Tarikh (al-Tabari) 81

The story of Noah (peace be upon him)

لَمَّا تَمَادَى قَوْمُ نُوحٍ عَلَى كُفْرِهِمْ، وَعِصْيَانِهِمْ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِمْ نُوحًا يُحَذِّرُهُمْ بَأْسَهُ، وَنِقْمَتَهُ وَيَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى التَّوْبَةِ، وَالرُّجُوعِ إِلَى الْحَقِّ، وَالْعَمَلِ بِمَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى ويَدْعُوهم إِلَى عِبَادَةِ اللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وينهاهم عَنْ عِبَادَةِ مَا سِوَاهُ، نوح أول رسول بعثه الله إلى أهل الأرض فَكَانَ أَوَّلَ رَسُولٍ بَعَثَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَى أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ ، كَمَا ثَبَتَ فِي الصَّحِيحَيْنِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فِي حَدِيثِ الشَّفَاعَةِ قَالَ: فَيَأْتُونَ آدَمَ فَيَقُولُونَ: يَا آدَمُ أَنْتَ أَبُو الْبَشَرِ خَلَقَكَ اللَّهُ بِيَدِهِ، وَنَفَخَ فِيكَ مِنْ رُوحِهِ، وَأَمَرَ الْمَلَائِكَةَ فَسَجَدُوا لَكَ، وَأَسْكَنَكَ الْجَنَّةَ، أَلَا تَشْفَعُ لَنَا إِلَى رَبِّكَ، أَلَا تَرَى مَا نَحْنُ فِيهِ وَمَا بَلَغَنَا، فَيَقُولُ: رَبِّي قَدْ غَضِبَ غَضَبًا شَدِيدًا لَمْ يَغْضَبْ قَبْلَهُ مِثْلَهُ، وَلَا يَغْضَبُ بَعْدَهُ مِثْلَهُ، وَنَهَانِي عَنِ الشَّجَرَةِ فَعَصَيْتُ، نَفْسِي نَفْسِي، اذْهَبُوا إِلَى غَيْرِي اذْهَبُوا إِلَى نُوحٍ. فَيَأْتُونَ نُوحًا فَيَقُولُونَ: يَا نُوحُ، أَنْتَ أَوَّلُ الرُّسُلِ إِلَى أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ، وَسَمَّاكَ اللَّهُ عَبْدًا شَكُورًا، أَلَا تَرَى إِلَى مَا نَحْنُ فِيهِ، أَلَا تَرَى إِلَى مَا بَلَغَنَا، أَلَا تَشْفَعُ لَنَا إِلَى رَبِّكَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَيَقُولُ: رَبِّي قَدْ غَضِبَ الْيَوْمَ غَضَبًا لَمْ يَغْضَبْ قَبْلَهُ مِثْلَهُ، وَلَا يَغْضَبُ بَعْدَهُ مِثْلَهُ. نَفْسِي نَفْسِي. وَذَكَرَ تَمَامَ الْحَدِيثِ بِطُولِهِ، كَمَا أَوْرَدَهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ فِي قِصَّةِ نُوحٍ. فَلَمَّا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ نُوحًا عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ دَعَاهُمْ إِلَى إِفْرَادِ الْعِبَادَةِ لِلَّهِ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَنْ لَا يَعْبُدُوا مَعَهُ صَنَمًا، وَلَا تِمْثَالًا، وَلَا طَاغُوتًا، وَأَنْ يَعْتَرِفُوا بِوَحْدَانِيَّتِهِ، وَأَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُهُ، وَلَا رَبَّ سِوَاهُ، كَمَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى مَنْ بَعْدَهُ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ الَّذِينَ هُمْ كُلُّهُمْ مِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِهِ، كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالَى: وَجَعَلْنَا ذُرِّيَّتَهُ هُمُ الْبَاقِينَ [ الصَّافَّاتِ: 77 ]. وَقَالَ فِيهِ، وَفِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ: وَجَعَلْنَا فِي ذُرِّيَّتِهِمَا النُّبُوَّةَ وَالْكِتَابَ [ الْحَدِيدِ: 26 ]. أَيْ: كُلُّ نَبِيٍّ مِنْ بَعْدِ نُوحٍ فَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِهِ، وَكَذَلِكَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ. قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ [ النَّحْلِ: 36 ]. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: وَاسْأَلْ مَنْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رُسُلِنَا أَجَعَلْنَا مِنْ دُونِ الرَّحْمَنِ آلِهَةً يُعْبَدُونَ [ الزُّخْرُفِ: 45 ]. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِ [ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ: 25 ]. وَلِهَذَا قَالَ نُوحٌ لِقَوْمِهِ: اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ إِلَهٍ غَيْرُهُ إِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ [ الْأَعْرَافِ: 59 ]. وَقَالَ: أَنْ لَا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا اللَّهَ إِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ أَلِيمٍ [ هُودٍ: 26 ]. وَقَالَ: يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ إِلَهٍ غَيْرُهُ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ [ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ: 23 ]. وَقَالَ: يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي لَكُمْ نَذِيرٌ مُبِينٌ أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاتَّقُوهُ وَأَطِيعُونِ يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ مِنْ ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرْكُمْ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى إِنَّ أَجَلَ اللَّهِ إِذَا جَاءَ لَا يُؤَخَّرُ لَوْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي دَعَوْتُ قَوْمِي لَيْلًا وَنَهَارًا فَلَمْ يَزِدْهُمْ دُعَائِي إِلَّا فِرَارًا وَإِنِّي كُلَّمَا دَعَوْتُهُمْ لِتَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ جَعَلُوا أَصَابِعَهُمْ فِي آذَانِهِمْ وَاسْتَغْشَوْا ثِيَابَهُمْ وَأَصَرُّوا وَاسْتَكْبَرُوا اسْتِكْبَارًا ثُمَّ إِنِّي دَعَوْتُهُمْ جِهَارًا ثُمَّ إِنِّي أَعْلَنْتُ لَهُمْ وَأَسْرَرْتُ لَهُمْ إِسْرَارًا فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّارًا يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِدْرَارًا وَيُمْدِدْكُمْ بِأَمْوَالٍ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ وَيَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ أَنْهَارًا مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَرْجُونَ لِلَّهِ وَقَارًا وَقَدْ خَلَقَكُمْ أَطْوَارًا [ نوحٍ: 2 - 14 ]. الْآيَاتِ الْكَرِيمَاتِ. فَذَكَرَ أَنَّهُ دَعَاهُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ بِأَنْوَاعِ الدَّعْوَةِ فِي اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ، وَالسِّرِّ وَالْإِجْهَارِ، بِالتَّرْغِيبِ تَارَةً وَالتَّرْهِيبِ أُخْرَى، وَكُلُّ هَذَا فَلَمْ يَنْجَحْ فِيهِمْ، بَلِ اسْتَمَرَّ أَكْثَرُهُمْ عَلَى الضَّلَالَةِ وَالطُّغْيَانِ، وَعِبَادَةِ الْأَصْنَامِ وَالْأَوْثَانِ، وَنَصَبُوا لَهُ الْعَدَاوَةَ فِي كُلِّ وَقْتٍ وَأَوَانٍ، وَتَنَقَّصُوهُ وَتَنَقَّصُوا مَنْ آمَنَ بِهِ. وَتَوَعَّدُوهُمْ بِالرَّجْمِ وَالْإِخْرَاجِ، وَنَالُوا مِنْهُمْ، وَبَالَغُوا فِي أَمْرِهِمْ قَالَ الْمَلَأُ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ. أَيِ: السَّادَةُ الْكُبَرَاءُ مِنْهُمْ: إِنَّا لَنَرَاكَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ لَيْسَ بِي ضَلَالَةٌ وَلَكِنِّي رَسُولٌ مِنْ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ [ الْأَعْرَافِ: 60 ]. أَيْ: لَسْتُ كَمَا تَزْعُمُونَ مِنْ أَنِّي ضَالٌّ بَلْ عَلَى الْهُدَى الْمُسْتَقِيمِ، رَسُولٌ مِنْ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، أَيِ: الَّذِي يَقُولُ لِلشَّيْءِ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ أُبَلِّغُكُمْ رِسَالَاتِ رَبِّي وَأَنْصَحُ لَكُمْ وَأَعْلَمُ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ [ الْأَعْرَافِ: 62 ]. وَهَذَا شَأْنُ الرَّسُولِ أَنْ يَكُونَ بَلِيغًا، أَيْ: فَصِيحًا نَاصِحًا أَعْلَمَ النَّاسِ باللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ. وَقَالُوا لَهُ فِيمَا قَالُوا: مَا نَرَاكَ إِلَّا بَشَرًا مِثْلَنَا وَمَا نَرَاكَ اتَّبَعَكَ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ هُمْ أَرَاذِلُنَا بَادِيَ الرَّأْيِ وَمَا نَرَى لَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ فَضْلٍ بَلْ نَظُنُّكُمْ كَاذِبِينَ [ هُودٍ: 27 ]. تَعَجَّبُوا أَنْ يَكُونَ بَشَرًا رَسُولًا، وَتَنَقَّصُوا بِمَنِ اتَّبَعَهُ، وَرَأَوْهُمْ أَرَاذِلَهُمْ، وَقَدْ قِيلَ: إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا مِنْ أَقْيَادِ النَّاسِ، وَهُمْ ضُعَفَاؤُهُمْ، كَمَا قَالَ هِرَقْلُ: وَهُمْ أَتْبَاعُ الرُّسُلِ. وَمَا ذَاكَ إِلَّا لِأَنَّهُ لَا مَانِعَ لَهُمْ مِنَ اتِّبَاعِ الْحَقِّ. وَقَوْلُهُمْ: بَادِيَ الرَّأْيِ. أَيْ: بِمُجَرَّدِ مَا دَعَوْتَهُمُ اسْتَجَابُوا لَكَ مِنْ غَيْرِ نَظَرٍ وَلَا رَوِيَّةٍ، وَهَذَا الَّذِي ذَمُّوهُمْ بِهِ هُوَ عَيْنُ مَا يُمْدَحُونَ بِسَبَبِهِ ؓ، فَإِنَّ الْحَقَّ الظَّاهِرَ لَا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى رَوِيَّةٍ، وَلَا فِكْرٍ، وَلَا نَظَرٍ. بَلْ يَجِبُ اتِّبَاعُهُ، وَالِانْقِيَادُ لَهُ مَتَى ظَهَرَ، مدح النبي ﷺ لأبي بكر الصديق بسرعة استجابته لدعوته إلى الإسلام وَلِهَذَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: مَادِحًا لِلصَّدِّيقِ. مَا دَعَوْتُ أَحَدًا إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ إِلَّا كَانَتْ لَهُ كَبْوَةٌ غَيْرَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَتَلَعْثَمْ. وَلِهَذَا كَانَتْ بَيْعَتُهُ يَوْمَ السَّقِيفَةِ أَيْضًا سَرِيعَةً مِنْ غَيْرِ نَظَرٍ، وَلَا رَوِيَّةٍ ; لِأَنَّ أَفْضَلِيَّتَهُ عَلَى مَنْ عَدَاهُ ظَاهِرَةٌ جَلِيَّةٌ عِنْدَ الصَّحَابَةِ ؓ، وَلِهَذَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَمَّا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ الْكِتَابَ الَّذِي أَرَادَ أَنْ يَنُصَّ فِيهِ عَلَى خِلَافَتِهِ فَتَرَكَهُ. وَقَالَ: يَأْبَى اللَّهُ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا أَبَا بَكْرٍ. ؓ، وَقَوْلُ كَفَرَةِ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ لَهُ، وَلِمَنْ آمَنَ بِهِ: وَمَا نَرَى لَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ فَضْلٍ. أَيْ: لَمْ يَظْهَرْ لَكُمْ أَمْرٌ بَعْدَ اتِّصَافِكُمْ بِالْإِيمَانِ، وَلَا مَزِيَّةٌ عَلَيْنَا: بَلْ نَظُنُّكُمْ كَاذِبِينَ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُ عَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّي وَآتَانِي رَحْمَةً مِنْ عِنْدِهِ فَعُمِّيَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنُلْزِمُكُمُوهَا وَأَنْتُمْ لَهَا كَارِهُونَ [ هُودٍ: 27 - 28 ]. وَهَذَا تَلَطُّفٌ فِي الْخِطَابِ مَعَهُمْ، وَتَرَفُّقٌ بِهِمْ فِي الدَّعْوَةِ إِلَى الْحَقِّ، كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالَى: فَقُولَا لَهُ قَوْلًا لَيِّنًا لَعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَى [ طه: 44 ]. