Meaning of Family

11.Surah Hud

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَنَادَى نُوحٌ رَّبَّهُ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنَّ ابُنِي مِنْ أَهْلِي...   

11: 45.   And Noah called upon his Lord, and said:

"O my Lord! surely my son is of my family!

...وَإِنَّ وَعْدَكَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنتَ أَحْكَمُ الْحَاكِمِينَ ﴿٤٥﴾

and Thy promise is true, and Thou art the Justest of Judges!"

قَالَ يَا نُوحُ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ...   

11: 46.   He said:

"O Noah! he is not of thy family:

C1540. See n. 5135 above.

Like all Prophets of Allah, Noah was kind-hearted, but he is told that there can be no compromise with evil. And Noah acknowledges the reproof.

There was a wife of Noah, who was also an unbelieving woman (66:10), and she suffered the fate of Unbelievers.

...إِنَّهُ عَمَلٌ غَيْرُ صَالِحٍ...

for his conduct is unrighteous.

...فَلاَ تَسْأَلْنِ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ...

So ask not of Me that of which thou hast no knowledge!

...إِنِّي أَعِظُكَ أَن تَكُونَ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ ﴿٤٦﴾

I give thee counsel, lest thou act like the ignorant!"

قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِهِ عِلْمٌ...   

11: 47.   Noah said:

"O my Lord! I do seek refuge with Thee, lest I ask Thee for that of which I have no knowledge.

...وَإِلاَّ تَغْفِرْ لِي وَتَرْحَمْنِي أَكُن مِّنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ ﴿٤٧﴾

And unless Thou forgive me and have Mercy on me, I should indeed be lost!"

C1541. Noah, in his natural affection and respect for ties of relationship, was overcome with human weakness in wishing to reverse the Decree of Allah.

It was not sin but ignorance. His ignorance was corrected by divine inspiration, and he immediately saw the full Truth, acknowledged his error, and asked for Allah's forgiveness and mercy. This is the standard set for us all.

Others version:

11: 45

Yusuf Ali And Noah called upon his Lord and said: "O my Lord! surely my son is of my family! and Thy promise is true and Thou art the Justest of Judges!"

Pickthall And Noah cried unto his Lord and said: My Lord! Lo! my son is of my household! Surely Thy promise is the Truth and Thou art the Most Just of Judges.

Transliteration Wa na_da_ nu_hur rabbahu_ faqa_la rabbi inna_bni min ahli, wa inna wa'dakal haqqu wa anta ahkamul ha_kimin(a).

11: 46

Yusuf Ali He said: "O Noah! he is not of thy family: for his conduct is unrighteous. So ask not of Me that of which thou hast no knowledge! I give thee counsel lest thou act like the ignorant!"

Pickthall He said: O Noah! Lo! he is not of thy household; lo! he is of evil conduct, so ask not of Me that whereof thou hast no knowledge. I admonish thee lest thou be among the ignorant.

Transliteration Qa_la ya_ nu_hu innahu_ laisa min ahlik(a), innahu_ 'amalun gairu sa_lihin fala_ tas'alni ma_ laisa laka bihi 'ilm(un), inni a'izuka an taku_na minal ja_hilin(a).

11: 47

Yusuf Ali Noah said: "O my Lord! I do seek refuge with Thee lest I ask Thee for that of which I have no knowledge. And unless Thou forgive me and have Mercy on me I should indeed be lost!"

Pickthall He said: My Lord! Lo! in Thee do I seek refuge (from the sin) that I should ask of Thee that whereof I have no knowledge. Unless Thou forgive me and have mercy on me I shall he among the lost.

Transliteration Qa_la rabbi inni a'u_zu bika an as'alaka ma_ laisa li bihi 'ilm(un), wa illa_ tagfir li wa tarhamni akum minal kha_sirin(a).