Al-Qur'an Surah Hud Verse 40

Mufti Taqi Usmani

At last, when Our command came and the oven overflowed, We said, “Take into the Ark a pair of two from every species, along with your family,-except those against whom the Word has already been pronounced-and (also take into it) those who have believed.” And there were only a few who had believed with him.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And when Our command came and the oven burst ˹with water˺,[[ Noah was given a signal that once the water gushes out of a particular oven then the Flood is about to begin. It can also be translated as: “The fountains of the earth gushed forth.” ]] We said ˹to Noah˺, “Take into the Ark a pair from every species along with your family—except those against whom the decree ˹to drown˺ has already been passed—and those who believe.” But none believed with him except for a few.

Ruwwad Translation Center

When Our command came and the oven overflowed, We said, “Take on board a pair from every species and your family – except those who have already been decreed [to drown] – and those who believe.” But none believed with him except a few.

A. J. Arberry

Until, when Our command came, and the Oven boiled, We said, 'Embark in it two of every kind, and thy family -- except for him against whom the word has already been spoken and whosoever believes.' And there believed not with him except a few.

Abdul Haleem

When Our command came, and water gushed up out of the earth, We said, ‘Place on board this Ark a pair of each species, and your own family- except those against whom the sentence has already been passed- and those who have believed,’ though only a few believed with him.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Thus were they employed until when Our decree came and the oven boiled over, We said: carry thereon of every kind two, and thy household except him thereof against whom the word hath already gone forth, and whosoever hath believed. And there had not believed with him save a few.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

At length, behold! there came Our command, and the fountains of the earth gushed forth! We said; "Embark therein, of each kind two, male and female, and your family - except those against whom the word has already gone forth,- and the Believers." but only a few believed with him.

Abul Ala Maududi

Thus it was until Our command came to pass and the oven boiled over. We said: 'Take into the Ark a pair of every species; and take your own family except those who have already been declared (as unworthy); and also take everyone who believes. But those who, along with him, had believed were indeed just a few.

Ahmed Ali

When Our command was issued and the waters gushed forth from the source, We said: "Take into (the ark) a pair of every species, and members of your family other than those against whom the sentence has been passed already, and those who come to believe." But only a few believed in him.

Ahmed Raza Khan

To the extent that when Our command came and the oven overflowed, We said, “Board into the ship a couple – male and female – from every kind, and your family members, except those upon whom the Word has been passed*, and all other Muslims”; and only a few Muslims were with him. (* Whose fate has been sealed.)

Ali Quli Qarai

When Our edict came and the oven gushed [a stream of water], We said, ‘Carry in it a pair of every kind [of animal], along with your family—except those [of them] against whom the edict has already been given—and those who have faith.’ And none believed with him except a few.

Ali Ünal

(And so it went on) until the time when Our command came and the boiler started boiling over. We said (to Noah): "Embark in it a pair of each kind (of living creature), and your family, except those against whom Our sentence has already been passed, and those who believe." And those who believed with him were few.

Amatul Rahman Omar

(Thus it was) till Our command (about the punishment) came and waters of the springs (of the valley) swelled and gushed forth, We said, `Embark in it two of every kind (needed) male and female and (all the members of) your family except those about the destruction of whom (Our) verdict has already been announced and (embark in it) also those who believe.´ Yet there had not believed in him excepting a few.

English Literal

Until when Our order/command came, and the hollow clay oven/furnace boiled over/gushed, We said: Carry/load/lift in it from every/each a pair/couple two, and your family/people/relation, except who the saying/words preceded on him, and who believed." And none believed with him except a little/few.

Faridul Haque

To the extent that when Our command came and the oven overflowed, We said, "Board into the ship a couple - male and female - from every kind, and your family members, except those upon whom the Word has been passed *, and all other Muslims"; and only a few Muslims were with him. (* Whose fate has been sealed.)

Hamid S. Aziz

And you shall surely soon know who it is to whom the punishment that confounds and shames shall come, and upon whom shall fall the lasting doom."

Hilali & Khan

(So it was) till then there came Our Command and the oven gushed forth (water like fountains from the earth). We said: "Embark therein, of each kind two (male and female), and your family, except him against whom the Word has already gone forth, and those who believe. And none believed with him, except a few."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

So you shall know who it is on whom will come a chastisement which will disgrace him, and on whom a lasting chastisement will fall.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Until when Our command came and water came forth from the valley, We said: Carry in it two of all things, a pair, and your own family-- except those against whom the word has already gone forth, and those who believe. And there believed not with him but a few.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

(Thus it was) till, when Our commandment came to pass and the oven gushed forth water, We said: Load therein two of every kind, a pair (the male and female), and thy household, save him against whom the word hath gone forth already, and those who believe. And but a few were they who believed with him.

Muhammad Sarwar

When at last Our decree was fulfilled, water gushed forth from the Oven (in Noah's house). We told him to carry in the Ark a pair (male and female) from every species, his family - except those who were destined to perish - and the believers. No one believed in him, except a few.

