Transliteration:( Qaala Noohur Rabbi innahum 'asawnee wattaba'oo mal lam yazid hu maaluhoo wa waladuhooo illaa khasaara )
"Nuh said: 'O my Lord! They have disobeyed me and followed one whose wealth and children have only increased him in loss.'"
(Kanzul Imaan Translation)
✅ Root of All Rebellion – Disobedience to Prophets (31)
This verse begins with a powerful declaration from Hazrat Nuh (peace be upon him) about the core reason behind his nation’s downfall:
🚫 Rejection of Prophetic Guidance – Their first mistake was turning away from the message sent by Allah (اللَّهُ ). Disobeying a Prophet is equal to disobeying Allah (اللَّهُ ) Himself.
🔥 Shaitaan’s Example – He was cursed for his defiance. Similarly, people become accursed when they oppose those sent by Allah (اللَّهُ ).
⚖️ Punishment Linked to Rejection – The Qur'an clearly states:
“And We are not to torment until We have sent a Messenger.” (Surah Al-Isra 17:15)
✅ Blind Following of the Wealthy – A Source of Destruction (32)
The second reason for their deviation was their blind obedience to the rich and powerful, whose wealth and children became a means of spiritual ruin.
💸 Wealth Misused – Instead of being grateful and obedient, they grew arrogant and rebellious.
👥 Influence of Status – The poor followed the elite in their rejection, valuing material status over truth.
🧠 Two Important Lessons:
Worldly Blessings Can Become Punishment – When used in arrogance against the truth.
Rebellion is Contagious – Following misguided leaders leads to destruction.
21. Nuh said: “My Lord! They have disobeyed me, and followed one whose wealth and children give him no increase but loss.” 22. “And they have plotted a mighty plot.” 23. “And they have said: `You shall not leave your gods, nor shall you leave Wadd, nor Suwa`, nor Yaghuth, and Ya`uq and Nasr.’ ” 24. “And indeed they have led many astray. And (O Allah): `Grant no increase to the wrongdoers save error.”’
Allah says that Nuh turned to Allah to inform Allah – the All Knowing from Whom nothing escapes – that he presented the clear call, as mentioned previously, and the comprehensive invitation in various ways. He called them sometimes by encouragement and sometimes by intimidating warnings. Yet, they disobeyed him, opposed him, denied him and followed the children of the world. They were those who were heedless of the command of Allah and they possessed delights of wealth and children. However, these things (worldly benefits) were also for gradual punishment and temporary respite, not for honor or blessing. Thus, Allah says,
(And they have plotted a mighty plot.) is that they plotted a deceptive plot for their followers tricking them into believing that they were following the truth and correct guidance. This is like what they will say to them on the Day of Judgement,
(Nay, but it was your plotting by night and day: when you orderd us to disbelieve in Allah and set up rivals to Him!) (34:33) For this reason He says here,
(And they have plotted a mighty plot. And they have said: `You shall not leave your gods, nor shall you leave Wadd, nor Suwa`, nor Yaghuth, and Ya`uq and Nasr.’) These are the names of their idols which they used to worship besides Allah. Al-Bukhari recorded from Ibn `Abbas that he said, “The idols that were among the people of Nuh wound up among the Arabs afterwards. In reference to Wadd, it became the idol of the people of Kalb in the area of Dawmat Al-Jandal. Suwa` became the idol of the people of Hudhayl. Yaghuth became the idol of the people of Murad, then the people of Bani Ghutayf at Al-Juruf in the area of Saba’ worshipped it after them. Ya`uq became the idol of the people of Hamdan. Nasr became the idol of the people of Himyar for the family of Dhu Kala`. These idols were all named after righteous men from the people of Nuh. Then when these men died, Shaytan inspired his (Nuh’s) people to erect statues in honor of them at their gathering places where they used to come and sit, and to name these statues after these men (with their names). So they did this (as Shaytan suggested), but these statues were not worshipped until after those people (the ones who built them) had died and the knowledge was lost. Then, those statues were later worshipped.” This has also been similarly reported from `Ikrimah, Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah and Ibn Ishaq. `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas that he said, “These are statues that were worshipped in the time of Nuh.” Ibn Jarir recorded from Muhammad bin Qays that he said concerning Yaghuth, Ya`uq and Nasr, “They were righteous people between the time of Adam and Nuh, and they had followers who used to adhere to their guidance. Then, when they died, their companions who used to follow them said, `If we make images of them, it will increase our desire to perform worship when we remember them.’ So they made images of them. Then, when those people died and other people came after them, Iblis approached them and said, `They (your predecessors) used to worship these statues and they were granted rain by their worship of them.’ Thus, they (the latter people) worshipped them.”
(And indeed they have led many astray.) meaning, by the idols that they took for worship, they mislead a large number of people. For verily, the worship of those idols continued throughout many generations until our times today, among the Arabs, the non-Arabs and all the groups of the Children of Adam. Al-Khalil (Prophet Ibrahim) said in his supplication,
(And keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.”O my Lord! They have indeed led astray many among mankind…”) (14:35,36) Allah then says,
(Grant no increase to the wrongdoers save error.) This is a supplication from him (Nuh) against his people due to their rebellion, disbelief and obstinacy. This is just as Musa supplicated against Fir`awn and his chiefs in his statement,
(Our Lord ! Destroy their wealth, and harden their hearts, so that they will not believe until they see the painful torment.) (10:88) Verily, Allah responded to the supplication of both of these Prophets concerning their people and He drowned their nations due to their rejection of what he (that Prophet) had come with.
(71:21) Noah said: “My Lord, they did not pay heed to what I said, and followed those (nobles) whose possession of wealth and children has led them to an even greater loss.
There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.
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