Aware of the terrible reality, Noah pleads with him for the last time: O my son! Do not be with the unbelievers lest you drown. His son said: I shall seek refuge in a mountain, which will afford me protection from the waves. In an instant, the gigantic waves swallow everything up, so he was among the drowned by the flood
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The verses 11:40-42 say,
“Embark with us, my child, and do not stay with the unbelievers.”
As a proud arrogant, the Atheist son does not respond to his loving father.
He does not realize the extent of the terrible event that is taking place.
Noah said: O my son! Come ride with us
His son said: I shall take refuge in a mountain that will protect me, from the water’.
Noah said: O my son! Be saved with us
His son said: the mountain that will preserve me, from the flood’.
Noah said: O my son! Do not be with the unbelievers lest you drown
His son said: the mountain will prevent me from drowning, the mountain will afford me protection from the flood.
Aware of the terrible reality, Noah pleads with him for the last time:
“Today there is no protection for anyone from Allah’s judgment, except those who shall enjoy His mercy.”
In an instant, the scene changes and the gigantic waves swallow everything up:
The Huge waves came between them, so he was among the drowned by the flood
Today as we read this story, it is as if we see these events happening now before our very own eyes.
The ark is sailing amid huge waves, Noah, the worried father makes one plea after another; his conceited young son insolently turns his back, and then suddenly a towering wave settles the issue.
Everything is over as if the dialogue did not take place.
The element of fear and worry in this scene is measured by its:
- Depth in the human soul, in the conversation between Noah and his son.
- Extent in nature, as the waves rise high to submerge the tops of the mountains.
Both elements are equal.
This is a distinctive feature of how the Quran tells us about the ancient people.
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Then, the storm subsides, an air of calmness spreads, the matter is settled according to Allah’s will.
The verse here gives the impression of something coming to a complete standstill.
“And the word was spoken: ‘Earth, swallow up your waters. Heaven, cease (your rain).’ Thus, the waters sank into the earth, and Allah’s will was done, and the ark came to rest on Mount Judi. The word was spoken: Away with these evil-doing folk.’”
It was said,
‘O earth, swallow your waters, that have sprung forth from you, and the Earth reabsorbed it and
O heaven, abate!’ withhold the rain, and it did.
The waters subsided, the affair was accomplished, the matter of the destruction of Noah’s people was complete and it settled,
The earth swallows up its water and the heaven stops raining.
Furthermore, the earth’s surface was soon dry, as excess waters penetrated deep underground.
Allah addressed the earth and the heavens as if they were human beings.
Both comply with the commandment.
No wonder they did when they are Allah’s obedient creatures.
“Allah’s will was done and the ark came to rest on Mount Judi.”
That was its final stop. “The word was spoken: ‘Away with these evil-doing folk.’”
- Those who were supposed to be destroyed were destroyed and
- Those who were supposed to be saved were saved.
It was said:
‘Away with perish the evildoing, disbelieving, folk!’
The Quran does not say who said this statement, but it generates the impression that the whole affair does not in need to be considered again.
Let the evildoers disappear beyond Allah’s mercy for they deserve to be expelled;
Let them be banished from memory, for they do not deserve to be remembered.
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The verses 11:43-44 in different translations:
QARIB:
43- But he replied: ‘i shall seek refuge on a mountain, which will protect me from the water. ‘He (Noah) said: ‘today, there is no defender from the command of Allah, except those to whom he has mercy. ‘And the waves came between them, and he was drowned.
44- And it was said: ‘earth, swallow up your waters. Heaven, cease! ‘The water subsided and the matter was accomplished. And the ark came to rest upon (the mountain of) aljudi, and it was said: ‘be gone, evildoing nation! ‘
SHAKIR:
43- He said: i will betake myself for refuge to a mountain that shall protect me from the water. Nuh said: there is no protector today from Allah’s punishment but he who has mercy; and a wave intervened between them, so he was of the drowned
44- And it was said: o earth, swallow down your water, and o cloud, clear away; and the water was made to abate and the affair was decided, and the ark rested on the judi, and it was said: away with the unjust people
PICKTHAL:
43- He said: i shall betake me to some mountain that will save me from the water. (Noah) said: this day there is none that saveth from the commandment of Allah save him on whom he hath had mercy. And the wave came in between them, so he was among the drowned.
44- And it was said: o earth! swallow thy water and, o sky! be cleared of clouds! and the water was made to subside. And the commandment was fulfilled. And it (the ship) came to rest upon (the mount) al-judi and it was said: a far removal for wrongdoing folk!
YUSUFALI:
43- The son replied: “i will betake myself to some mountain: it will save me from the water.” Noah said: “this day nothing can save, from the command of Allah, any but those on whom he hath mercy! “And the waves came between them, and the son was among those overwhelmed in the flood.
44- Then the word went forth: “o earth! Swallow up thy water, and o sky! Withhold (thy rain)!” and the water abated, and the matter was ended. The ark rested on mount Judi, and the word went forth: “away with those who do wrong!”