in their disbelief and Allah destroy them forever and subject them to everlasting torment.
Noah—peace be upon him—complied and hastened to obey Allah’s command, saying, “My people, I am indeed a clear warner to you.” That is, his warning was clear and explicit, for he fully explained the punishment of which he warned them, the conduct against which he cautioned them, and the means by which salvation could be attained. He explained all of this thoroughly, then informed them of and commanded them to observe the essence of what he was instructing them to do (2), saying, “Worship Allah and fear Him.” This is achieved by affirming His oneness, worshipping Him alone, and avoiding polytheism and all its paths and means. If they feared Allah, He would forgive their sins; and once their sins were forgiven, they would be saved from punishment and attain the reward.
“And He will grant you respite until an appointed term”—that is, He will allow you enjoyment in this world and protect you from destruction until an appointed term: one determined—[namely, your remaining in this world]—by Allah’s decree and predestination [until a limited time]. This enjoyment will not last forever, for death is inevitable. He therefore says, “Indeed, when Allah’s appointed time comes, it cannot be delayed, if only you knew.” Had you known, you would not have disbelieved in Allah or stubbornly opposed the truth.
Yet they neither answered his call nor submitted to his command. He therefore complained to his Lord: “My Lord, I have called my people night and day, but my call has only made them flee farther away”—that is, it only increased their aversion to and rejection of the truth. His call thus brought them no benefit, for the purpose of calling people is that all or some of the desired outcome should be achieved.
“Every time I called them so that You might forgive them”—that is, I called them so that they would respond, and if they responded, You would forgive them. This was entirely for their own good. Yet they refused anything but to persist in their falsehood and recoil from the truth. “They put their fingers in their ears,” for fear of hearing what their prophet Noah—peace be upon him—was telling them, “and wrapped themselves in their garments”—that is, they covered themselves with their garments until they were enveloped by them, distancing themselves from the truth out of hatred for it. “They persisted” in their disbelief and evil “and were utterly arrogant” toward ⦗889⦘ the truth. Their evil thus increased, while goodness receded ever farther from them.
“Then I called them openly”—that is, within the hearing of them all.
“Then I proclaimed to them publicly and spoke to them privately.” All of this arose from earnest concern and sincere counsel, as he approached them by every avenue thought likely to achieve the desired outcome (3).
“I said: Seek forgiveness from your Lord”—that is, abandon the sins you are committing and seek Allah’s forgiveness for them.
“Indeed, He is ever Most Forgiving”—abundantly forgiving toward those who repent and seek forgiveness. He thus encouraged them by mentioning the forgiveness of sins and the resulting attainment of reward and deliverance from punishment.