Noah presents his message clearly, free of all falsehood. He makes a gentle and friendly description of the truth. In Noah’s presentation, there were no flattery, no attempt to win any favor with anyone at the expense of the message. The Atheists stiffened their attitude became determined not to accept any proof of Noah’s case; they said: Noah! You have argued with us, and argued to excess. Bring upon us that with which you have been threatening us, if you are a truthful man.
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In the previous articles, the Atheists who were the council notables and the respected elders of Noah’s people claim that Noah is just looking for wealth and they said:
- We will never ever sit with Noah and listen to him unless he drives away those who are the most abject, lowly, and weak and the riffraff among us.
- Why have such lowly men followed Noah before us?
This was a part of their rotten arguments
They said such nasty statements to testify their unbelieving thoughts
The Atheists’ pride and arrogance are limitless.
In this article, the Atheists continue their stubborn arguments with Noah.
The meanings of the verses 11:31-33
The Atheists demanded that they would never believe Noah unless:
- Noah tells them that he possess the treasure houses of Allah
- Noah tells them that he has the keys to Allah’s stores of provision
- Noah tells them that he has knowledge of the Unseen
- Noah tells the lowly men who followed him that Allah will not give them any good
However, you know what Noah (they said), we cannot believe in human being, tell your Lord to send us an Angel or to convert you to an Angel
Noah remains unaffected by the false accusations, insolence and blind rejection with which his people have received his message.
He applies his own values and maintains his own standards. He does not make false claims or accusations as they have done. Nor does he try to give himself any false image or impart anything alien to his message.
However, Allah inspired Noah the answers for their rotten arguments.
Peacefully, Noah introduces himself and his message. His presentation is simple, devoid of any ornament and decoration, free of all false standards and values.
Noah reminds them of the true values, looking with contempt on all superficial ones. He renounces all superficiality and states his message as it is, pure and simple, with no false claims. He, who wants it, let him take it, as it is as pure as Allah made it.
Noah said:
I do not say to you that God’s treasures are with me.
I do not claim that I am rich or that I can make any of you rich. “Or that
I know what lies beyond the reach of human perception.
I do not make any claim of any super-human status or
I do not allege that my relationship with Allah exceeds the fact that I am a messenger conveying Allah’s message.
Nor do I say: I am an angel.
I do not claim to have a position, which you think to be higher than that of man, so that I may gain favor or high position from you.
I cannot say to those whom you scorn that Allah will never grant them any good, so that I satisfy your pride or accommodate your standards and values.
Allah knows best what is in their hearts (those whom you scorn).
I have to go by what I see.
To me, they appear deserving of honor and hope that Allah will grant them of His bounty.
If I made such false claims, saying to them that Allah will never grant them any good, I would be unjust
- I would be unjust to the very truth I have come to convey.
- I would also be unjust to myself, exposed to Allah’s wrath,
- I would be unjust to other people to whom I gave a status other than that given them by Allah.
Thus, Noah presents his message clearly, free of all falsehood. He faces them with the clarity and strength of the truth. Meanwhile, he makes a gentle and friendly description of the truth so that they may look it in the face and decide upon their line of action.
In Noah’s presentation, there were no pretense, no flattery, no attempt to win any favor with anyone at the expense of the message and its simple nature.
In this, Noah sets an example for all advocates of the Allah’s message in all generations and provides them with a lesson in how to confront the people of authority with the truth, without any attempt to compromise, or flatter, but with the sort of friendliness, which is not associated with submission.
At this point, it was clear to the notables that they had no chance of winning the argument. They stiffened their attitude, became determined not to accept any proof of Noah’s case, logical and natural as it certainly was.
Then they finally rallied themselves in order to deliver a challenge to Noah. They said:
Noah! You have argued with us, and argued to excess. Bring upon us that with which you have been threatening us, if you are a man of truth.
This is nothing short of deceit, an attempt to cover up their weakness by putting on a display of strength. It is a challenge made in order to mask their dread of the truth’s strength.
Noah, however, remains unaffected by their outright rejection and challenge. He maintains the noble attitude befitting a great prophet. He continues to explain to them the truth and the facts, which they have ignored
He restates the fact that he is only a messenger whose task is to deliver a message. Their punishment is left to Allah who has absolute control over their destiny.
Allah alone decides, at His own discretion, whether it is appropriate to punish them here and now or to delay their punishment until a later date. Allah’s will must happen, as it is and Noah has no power over it.
As a messenger, he has to continue to explain the truth to his people until the last moment. Their rejection and challenge must not deter him from fulfilling his task.
Hence, he says to them:
Only Allah can bring it upon you, if He so wills. You cannot be immune. Nor will my counsel benefit you, much as I desire to give you good counsel, if it is Allah’s will to let you remain in error. He is your Lord and to Him you shall return.
If He will to punish you, none can by no means escape His chastisement.
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The verses 11:31-33 in different translations:
QARIB:
31- I do not say to you that i possess the treasuries of Allah, and i do not know the unseen. I do not say I am an angel, nor do I say to those whom you despise, Allah will not give them any good. Allah knows best what is in their hearts. indeed, if this were so then I would be amongst the harmdoers. ‘
32- They said: ‘o Noah, you have disputed, and disputed too much, with us. bring (down) upon us that which you promised us, if what you say is true! ‘
33- He replied: ‘Allah will bring it (down) upon you if he will; you will never frustrate him.
SHAKIR:
31- And I do not say to you that i have the treasures of Allah and I do not know the unseen, nor do I say that i am an angel, nor do I say about those whom your eyes hold in mean estimation (that) Allah will never grant them (any) good– Allah knows best what is in their souls– for then most surely I should be of the unjust
32- They said: o nuh! indeed you have disputed with us and lengthened dispute with us, therefore bring to us what you threaten us with, if you are of the truthful ones
33- He said: Allah only will bring it to you if he please, and you will not escape:
PICKTHAL:
31- I say not unto you: “I have the treasures of Allah” nor “I have knowledge of the unseen,” nor say I: “lo! I am an angel!” nor say I unto those whom your eyes scorn that Allah will not give them good – Allah knoweth best what is in their hearts – lo! Then indeed, I should be of the wrong-doers.
32- They said: o Noah! thou hast disputed with us and multiplied disputation with us; now bring upon us that wherewith thou threatenest us, if thou art of the truthful.
33- He said: only Allah will bring it upon you if he will, and ye can by no means escape.
YUSUFALI:
31- “I tell you not that with me are the treasures of Allah, nor do I know what is hidden, nor claim I to be an angel. Nor yet do I say, of those whom your eyes do despise that Allah will not grant them (all) that is good: Allah knoweth best what is in their souls: I should, if I did, indeed be a wrong-doer.”
32- They said: “o Noah! thou hast disputed with us, and (much) hast thou prolonged the dispute with us: now bring upon us what thou threatenest us with, if thou speakest the truth!?”
33- He said: “truly, Allah will bring it on you if he wills,- and then, ye will not be able to frustrate it!
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