Tafsir

The Story of Nuh, Peace be upon Him; and his people

Allah tells us about Nuh, peace be upon him, whom He sent him to his people to warn them of the severe punishment of Allah and His severe vengeance on those who associated partners with Him, defied His commands and disbelieved His Messengers:فَقَالَ يَقَوْمِ اعْبُدُواْ اللَّهَ مَا لَكُمْ مِّنْ إِلَـهٍ غَيْرُهُ أَفَلاَ تَتَّقُونَ(and he said: "O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other God but Him.

Will you not then have Taqwa") Meaning, "Do you not fear Allah when you associate others in worship with Him" The chiefs or leaders of his people said:مَا هَـذَا إِلاَّ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُرِيدُ أَن يَتَفَضَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ(He is no more than a human being like you, he seeks to make himself superior to you.) meaning, `he is putting himself above you and trying to make himself great by claiming to be a Prophet, but he is a human being like you, so how can he receive revelation when you do not'وَلَوْ شَآءَ اللَّهُ لاّنزَلَ مَلَـئِكَةً(Had Allah willed, He surely could have sent down angels.) meaning, `if Allah had wanted to send a Prophet, He would have sent an angel from Him, not a human being.

We have never heard of such a thing -- i.e., sending a man to our forefathers' -- their predecessors in times past.إِنْ هُوَ إِلاَّ رَجُلٌ بِهِ جِنَّةٌ(He is only a man in whom is madness,) means, `he is crazy in his claim that Allah has sent him and chosen him from among you to receive revelation.'فَتَرَبَّصُواْ بِهِ حَتَّى حِينٍ(so wait for him a while.) means, `wait until he dies, put up with him until you are rid of him.'

In the last benefit, ships and boats are also included, because they are also used in transportation وَعَلَيْهَا وَعَلَى الْفُلْكِ تُحْمَلُونَ (And on them and on the boats you are transported - 23:22). All types of mounts which are run with wheels may also be added to fulk (boats) because they render the same service.

فكذَّبه أشراف قومه، وقالوا لعامتهم: إنه إنسان مثلكم لا يتميَّز عنكم بشيء، ولا يريد بقوله إلا رئاسة وفضلا عليكم، ولو شاء الله أن يرسل إلينا رسولا لأرسله من الملائكة، ما سمعنا بمثل هذا فيمَن سبقنا من آباء وأجداد. وما نوح إلا رجل به مَسٌّ من الجنون، فانتظروا حتى يُفيق، فيترك دعوته، أو يموت، فتستريحوا منه.

وقوله : ( إن هو إلا رجل به جنة ) أي : مجنون فيما يزعمه ، من أن الله أرسله إليكم ، واختصه من بينكم بالوحي ( فتربصوا به حتى حين ) أي : انتظروا به ريب المنون ، واصبروا عليه مدة حتى تستريحوا منه .