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: ادْعُ إِلَى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَادِلْهُمْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ [ النَّحْلِ: 125 ]. وَهَذَا مِنْهُ يَقُولُ لَهُمْ: أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُ عَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّي وَآتَانِي رَحْمَةً مِنْ عِنْدِهِ. أَيُّ النُّبُوَّةَ وَالرِّسَالَةَ فَعُمِّيَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ. أَيْ فَلَمْ تَفْهَمُوهَا، وَلَمْ تَهْتَدُوا إِلَيْهَا أَنُلْزِمُكُمُوهَا. أَيْ أَنَغْصِبُكُمْ بِهَا، وَنَجْبُرُكُمْ عَلَيْهَا وَأَنْتُمْ لَهَا كَارِهُونَ. أَيْ: لَيْسَ لِي فِيكُمْ حِيلَةٌ وَالْحَالَةُ هَذِهِ وَيَا قَوْمِ لَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مَالًا إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ. أَيْ: لَسْتُ أُرِيدُ مِنْكُمْ أُجْرَةً عَلَى إِبْلَاغِي إِيَّاكُمْ مَا يَنْفَعُكُمْ فِي دُنْيَاكُمْ، وَأُخَرَاكُمْ إِنْ أَطْلُبْ ذَلِكَ إِلَّا مِنَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي ثَوَابُهُ خَيْرٌ لِي، وَأَبْقَى مِمَّا تُعْطُونَنِي أَنْتُمْ. وَقَوْلُهُ: وَمَا أَنَا بِطَارِدِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّهُمْ مُلَاقُو رَبِّهِمْ وَلَكِنِّي أَرَاكُمْ قَوْمًا تَجْهَلُونَ [ هُودٍ: 29 ] كَأَنَّهُمْ طَلَبُوا مِنْهُ أَنْ يُبْعِدَ هَؤُلَاءِ عَنْهُ، وَوَعَدُوهُ أَنْ يَجْتَمِعُوا بِهِ إِذَا هُوَ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ فَأَبَى عَلَيْهِمْ ذَلِكَ، وَقَالَ إِنَّهُمْ مُلَاقُو رَبِّهِمْ فَأَخَافُ إِنْ طَرَدَتْهُمْ أَنْ يَشْكُونِي إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، وَلِهَذَا قَالَ: وَيَا قَوْمِ مَنْ يَنْصُرُنِي مِنَ اللَّهِ إِنْ طَرَدْتُهُمْ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ [ هُودٍ: 30 ]. وَلِهَذَا لَمَّا سَأَلَ كُفَّارُ قُرَيْشٍ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْ يَطْرُدَ عَنْهُ ضُعَفَاءَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ; كَعَمَّارٍ، وَصُهَيْبٍ، وَبِلَالٍ، وَخَبَّابٍ، وَأَشْبَاهِهِمْ نَهَاهُ اللَّهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ، كَمَا بَيَّنَّاهُ فِي سُورَتَيِ الْأَنْعَامِ، وَالْكَهْفِ: وَلَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِنْدِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ وَلَا أَقُولُ إِنِّي مَلَكٌ. أَيْ بَلْ أَنَا عَبْدٌ رَسُولٌ لَا أَعْلَمُ مِنْ عِلْمِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا مَا أَعْلَمَنِي بِهِ. وَلَا أَقْدِرُ إِلَّا عَلَى مَا أَقْدَرَنِي عَلَيْهِ، وَلَا أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِي نَفْعًا، وَلَا ضَرًّا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ وَلَا أَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ تَزْدَرِي أَعْيُنُكُمْ. يَعْنِي مِنْ أَتْبَاعِهِ لَنْ يُؤْتِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ إِنِّي إِذًا لَمِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ. أَيْ لَا أَشْهَدُ عَلَيْهِمْ بِأَنَّهُمْ لَا خَيْرَ لَهُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ، وَسَيُجَازِيهِمْ عَلَى مَا فِي نُفُوسِهِمْ إِنْ خَيْرًا فَخَيْرٌ، وَإِنَّ شَرًّا فَشَرٌّ، كَمَا قَالُوا فِي الْمَوْضِعِ الْآخَرِ: أَنُؤْمِنُ لَكَ وَاتَّبَعَكَ الْأَرْذَلُونَ قَالَ وَمَا عِلْمِي بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ إِنْ حِسَابُهُمْ إِلَّا عَلَى رَبِّي لَوْ تَشْعُرُونَ وَمَا أَنَا بِطَارِدِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنْ أَنَا إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ مُبِينٌ [ الشُّعَرَاءِ: 111 ]. وَقَدْ تَطَاوَلَ الزَّمَانُ، وَالْمُجَادَلَةُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهُمْ، كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالَى: فَلَبِثَ فِيهِمْ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ إِلَّا خَمْسِينَ عَامًا فَأَخَذَهُمُ الطُّوفَانُ وَهُمْ ظَالِمُونَ [ الْعَنْكَبُوتِ: 14 ]. أَيْ: وَمَعَ هَذِهِ الْمُدَّةِ الطَّوِيلَةِ فَمَا آمَنَ بِهِ إِلَّا الْقَلِيلُ مِنْهُمْ، وَكَانَ كُلَّمَا