11.Surah Hud
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَأُوحِيَ
إِلَى نُوحٍ
أَنَّهُ لَن
يُؤْمِنَ مِن
قَوْمِكَ إِلاَّ
مَن قَدْ آمَنَ...
11: 36. It was revealed to Noah:
"None of thy people will believe except those who have believed already!
C1529. The story of Noah is resumed.
A point was reached, when it was clear that there was no hope of saving the sinners, who were courting their own destruction. It was to be a great Flood. So Noah was ordered to construct a great Ark or Ship, a heavy vessel to remain afloat in the Flood, so that the righteous could be saved in it.
...فَلاَ تَبْتَئِسْ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَفْعَلُونَ ﴿٣٦﴾
So grieve no longer over their (evil) deeds.
وَاصْنَعِ
الْفُلْكَ
بِأَعْيُنِنَا
وَوَحْيِنَا
وَلاَ تُخَاطِبْنِي
فِي الَّذِينَ
ظَلَمُواْ...
11: 37. "But construct an Ark under Our eyes and Our inspiration, and address Me no (further) on behalf of those who are in sin:
C1530. It was to be built under the special instructions of Allah, to serve the special purpose it was intended to serve.
...إِنَّهُم مُّغْرَقُونَ ﴿٣٧﴾
for they are about to be overwhelmed (in the Flood)."
وَيَصْنَعُ
الْفُلْكَ
وَكُلَّمَا
مَرَّ عَلَيْهِ
مَلأٌ مِّن
قَوْمِهِ سَخِرُواْ
مِنْهُ...
11: 38. Forthwith he starts constructing the Ark:
every time that the Chiefs of his People passed by him they threw ridicule on him.
C1531. The ridicule of the sinners, from their own point of view, was natural. Here was a Prophet turned carpenter! Here was a plain in the higher reaches of the Mesopotamian basin, drained by the majestic Tigris, over 800 to 900 miles from the sea Arabian Gulf in a straight line! Yet he talks of a flood like the Sea!
All material civilisations pride themselves on their Public Works and their drainage schemes. And here was a fellow relying on Allah! But did not their narrow pride seem ridiculous also to the Prophet of Allah!
Here were men steeped in sin and insolence! And they pit themselves against the power and the promise of Allah! Truly a contemptible race is man!
...قَالَ إِن تَسْخَرُواْ مِنَّا فَإِنَّا نَسْخَرُ مِنكُمْ كَمَا تَسْخَرُونَ ﴿٣٨﴾
He said: "If ye ridicule us now, we (in our turn) can look down on you with ridicule likewise!
C1532. The Arabic Aorist may be construed either by the present tense or the future tense, and both make good sense here.
Following Zamakhshari, I construe in the present tense, because the future is so tragic for the sinners.
For the time being the worldly ones looked down on the Believers as they always do: but the Believers relied on Allah, and pitied their critics for knowing no better!- for their arrogance was really ridiculous.
فَلَمَّا
ذَهَبَ عَنْ
إِبْرَاهِيمَ
الرَّوْعُ
وَجَاءتْهُ
الْبُشْرَى
يُجَادِلُنَا
فِي قَوْمِ
لُوطٍ ﴿٧٤﴾
11: 74. When fear had passed from (the mind of) Abraham and the glad tidings had reached him, he began to plead with Us for Lut's people.
C1571. Glad-tidings: not only that he was to have a son, but that he was to be a fountain-head of prophets.
So he now begins to plead at once for the sinful people to whom Lut was sent as a warner.
إِنَّ
إِبْرَاهِيمَ
لَحَلِيمٌ
أَوَّاهٌ
مُّنِيبٌ ﴿٧٥﴾
11: 75. For Abraham was, without doubt, forbearing (of faults), compassionate, and given to look to Allah.
C1572. Like Al-Mustafa, Abraham had three qualities in a preeminent degree, which are here mentioned:
- he was long-suffering with other people's faults:
- his sympathies and compassion were very wide: and
- for every difficulty or trouble he turned to Allah and sought Him in prayer.
Other versions:
11: 36 [Hud, Mecca 52] Noah pleading for his people
Yusuf Ali It was revealed to Noah: "None of thy people will believe except those who have believed already! So grieve no longer over their (evil) deeds.
Pickthall And it was inspired in Noah, (saying) : No one of the folk will believe save him who hath believed already. Be not distressed because of what they do.
Transliteration Wa u_hiya ila_ nu_hin annahu_ lay yu'mina min qaumika illa_ man qad a_mana fala_ tabta'is bima_ ka_nu_ yaf'alu_n(a).
11: 37
Asad But build, under Our eyes and according to Our inspiration, the ark [that shall save thee and those who follow thee]; [note 60] and do not appeal to Me on behalf of those who are bent on evildoing – for, behold, they are destined to be drowned!”
Yusuf Ali "But construct an Ark under Our eyes and Our inspiration and address Me no (further) on behalf of those who are in sin: for they are about to be overwhelmed (in the Flood)."
Pickthall Build the ship under Our Eyes and by Our inspiration, and speak not unto Me on behalf of those who do wrong. Lo! they wilt be drowned.
Yuksel "Construct the Ship under Our eyes and Our inspiration, and do not speak to Me regarding those who are wicked. They will be drowned."
Transliteration Wa-sna'il fulka bi a'yunina_ wa wahyina_ wa la_ tukha_tibni fil lazina zalamu_ innahum mugraqu_n(a).
[[ Asad’s note 60 - …the noun ‘fulk’ (lit., “ship”)…..]]
11: 38 [Hud, Mecca 52]
Yusuf Ali Forthwith he starts constructing the Ark: every time that the Chiefs of his People passed by him they threw ridicule on him. They threw ridicule on him. He said: "If ye ridicule us now we (in our turn) can look down on you with ridicule likewise!
Pickthall And he was building the ship, and every time that chieftains of his people passed him, they made mock of him. He said: Though ye make mock of us, yet we mock at you even as ye mock;
Transliteration Wa yasna'ul fulk(a), wa kullama_ marra 'alaihi mala'um min qaumihi sakhiru_ minh(u), qa_la in taskharu_ minna_ fa inna_ naskharu minkum kama_ taskharu_n(a).
11: 74 [Hud, Mecca 52] Abraham pleading for his people.
Yusuf Ali When fear had passed from (the mind of) Abraham and the glad tidings had reached him he began to plead with Us for Lut's people.
Pickthall And when the awe departed from Abraham, and the glad news reached him, he pleaded with Us on behalf of the folk of Lot.
Yuksel So when the shock left Abraham, and the good news was delivered to him, he began to argue with Us for the people of Lot.
Transliteration Falamma_ zahaba 'an ibra_himar rau'u wa ja_'athul busyra_ yuja_diluna_ fi qaumi lu_t(in).
11: 75
Asad for, behold, Abraham was most clement, most tender-hearted, intent upon turning to God again and again.
Yusuf Ali For Abraham was without doubt forbearing (of faults) compassionate and given to look to Allah.
Pickthall Lo! Abraham was mild, imploring, penitent.
Yuksel Abraham was compassionate, kind.
Transliteration Inna ibra_hima lahalimun awwa_hum munib(un).