DIQRA - The Holy Qur'an - Tafseer Of Surah

Verse 71:1

اِنَّاۤ اَرۡسَلۡنَا نُوۡحًا اِلٰى قَوۡمِهٖۤ اَنۡ اَنۡذِرۡ قَوۡمَكَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِ اَنۡ يَّاۡتِيَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ اَلِيۡمٌ‏

We sent Noah to his people, 'Warn your people before an awful doom comes to them.'

Verse 71:2

قَالَ يٰقَوۡمِ اِنِّىۡ لَـكُمۡ نَذِيۡرٌ مُّبِيۡنٌۙ‏

He said, 'O My people! I am a plain warner to you,

Verse 71:3

اَنِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰهَ وَاتَّقُوۡهُ وَاَطِيۡعُوۡنِۙ‏

That you serve God and be mindful of Him. Now, do pay heed to me.

Verse 71:4

يَغۡفِرۡ لَـكُمۡ مِّنۡ ذُنُوۡبِكُمۡ وَيُؤَخِّرۡكُمۡ اِلٰٓى اَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّىؕ اِنَّ اَجَلَ اللّٰهِ اِذَا جَآءَ لَا يُؤَخَّرُۘ لَوۡ كُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ‏

He will then protect you from the detriment of trailing behind in humanity and respite you until a term appointed. When the term appointed by God comes, it cannot be delayed, if you but knew this.'

Verse 71:5

قَالَ رَبِّ اِنِّىۡ دَعَوۡتُ قَوۡمِىۡ لَيۡلًا وَّنَهَارًا ۙ‏

He said, 'My Lord! I have been calling unto my people night and day.

Verse 71:6

فَلَمۡ يَزِدۡهُمۡ دُعَآءِىۡۤ اِلَّا فِرَارًا‏

But my call only increases their fleeing.

Verse 71:7

وَاِنِّىۡ كُلَّمَا دَعَوۡتُهُمۡ لِتَغۡفِرَ لَهُمۡ جَعَلُوۡۤا اَصَابِعَهُمۡ فِىۡۤ اٰذَانِهِمۡ وَاسۡتَغۡشَوۡا ثِيَابَهُمۡ وَاَصَرُّوۡا وَاسۡتَكۡبَرُوا اسۡتِكۡبَارًا ۚ‏

When I call unto them that You grant them protection against the detriment of their misdeeds, they thrust their fingers in their ears and veil themselves in their garments. And they persist in this behavior glorifying them in pride. [11:5, 71:10]

Verse 71:8

ثُمَّ اِنِّىۡ دَعَوۡتُهُمۡ جِهَارًا ۙ‏

Then I called unto them aloud.

Verse 71:9

ثُمَّ اِنِّىۡۤ اَعۡلَـنۡتُ لَهُمۡ وَاَسۡرَرۡتُ لَهُمۡ اِسۡرَارًا ۙ‏

I addressed them in gatherings and spoke to them individually in private.

Verse 71:10

فَقُلۡتُ اسۡتَغۡفِرُوۡا رَبَّكُمۡؕ اِنَّهٗ كَانَ غَفَّارًا ۙ‏

And I have said, 'Seek forgiveness of your Lord. He is ever Forgiving. ['Ghafarah' = Helmet = Protection. Forgiveness in the context indicates halting the behavior that is detrimental to the society, and turning to Divine Guidance in order to protect oneself from the logically harmful consequences of evil deeds]