انْقَرَضَ جِيلٌ وَصَّوْا مَنْ بَعْدَهُمْ بِعَدَمِ الْإِيمَانِ بِهِ. وَمُحَارَبَتِهِ، وَمُخَالَفَتِهِ، وَكَانَ الْوَالِدُ إِذَا بَلَغَ وَلَدُهُ وَعَقَلَ عَنْهُ كَلَامَهُ وَصَّاهُ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهُ أَنْ لَا يُؤْمِنَ بِنُوحٍ أَبَدًا مَا عَاشَ وَدَائِمًا مَا بَقِيَ، وَكَانَتْ سَجَايَاهُمْ تَأْبَى الْإِيمَانَ وَاتِّبَاعَ الْحَقِّ، وَلِهَذَا قَالَ: وَلَا يَلِدُوا إِلَّا فَاجِرًا كَفَّارًا [ نُوحٍ: 27 ]. وَلِهَذَا قَالُوا: يَا نُوحُ قَدْ جَادَلْتَنَا فَأَكْثَرْتَ جِدَالَنَا فَأْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَا إِنْ كُنْتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ قَالَ إِنَّمَا يَأْتِيكُمْ بِهِ اللَّهُ إِنْ شَاءَ وَمَا أَنْتُمْ بِمُعْجِزِينَ [ هُودٍ: 32 - 33 ]. أَيْ: إِنَّمَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَإِنَّهُ الَّذِي لَا يُعْجِزُهُ شَيْءٌ، وَلَا يَكْتَرِثُهُ أَمْرٌ بَلْ هُوَ الَّذِي يَقُولُ لِلشَّيْءِ: كُنْ فَيَكُونُ وَلَا يَنْفَعُكُمْ نُصْحِي إِنْ أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَنْصَحَ لَكُمْ إِنْ كَانَ اللَّهُ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُغْوِيَكُمْ هُوَ رَبُّكُمْ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ [ هُودٍ: 34 ]. أَيْ: مَنْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ فِتْنَتَهُ فَلَنْ يَمْلِكَ أَحَدٌ هِدَايَتَهُ هُوَ الَّذِي يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيُضِلُّ مَنْ يَشَاءُ، وَهُوَ الْفَعَّالُ لِمَا يُرِيدُ، وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ الْعَلِيمُ بِمَنْ يَسْتَحِقُّ الْهِدَايَةَ وَمَنْ يَسْتَحِقُّ الْغِوَايَةَ، وَلَهُ الْحِكْمَةُ الْبَالِغَةُ، وَالْحُجَّةُ الدَّامِغَةُ تعزية لنوح في قومه بأنه لن يؤمن معه إلا من قد آمن وَأُوحِيَ إِلَى نُوحٍ أَنَّهُ لَنْ يُؤْمِنَ مِنْ قَوْمِكَ إِلَّا مَنْ قَدْ آمَنَ فَلَا تَبْتَئِسْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْعَلُونَ [ هُودٍ: 36 ]. وَهَذِهِ تَعْزِيَةٌ لِنُوحٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي قَوْمِهِ أَنَّهُ لَنْ يُؤْمِنَ مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا مَنْ قَدْ آمَنَ، وَتَسْلِيَةٌ لَهُ عَمَّا كَانَ مِنْهُمْ إِلَيْهِ فَلَا تَبْتَئِسْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْعَلُونَ. أَيْ: لَا يَسُوأَنَّكَ مَا جَرَى فَإِنَّ النَّصْرَ قَرِيبٌ، وَالنَّبَأَ عَجِيبٌ وَاصْنَعِ الْفُلْكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَوَحْيِنَا وَلَا تُخَاطِبْنِي فِي الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا إِنَّهُمْ مُغْرَقُونَ. وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ نُوحًا عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ لَمَّا يَئِسَ مِنْ صَلَاحِهِمْ، وَفَلَاحِهِمْ، وَرَأَى أَنَّهُمْ لَا خَيْرَ فِيهِمْ، وَتَوَصَّلُوا إِلَى أَذِيَّتِهِ، وَمُخَالَفَتِهِ، وَتَكْذِيبِهِ بِكُلِّ طَرِيقٍ مِنْ فِعَالٍ، وَمَقَالٍ دَعَا عَلَيْهِمْ دَعْوَةَ غَضَبٍ لِلَّهِ فَلَبَّى اللَّهُ دَعْوَتَهُ وَأَجَابَ طِلْبَتَهُ، قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: وَلَقَدْ نَادَانَا نُوحٌ فَلَنِعْمَ الْمُجِيبُونَ وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ وَأَهْلَهُ مِنَ الْكَرْبِ الْعَظِيمِ [ الصَّافَّاتِ: 75 - 76 ]. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: وَنُوحًا إِذْ نَادَى مِنْ قَبْلُ فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ فَنَجَّيْنَاهُ وَأَهْلَهُ مِنَ الْكَرْبِ الْعَظِيمِ [ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ: 76 ]. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: قَالَ رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِي كَذَّبُونِ فَافْتَحْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُمْ فَتْحًا ونَجِّنِي وَمَنْ مَعِيَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ [ الشُّعَرَاءِ: 117 - 118 ]. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: فَدَعَا رَبَّهُ أَنِّي مَغْلُوبٌ فَانْتَصِرْ [ الْقَمَرِ: 10 ]. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: قَالَ رَبِّ انْصُرْنِي بِمَا كَذَّبُونِ [ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ: 26 ]. