Noah (Nooh)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
WE SENT NOAH to his people to warn them before the painful punishment came upon them. 1 He said: "O my people! Verily, I am a plain warner to you, 2 (Bidding you): Serve Allah and keep your duty unto Him and obey me, 3 so that He may forgive you some of your sins, and grant you respite until a term known [to Him alone]: but, behold, when the term appointed by God does come, it can never be put back - if you but knew it!" 4 [And after a time, Noah] said: "O my Sustainer! Verily, I have been calling unto my people night and day 5 "But my call only increases (their) flight (from the Right). 6 And behold, whenever I called unto them with a view to Thy granting them forgiveness, they put their fingers into their ears, and wrapped themselves up in their garments [of sin]; and grew obstinate, and became [yet more] arrogant in their false pride. 7 Then I summoned them openly, 8 and indeed, I spoke to them both publicly and in secret: 9 And I told them: 'Ask your Lord to forgive you. He is verily forgiving. 10 'He will send rain to you in abundance; 11 "'Give you increase in wealth and sons; and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers (of flowing water). 12 What ails you, that you look not for majesty in God, 13 When He created you by (divers) stages? 14 Do you not consider how Allah has created seven heavens in layers 15 And made the moon therein a [reflected] light and made the sun a burning lamp? 16 And Allah has made you grow out of the earth as a growth: 17 "'And in the End He will return you into the (earth), and raise you forth (again at the Resurrection)? 18 how God has spread the earth out for you 19 so that you might walk thereon on spacious paths.'" 20