The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

a
In Mecca.
The Qur
an
11: 22
138

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evil –
– they will be drowned.’
38So he began to build the Ark, and
whenever leaders of his people passed by, they laughed at him. He
said, ‘You may scorn us now, but we will come to scorn you: 
39you
will
find out who will receive a humiliating punishment, and on
whom a lasting su
ffering will descend.’ 40When Our command came,
and water gushed up
a
out of the earth, We said, ‘Place on board this
Ark a pair of each species, and your own family –
– except those
against whom the sentence has already been passed –
– and those who
have believed,’ though only a few believed with him. 
41He said,
‘Board the Ark. In the name of God it shall sail and anchor. My God
is most forgiving and merciful.’
42It sailed with them on waves like
mountains, and Noah called out to his son, who stayed behind,
‘Come aboard with us, my son, do not stay with the disbelievers.’
43But he replied, ‘I will seek refuge on a mountain to save me
from the water.’ Noah said, ‘Today there is no refuge from God’s
command, except for those on whom He has mercy.’ The waves cut
them o
ff from each other and he was among the drowned.
44Then it was said, ‘Earth, swallow up your water, and sky, hold
back,’ and the water subsided, the command was ful
filled. The Ark
settled on Mount Judi, and it was said, ‘Gone are those evildoing
people!’
45Noah called out to his Lord, saying, ‘My Lord, my son
was one of my family, though Your promise
b
is true, and You are the
most just of all judges.’
46God said, ‘Noah, he was not one of your
family. What he did was not right. Do not ask Me for things you
know nothing about. I am warning you not to be foolish.’
47He said,
‘My Lord, I take refuge with You from asking for things I know
nothing about. If You do not forgive me, and have mercy on me, I
shall be one of the losers.’
48And it was said, ‘Noah, descend in peace
from Us, with blessings on you and on some of the communities that
will spring from those who are with you. There will be others We
will allow to enjoy life for a time, but then a painful punishment from
Us will a
fflict them.’ 49These accounts are part of what was beyond
your knowledge [Muhammad]. We revealed them to you. Neither
you nor your people knew them before now, so be patient: the future
belongs to those who are aware of God.
50To the  Ad, We sent their brother, Hud. He said, ‘My people,
a
Literally ‘the furnace boiled over’.
b
To save Noah’s family; see verse 
40.
Hud
139
11: 50

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worship God. You have no god other than Him; you are only making
up lies. 
51I ask no reward from you, my people; my reward comes
only from Him who created me. Why do you not use your reason?
52My people, ask forgiveness from your Lord, and return to Him. He
will send down for you rain in abundance from the sky, and give you
extra strength. Do not turn away and be lost in your sins.’
53They
replied, ‘Hud, you have not brought us any clear evidence. We will
not forsake our gods on the strength of your word alone, nor will we
believe in you. 
54All we can say is that one of our gods may have
in
flicted some harm on you.’ He said, ‘I call God to witness, and you
too are my witnesses, that I disown those you set up as partners with
God.
55So plot against me, all of you, and give me no respite. 56I put
my trust in God, my Lord and your Lord. There is no moving
creature which He does not control.
a
My Lord’s way is straight.
57But if you turn away, then I have conveyed the message with which
I was sent to you, and my Lord will bring along another people in
your place. You cannot do Him any harm: it is my Lord who protects
everything.’
58And so, when Our judgement came to pass, by Our
grace We saved Hud and his fellow believers. We saved them from a
severe punishment. 
59These were the  Ad: they rejected their Lord’s
signs, disobeyed His messengers, and followed the command of
every obstinate tyrant. 
60They were rejected in this life and so
they shall be on the Day of Judgement. Yes, the