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: مِمَّا خَطِيئَاتِهِمْ أُغْرِقُوا فَأُدْخِلُوا نَارًا فَلَمْ يَجِدُوا لَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَنْصَارًا وَقَالَ نُوحٌ رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ دَيَّارًا إِنَّكَ إِنْ تَذَرْهُمْ يُضِلُّوا عِبَادَكَ وَلَا يَلِدُوا إِلَّا فَاجِرًا كَفَّارًا [ نُوحٍ: 25 - 27 ] فَاجْتَمَعَ عَلَيْهِمْ خَطَايَاهُمْ مِنْ كُفْرِهِمْ وَفُجُورِهِمْ، وَدَعْوَةِ نَبِيِّهِمْ عَلَيْهِمْ. إيذاء قوم نوح له وقَالَ ابْنُ إِسْحَاقَ وَغَيْرُهُ: إِنَّ قَوْمَ نُوحٍ كَانُوا يَبْطِشُونَ بِهِ فَيَخْنُقُونَهُ حَتَّى يُغْشَى عَلَيْهِ ، فَإِذَا أَفَاقَ قَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِقَوْمِي فَإِنَّهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ! حَتَّى إِذَا تَمَادَوْا فِي مَعْصِيَتِهِمْ وَعَظُمَتْ مِنْهُمُ الْخَطِيئَةُ، وَتَطَاوَلَ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَيْهِمُ الشَّأْنُ اشْتَدَّ عَلَيْهِ الْبَلَاءُ، وَانْتَظَرَ النَّجْلَ بَعْدَ النَّجْلِ فَلَا يَأْتِي قَرْنٌ إِلَّا كَانَ أَخْبَثَ مِنَ الْذِي كَانَ قَبْلَهُ حَتَّى إِنْ كَانَ الْآخَرُ لَيَقُولَ: قَدْ كَانَ هَذَا مَعَ آبَائِنَا، وَأَجْدَادِنَا مَجْنُونًا لَا يَقْبَلُونَ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا، وَكَانَ يُضْرَبُ وَيُلَفُّ، وَيُلْقَى فِي بَيْتِهِ، يَرَوْنَ أَنَّهُ قَدْ مَاتَ، فَإِذَا أَفَاقَ اغْتَسَلَ وَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِمْ يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ، فَلَمَّا طَالَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ، وَرَأَى الْأَوْلَادَ شَرًّا مِنَ الْآبَاءِ قَالَ: رَبِّ قَدْ تَرَى مَا يَفْعَلُ بِي عِبَادُكَ، فَإِنْ تَكُ لَكَ فِيهِمْ حَاجَةٌ فَاهْدِهِمْ، وَإِنْ يَكُ غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ فَصَيِّرْنِي إِلَى أَنْ تَحْكُمَ فِيهِمْ. فَأَوْحَى إِلَيْهِ: إِنَّهُ لَنْ يُؤْمِنَ مِنْ قَوْمِكَ إِلَّا مَنْ قَدْ آمَنَ، فَلَمَّا يَئِسَ مِنْ إِيمَانِهِمْ دَعَا عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ: رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ دَيَّارًا

Translation

✧ When the people of Noah persisted in their disbelief and disobedience, Allah sent Noah to them to warn them of His might and retribution, and to call them to repentance and return to the truth, and to act according to what Allah the Exalted commanded. He called them to the worship of Allah alone without partner, and forbade them from worshipping anything besides Him. Noah was the first messenger whom Allah sent to the people of the earth, as is established in the two Sahihs from Abu Hurayrah, from the Prophet ﷺ in the hadith of intercession. He said: They will come to Adam and say: O Adam, you are the father of mankind; Allah created you with His hand, and breathed into you of His spirit, and commanded the angels, and they prostrated to you, and lodged you in Paradise. Will you not intercede for us with your Lord? Do you not see what we are in and what has befallen us? He will say: My Lord has become angry with an anger such as He has never been angry before the like of it, and will never be angry after it the like of it. He forbade me the tree, and I disobeyed. Myself, myself! Go to someone other than me; go to Noah. So they will come to Noah and say: O Noah, you are the first of the messengers to the people of the earth, and Allah named you a thankful servant. Do you not see what we are in? Do you not see what has befallen us? Will you not intercede for us with your Lord, Mighty and Majestic? He will say: My Lord has become angry today with an anger such as He has never been angry before the like of it, and will never be angry after it the like of it. Myself, myself! And he mentioned the rest of the hadith in full, as al-Bukhari cited it in the story of Noah. When Allah sent Noah ﷺ, he called them to single out worship for Allah alone without partner, and not to worship with Him any idol, image, or false deity, and to affirm His oneness, and that there is no god but He and no Lord besides Him, as Allah the Exalted commanded those after him among the messengers who are all from his progeny. As He the Exalted said: And We made his descendants those who remained [al-Saffat: 77]. And He said concerning him and Abraham: And We placed in their descendants prophethood and the Book [al-Hadid: 26], meaning every prophet after Noah is from his progeny, and likewise Abraham. Allah the Exalted said: And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], 'Worship Allah and avoid false deities' [al-Nahl: 36]. And He the Exalted said: And ask those We sent before you of Our messengers; did We make besides the Most Merciful deities to be worshipped? [al-Zukhruf: 45]. And He the Exalted said: And We sent not before you any messenger except that We revealed to him that there is no deity except Me, so worship Me [al-Anbiya': 25]. For this reason Noah said to his people: Worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a terrible day [al-A'raf: 59]. And he said: That you not worship except Allah. