Page 516 - An Index to the Qur'an

truth and the Companions of Rass and Thamud. and grant you gardens and grant you waterways.
(50:12) What is the matter with you that you do not hope
And the people of Nuh before, they were a peo- for honour from Allah, when He created you by
ple of deviators. (51:46) successive stages? Do you not see how He cre-
And the people of Nuh before–they were most ated seven heavens in layers, and placed the
unjust and exorbitant. (53:52) moon as a light in them and made the sun a blaz-
Before them the people of Nuh denied the truth. ing lamp? Allah caused you to grow from the
They denied Our servant, saying, ‘He is mad- earth then will return you to it and bring you out
man,’ and he was driven away with jeers. He again. Allah has spread the earth out as a carpet
called upon his Lord: ‘I am overwhelmed, so for you so that you could use its wide valleys as
help me!’ So We opened the gates of heaven with roadways."’ Nuh said, ‘My Lord, they have dis-
torrential water and made the earth burst forth obeyed me and followed those whose wealth
with gushing springs. And the waters met to- and children have only increased them in loss.
gether in a way which was decreed. We bore They have hatched a mighty plot saying, "Do not
him on a planked and well-caulked ship, which abandon your gods. Do not abandon Wadd or
ran before Our eyes–a reward for him who had Suwa‘ or Yaghuth or Ya‘uq or Nasr. They have
been rejected. We left it as a Sign. But is there misguided many people. Do not increase the
any rememberer there? How terrible were My wrongdoers in anything but misguidance!’
punishment and warnings! (54:9-16) Because of their errors they were drowned and
We sent Nuh and Ibrahim and placed put into the Fire. They found no one to help them
Prophethood and the Book among their descen- besides Allah. Nuh said, ‘My Lord! Do not leave
dants. Some of them are guided but many of a single one of the disbelievers on earth! If You
them are deviators. (57:26) leave any they will misguide Your servants and
Allah has made an example for those who disbe- spawn nothing but more dissolute disbelievers.
lieve: the wife of Nuh and the wife of Lut. They My Lord! Forgive me and my parents and all who
were married to two of Our servants who were enter my house as believers, and all the men and
righteous but they betrayed them and were not women of the believers. But do not increase the
helped at all against Allah. They were told, ‘Enter wrongdoers except in ruin!’ (71:1-28)
the Fire along with all who enter it.’ (66:10)
We sent Nuh to his people: ‘Warn your people NURSING
before a painful punishment comes to them.’ He Mothers should nurse their children for two full
said, ‘My people, I am a clear warner to you. years–those who wish to complete the full term
Worship Allah, have fear of Him and obey me. of nursing. It is the duty of the fathers to feed and
He will forgive you your wrong actions and defer clothe them with correctness and courtesy–no
you until a specified time. When Allah’s time self is charged with more than it can bear. No
comes it cannot be deferred, if you only knew.’ mother should be put under pressure in respect
He said, ‘My Lord, I have called my people night of her child nor any father in respect of his child.
and day but my calling has only made them The same duty is incumbent on the heir. If the
more evasive. Indeed, every time I called them to couple both wish weaning to take place after
Your forgiveness, they put their fingers in their mutual agreement and consultation, there is
ears, wrapped themselves up in their clothes and nothing wrong in their doing that. If you wish to
were overweeningly arrogant. Then I called them find wet-nurses for your children, there is noth-
openly. Then I addressed them publicly and ad- ing wrong in your doing that provided you hand
dressed them privately. I said, "Ask forgiveness of over to them what you have agreed to give with
your Lord. Truly He is Endlessly Forgiving. He correctness and courtesy. Have fear of Allah and
will send heaven down on you in abundant rain know that Allah sees what you do. (2:233)
and reinforce you with more wealth and sons, On the day they see it, every nursing woman will
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