Period of Revelation
This also is one of the earliest Suras to be revealed at Makkah
but the internal evidence of its subject matter shows that it was sent down in the period when opposition to the Holy Prophet's message of Islam by the disbelievers of Makkah had grown very strong and active.
Theme and Subject
In this sura the story of the Prophet Noah has not been related only for the sake of story telling
but its object is to warn the disbelievers of Makkah
so as to say:"You
O people of Makkah
are adopting towards Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace and blessings) the same attitude as the people of the Prophet Noah had adopted towards him; if you do not change this attitude
you too would meet with the same end." This had not been said in so many words anywhere in the Sura
but in the background of the conditions under which this story was narrated to the people of Makkah
this subject itself became obvious. Vv. 2-4 briefly explain how he began his mission and what he preached. Then after suffering hardships and troubles in the way of preaching his mission for ages the report that he made to his Lord has been given in vv. 5-20. In it he states how he had been trying to bring his people to the right path and how his people had stubbornly opposed him. After this
the Prophet Noah's final submission has been recorded in vv. 21-24
in which he prays to his Lord
saying: "These people have rejected my invitation: they are blindly following their chiefs
who have devised a tremendous plot of deceit and cunning. Time now has come when these people should be deprived of every grace to accept guidance." This was not an expression of impatience by the Prophet Noah
but when after having preached his message under extremely trying circumstances for centuries be became utterly disappointed with his people
he formed the opinion that no chance whatever was left of their coming to the right path. His this opinion fully conformed to Allah's own decision. Thus
in the next verse (25)
it has been said: "The torment of Allah descended on those people because of their misdeeds." In the concluding verse
the Prophet Noah's supplication that he made to his Lord
right at the time the torment descended
has been recorded. In it he prays for his own and for all the believers' forgiveness
and makes a submission to Allah to the effect: "Do not leave any of the disbelievers alive on the earth
for they have become utterly devoid of every good: they will not beget any but disbelieving and wicked descendents." While studying this Sura one should keep in view the details of the Prophet Noah's story which have been given in the Qur'an above. For this see Al-Araf: 59-64 Yunus: 71
73
Hud: 25-49
Al-Mu'minun: 23-31
Ash- Shua'ra: 105-122
Al-Ankabut: 14
15
As-Saaffat: 75-82
Al-Qamar: 9-16.