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a painful day [Hud: 26]. And he said: O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. Then will you not fear Him? [al-Mu'minun: 23]. And he said: O my people, indeed I am to you a clear warner, [saying], 'Worship Allah, fear Him and obey me. He will forgive you of your sins and delay you to a specified term. Indeed, the term of Allah, when it comes, will not be delayed, if you only knew.' He said, 'My Lord, indeed I invited my people to truth night and day. But my invitation increased them not except in flight. And indeed, every time I invited them that You might forgive them, they put their fingers in their ears, covered themselves with their garments, persisted, and were arrogant with great arrogance. Then I invited them publicly. Then I announced to them and confided to them secretly. And said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in continuing showers and give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers. What is [the matter] with you that you do not attribute to Allah [due] grandeur while He has created you in stages?' [Nuh: 2-14], the noble verses. He mentioned that he called them to Allah with various kinds of calling in night and day, in secret and in public, by encouragement at one time and intimidation at another. Despite all of this, he did not succeed with them; rather, most of them persisted in error and tyranny, and the worship of idols and images. They set up enmity toward him at every time and moment, belittled him and those who believed in him, threatened them with stoning and expulsion, and harmed them, and went to extremes in their affair. The chiefs of his people, that is, their leading elders, said: Indeed, we see you in clear error. He said: O my people, there is not error in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds [al-A'raf: 60]. That is, I am not as you claim that I am astray; rather, I am upon right guidance, a messenger from the Lord of the worlds, the one who says to a thing, 'Be,' and it is. I convey to you the messages of my Lord and advise you, and I know from Allah what you do not know [al-A'raf: 62]. This is the character of a messenger: that he be eloquent, that is, articulate, giving sincere counsel, the most knowledgeable of people about Allah, Mighty and Majestic. They said to him among what they said: We see you not but a man like ourselves, and we see none who have followed you except those who are the lowest of us [at] first thought, and we do not see in you any merit over us; rather, we think you are liars [Hud: 27]. They marveled that a human could be a messenger, and they belittled those who followed him, seeing them as their lowliest. It has been said that they were from the lowest of the people, their weak ones, as Heraclius said: They are the followers of the messengers. That is only because there is no barrier for them from following the truth. Their saying, '[at] first thought,' means that as soon as you called them, they responded to you without reflection or deliberation. This very thing for which they blamed them is exactly what they are praised for, for the manifest truth does not require deliberation, thought, or reflection. Rather, it obliges following and submission whenever it appears. Hence the Prophet ﷺ praised Abu Bakr al-Siddiq for the speed of his response to his call to Islam: 'I never called anyone to Islam except that he had a hesitation, except Abu Bakr, for he did not falter.' For this reason his pledge on the day of the Saqifah was also swift without deliberation or reflection, because his superiority over others was evident and clear to the Companions ؓ. For this reason the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, when he wanted to write the document in which he intended to specify his succession but then left it: 'Allah and the believers refuse except Abu Bakr' ؓ. And the statement of the disbelievers of Noah's people to him and to those who believed with him: 'We do not see in you any merit over us,' meaning, no matter appeared for you after your being characterized by faith, nor any distinction over us; rather, we