Qaribullah & Darwish

And when Our command came and the oven gushed (forth with water), We said (to Noah): 'Take on board (the Ark) a pair from every species and yourfamily, except he of whom the word has already been spoken, and those who believe. And none except a few believed with him.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

(So it was) till when Our command came and the oven gushed forth (water like fountains from the earth). We said: "Embark therein, of each kind two (male and female), and your family -- except him against whom the Word has already gone forth -- and those who believe. And none believed with him, except a few."

Wahiduddin Khan

When Our command came, and water gushed forth in torrents, We said to Noah, "Take into the Ark a pair from every species, and your own family -- except those on whom the sentence has already been passed, and all the true believers." But only a few believed along with him.

Talal Itani

Until, when Our command came, and the volcano erupted, We said, “Board into it a pair of every kind, and your family—except those against whom the sentence has already been passed—and those who have believed.” But those who believed with him were only a few.

Tafsir jalalayn

Such that when (hatt represents the objective for [the action of] `building') Our command came, for their destruction, and the, baker's, oven gushed forth, with water -- this was the sign for Noah -- We said, `Load therein, in the ship, of every kind, [of every] male and female, that is, of every species of these two, two, a male and a female (ithnayn constitutes the direct object). According to the story, God gathered for Noah all the beasts of prey and birds and other [animals]; he [Noah] would go through every species [to select them] with his hands, and his right hand would fall upon a male and the left upon a female, whereupon he would take them aboard the ship; and your family -- that is, his wife and children -- save those against whom the Word has already gone forth, from among them, that they be destroyed; this was his wife and his son Canaan, in contrast with Shem, Ham and Japheth, whom he took aboard together with their three wives, and those who believe'. And none but a few believed with him; it is said that these were six men and their wives; it is also said that the number of all those aboard the ship was eighty, half of whom were men and the other half, women.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The beginning of the Flood and Nuh loads Every Creature in Pairs upon the Ship

Allah says;

حَتَّى إِذَا جَاء أَمْرُنَا وَفَارَ التَّنُّورُ


(So it was) till when Our command came and the oven gushed forth (water like fountains from the earth).

This was the promise of Allah to Nuh , when the command of Allah came, the rain was continuous and there was a severe storm which did not slacken or subside, as Allah said,

فَفَتَحْنَأ أَبْوَبَ السَّمَأءِ بِمَاءٍ مُّنْهَمِرٍ

وَفَجَّرْنَا الاٌّرْضَ عُيُوناً فَالْتَقَى المَأءُ عَلَى أَمْرٍ قَدْ قُدِرَ

وَحَمَلْنَاهُ عَلَى ذَاتِ أَلْوَحٍ وَدُسُرٍ

تَجْرِى بِأَعْيُنِنَا جَزَاءً لِّمَن كَانَ كُفِرَ

So We opened the gates of the heaven with water pouring forth. And We caused springs to gush forth from the earth. So the waters (of the heaven and the earth) met for a matter predestined. And We carried him on a (ship) made of planks and nails. Floating under Our Eyes;a reward for him who had been rejected! (54;11-14)

In reference to Allah's statement,
وَفَارَ التَّنُّورُ
(and the oven gushed forth), It is related from Ibn Abbas that he said,

"At-Tannur is the face of the earth."

This verse means that the face of the earth became gushing water springs. This continued until the water gushed forth from the Tananir, which are places of fire. Therefore, water even gushed from the places where fire normally would be.

This is the opinion of the majority of the Salaf (predecessors) and the scholars of the Khalaf (later generations).

قُلْنَا احْمِلْ فِيهَا مِن كُلٍّ زَوْجَيْنِ اثْنَيْنِ


We said;"Embark therein, of each kind two (male and female),

At this point, Allah commanded Nuh to select one pair from every kind of creature possessing a soul, and load them on the ship.

Some said that this included other creatures as well, such as pairs of plants, male and female.

It has also been said that the first of the birds to enter the ship was the parrot, and the last of the animals to enter was the donkey.

Concerning Allah's statement,

وَأَهْلَكَ إِلاَّ مَن سَبَقَ عَلَيْهِ الْقَوْلُ

and your family -- except him against whom the Word has already gone forth.

This means, "Load your family upon the ship."

This is referring to the members of his household and his relatives, except him against whom the Word has already gone forth, for they did not believe in Allah. Among them was the son of Nuh, Yam, who went in hermitage. Among them was the wife of Nuh who was a disbeliever in Allah and His Messenger.

Concerning Allah's statement,

وَمَنْ امَنَ

and those who believe.

from your people.

وَمَا امَنَ مَعَهُ إِلاَّ قَلِيلٌ



And none believed with him, except a few.

This means that only a very small number believed, even after the long period of time that he (Nuh) was among them -- nine hundred and fifty years.

It is reported from Ibn Abbas that he said,

"They were eighty people including their women.