سورة هُود
Surah Hûd 11:40
Hûd · Verse 40 of 123
حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَ أَمْرُنَا وَفَارَ التَّنُّورُ قُلْنَا احْمِلْ فِيهَا مِنْ كُلٍّ زَوْجَيْنِ اثْنَيْنِ وَأَهْلَكَ إِلَّا مَنْ سَبَقَ عَلَيْهِ الْقَوْلُ وَمَنْ آمَنَ ۚ وَمَا آمَنَ مَعَهُ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ
Abdul Mannan 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.
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.
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.
12 more translations
Ali Unal
(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.
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.
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.)
Maulana Muhammad Ali
At length when Our command came and water gushed forth from the valley, We said: Carry in it two of all things, a pair, and thine 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.
Maulvi Sher Ali
Till -- when our command came and the fountains of the earth gushed forth - WE said, `Embark therein two of every kind, male and female, and thy family, except those against whom the word has already gone forth, and those who believe.' And there had not believe in him except a few.
Muhammad Asad
[And so it went on] till, when Our judgment came to pass, and waters gushed forth in torrents over the face of the earth, We said [unto Noah]: "Place on board of this [ark] one pair of each [kind of animal] of either sex, as well as thy family - except those on whom [Our] sentence has already been passed - and all [others] who have attained to faith!- for, only a few [of Noah's people] shared his faith.
Muhammad Musin 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."
Muhammad 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.
Muhammed ali 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.
Rashad Khalifa
When our judgment came, and the atmosphere boiled over, we said, "Carry on it a pair of each kind, together with your family, except those who are condemned. Carry with you those who have believed," and only a few have believed with him.
Shabbir Ahmed
Thus it was until Our command came to pass. Waters gushed forth in torrents over the face of the land. Torrential rain began and the rivers started overflowing. We commanded Noah to take with him livestock, a couple each, and to take his family and followers with him. The rejecters, of course, were not to embark. The community of believers with Noah was small.
Commentary 11:40 The Flood was not a universal visitation affecting the whole world or all people. The Holy Qur’ân indicates that it took place in the land of the people…
حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَ أَمْرُنَا وَفَارَ التَّنُّورُ قُلْنَا احْمِلْ فِيهَا مِن كُلٍّ زَوْجَيْنِ اثْنَيْنِ وَأَهْلَكَ إِلَّا مَن سَبَقَ عَلَيْهِ الْقَوْلُ وَمَنْ آمَنَ ۚ وَمَا آمَنَ مَعَهُ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ
11:40 The Flood was not a universal visitation affecting the whole world or all people. The Holy Qur’ân indicates that it took place in the land of the people of Noah, who was not a universal Prophet. The mention of the water flowing from the valley also indicates that it was only a tract of land that was flooded and not the entire earth. Al-Tannûr التَّنُّورُ is the high ground. It also stands in for “early in the morning”. The words translated as “Embark in it with two of every kind” do not mean that Noah boarded with mating pairs of every kind of living creatures. There are two words in the verse that set a limit on the numbers. Firstly, the word min من that means “from some” and secondly, the word kul كل. The word kul does not necessarily mean “all”. We read for instance about the Queen of Sabâ in that “She was given everything” (- kullun; 27:23), and about Dhul-Qarnain, “We provided him with all sorts of means” (18:83). It is obvious that Queen Sabâ and Dhul-Qarnain were not given everything existing on the earth at that time.