think you are liars. He said: O my people, have you considered: if I am upon clear evidence from my Lord and He has given me mercy from Himself but it has been obscured from you, should we force it upon you while you are averse to it? [Hud: 27-28]. This is gentleness in address toward them and kindness toward them in calling to the truth, as He the Exalted said: And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Taha: 44]. And He the Exalted said: Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best [al-Nahl: 125]. This is him saying to them: Have you considered: if I am upon clear evidence from my Lord and He has given me mercy from Himself, that is, prophethood and messengerhood, but it has been obscured from you, meaning you have not understood it and have not been guided to it, should we force it upon you? Meaning, shall we compel you to it and coerce you upon it while you are averse to it? That is, I have no stratagem with you in this state. And: O my people, I do not ask you for it any wealth; my reward is not but from Allah. That is, I do not desire from you any payment for conveying to you what benefits you in your worldly life and your hereafter. I seek that only from Allah, whose reward is better for me and more lasting than what you would give me. And his saying: And I am not one to drive away those who have believed. Indeed, they will meet their Lord, but I see you as a people who are ignorant [Hud: 29]. It is as if they demanded of him that he dismiss these [believers] from himself, and promised him that they would come together with him if he did that, but he refused them that, and said: Indeed, they will meet their Lord, so I fear, if I drive them away, that they will complain of me to Allah, Mighty and Majestic. For this reason he said: And O my people, who would protect me from Allah if I drove them away? Then will you not be reminded? [Hud: 30]. For this reason, when the disbelievers of Quraysh asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to drive away from him the weak believers, such as 'Ammar, Suhayb, Bilal, Khabbab and their like, Allah forbade him from that, as we have explained in Surat al-An'am and al-Kahf: And I do not say to you that I have the treasures of Allah, nor do I know the unseen, nor do I say that I am an angel. That is, rather I am a servant and messenger; I do not know of the knowledge of Allah except what He has taught me, and I am not able except for what He has enabled me, and I do not possess for myself benefit or harm except what Allah wills. And I do not say to those whom your eyes despise, meaning his followers: Allah will never give them good. Allah is most knowing of what is within themselves. Indeed, I would then be among the wrongdoers. That is, I do not testify against them that they have no good with Allah on the Day of Resurrection. Allah knows them best and will recompense them for what is in their souls; if good, then good, and if evil, then evil, as they said in the other passage: Should we believe you while the lowest follow you? He said: And what is my knowledge of what they used to do? Their account is only upon my Lord, if you could perceive. And I am not one to drive away the believers. I am only a clear warner [al-Shu'ara': 111]. The time grew long, and the dispute between him and them, as He the Exalted said: And he remained among them a thousand years minus fifty years, and the flood seized them while they were wrongdoers [al-'Ankabut: 14]. That is, despite this long period, none believed in him except a few of them. Whenever a generation passed away, they bequeathed to those after them not to believe in him and to oppose him and contradict him. The father, when his child reached maturity and understood his speech, would enjoin him privately not ever to believe in Noah as long as he lived and for as long as he remained. Their dispositions refused faith and following the truth. For this reason he said: And they will not beget except wicked disbelievers [Nuh: 27]. For this reason they said: O Noah, you have disputed with us and been frequent in dispute with us, so bring us what you promise us, if you should be of the truthful. He said: Allah will only bring it to you if He wills, and you will not cause failure [Hud: 32-33]. That is, only Allah, Mighty and Majestic, is capable of that, for He is the one whom nothing can frustrate and no matter concerns; rather, He is the one who says to a thing, 'Be,' and it is. And my advice will not benefit you, should I wish to advise you, if Allah should intend to put you in error. He is your Lord, and to Him you will be returned [Hud: 34]. That is, whoever Allah intends to test, no one can possess his guidance. He is the one who guides whom He wills and leads astray whom He wills, and He is the doer of what He wills, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise, knowing who deserves guidance and who deserves error, and to Him belongs perfect wisdom and the decisive argument. Consolation for Noah in his people, that none will believe with him except those who have already believed. And it was revealed to Noah that no one will believe from your people except those who have already believed, so do not be distressed by what they have been doing [Hud: 36]. This is consolation for Noah ﷺ in his people, that none of them will believe except those who have believed, and a comfort for him regarding what they had done to him: so do not be distressed by what they have been doing, meaning let not what happened grieve you, for victory is near, and the news is astonishing. And construct the ship under Our eyes and Our revelation, and do not address Me concerning those who have wronged; indeed, they are to be drowned. That is because Noah ﷺ, when he despaired of their rectitude and success, and saw that there was no good in them, and they reached the point of harming him, opposing him, and denying him in every way of deed and word, he supplicated against them with a supplication of anger for Allah, and Allah answered his call and responded to his request. Allah the Exalted said: And Noah had certainly called Us, and [We are] the best of responders. And We saved him and his family from the great affliction [al-Saffat: 75-76]. And He the Exalted said: And [mention] Noah, when he called before, and We responded to him and saved him and his family from the great affliction [al-Anbiya': 76]. And He the Exalted said: He said, 'My Lord, indeed my people have denied me. Then judge between me and them with decisive judgement and save me and those with me of the believers' [al-Shu'ara': 117-118]. And He the Exalted said: So he invoked his Lord, 'Indeed, I am overpowered, so help' [al-Qamar: 10]. And He the Exalted said: He said, 'My Lord, support me because they have denied me' [al-Mu'minun: 26]. And He the Exalted said: Because of their sins they were drowned and put into the Fire, and they found not for themselves besides Allah any helpers. And Noah said, 'My Lord, do not leave upon the earth from among the disbelievers an inhabitant. Indeed, if You leave them, they will mislead Your servants and not beget except wicked disbelievers' [Nuh: 25-27]. So their sins gathered against them from their disbelief and wickedness, and the supplication of their prophet against them. The harm of Noah's people toward him. Ibn Ishaq and others said: The people of Noah used to seize him and choke him until he lost consciousness. When he revived, he would say: O Allah, forgive me and my people, for they do not know! When they persisted in their disobedience, and their sin became great, and the matter grew long upon him and them, the tribulation became severe upon him. He waited generation after generation, and no generation came except that it was more wicked than the one before it, until the latter would say: This one was with our fathers and grandfathers a madman; they do not accept anything from him. He used to be beaten and wrapped up and thrown into his house, and they would think he had died. When he revived, he would wash and go out to them calling them to Allah. When that became prolonged for him, and he saw the children worse than the fathers, he said: My Lord, You see what Your servants do to me. If You have any need for them, then guide them. If it is otherwise, then deliver me until You judge among them. So He revealed to him: None of your people will believe except those who have already believed. When he despaired of their faith, he supplicated against them and said: My Lord, do not leave upon the earth from among the disbelievers an inhabitant.

Grades by grader

No grade is recorded for this wording.