Sūrah 71 · Meccan

How Sūrah Nooh was revealed.

Where and when it came down, what it teaches, and the hadith about it — all on one calm page.

Read Nooh → The revelation story
Where revealed Meccan

Revealed in the Meccan period, before the migration to Madīnah.

Order of revelation #71

Its place in the traditional order in which the sūrahs were revealed.

Length 28 ayahs

2 reading sections in the Muṣḥaf.

The revelation story

How and when it came down.

This Makkan surah is primarily dedicated to affirming monotheism and prophethood by recounting the comprehensive mission of Prophet Noah. Its purpose is to warn the polytheists that their continued association with God will result in the same catastrophic, inescapable punishment that destroyed the first major nation to deny its messenger.

Themes and purpose:

This Makkan surah is primarily dedicated to affirming monotheism and prophethood by recounting the comprehensive mission of Prophet Noah. Its purpose is to warn the polytheists that their continued association with God will result in the same catastrophic, inescapable punishment that destroyed the first major nation to deny its messenger.

Context of Revelation:

Era: Makkan by consensus.

Context: The surah was revealed during a period when the Prophet (ﷺ) was facing intense denial and resistance. It uses the story of the first nation to suffer divine collective punishment as a powerful, historical analogue for the conflict in Makkah.

Chronology: It is counted as the 73rd surah in the order of revelation, revealed after Sūrat al-Naḥl and before al-Ṭūr.

Name and Ayah Count:

Name: The surah is known as "Sūrat Nūḥ" (The Chapter of Noah) for its theme, and "Sūrat Innā arsalnā Nūḥan" with reference to its opening.

Ayah Count: 30 ayahs (Madīnah/Makkah) or 28/29 (Kūfah/Baṣrah/Shām).

Surah Overview:

  • The Historical Precedent: The primary objective is using the destruction of the people of Nūḥ as a definitive example and warning to the current polytheists. [1-4]
  • Monotheism and Proofs: Detailing Nūḥ's lengthy call to monotheism, proving Allah’s sole divinity through the marvels of creation (sun, moon, earth, rain). [5-18]
  • Warning of Punishment: Warning Nūḥ’s people (and implicitly the polytheists) of the impending great flood and terrible torment. [4, 13, 25]
  • Idols and Design: Naming the specific idols (Wadd, Suwāʿ, Yaghūth, Yaʿūq, Nasr) worshipped by Nūḥ’s people and confirming their people's design to mislead others. [23-24]
  • The Final Plea: Detailing Nūḥ’s ultimate prayer for the destruction of the disbelievers and for the forgiveness of the believers. [26-28]
  • Reward: Integrating the promise of abundant provision, increased progeny, and gardens for those who obey Allah. [10-12]
  • Conclusion: Concluding with Nūḥ’s prayer for forgiveness and blessings for the believers and destruction for the wicked. [28]

Sūrah background — via the Quran Foundation Content API. Shown as supplied by the provider. We do not edit, summarise or generate it.

Hadith about this sūrah

What the hadith say.

These 1 narrations in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī are connected to specific āyāt of this sūrah — a linkage reviewed by the Quran Foundation. Open any one to read it in full, in Arabic and English.

  1. Relates to āyah5–6
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 773

    حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي بِشْرٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ انْطَلَقَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي طَائِفَةٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ عَامِدِينَ إِلَى سُوقِ عُكَاظٍ، وَقَدْ حِيلَ بَيْنَ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَبَيْنَ خَبَرِ السَّمَاءِ، وَأُرْسِلَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الشُّهُبُ، فَرَجَعَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ إِلَى قَوْمِهِمْ‏.‏ فَقَالُوا مَا لَكُمْ فَقَالُوا حِيلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ خَبَرِ السَّمَاءِ، وَأُرْسِلَتْ عَلَيْنَا الشُّهُبُ‏.‏ قَالُوا مَا حَالَ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَ خَبَرِ السَّمَاءِ إِلاَّ شَىْءٌ حَدَثَ، فَاضْرِبُوا مَشَارِقَ الأَرْضِ وَمَغَارِبَهَا، فَانْظُرُوا مَا هَذَا الَّذِي حَالَ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَ خَبَرِ السَّمَاءِ فَانْصَرَفَ أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ تَوَجَّهُوا نَحْوَ تِهَامَةَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهْوَ بِنَخْلَةَ، عَامِدِينَ إِلَى سُوقِ عُكَاظٍ وَهْوَ يُصَلِّي بِأَصْحَابِهِ صَلاَةَ الْفَجْرِ، فَلَمَّا سَمِعُوا الْقُرْآنَ اسْتَمَعُوا لَهُ فَقَالُوا هَذَا وَاللَّهِ الَّذِي حَالَ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَ خَبَرِ السَّمَاءِ‏.‏ فَهُنَالِكَ حِينَ رَجَعُوا إِلَى قَوْمِهِمْ وَقَالُوا يَا قَوْمَنَا ‏﴿‏إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآنًا عَجَبًا * يَهْدِي إِلَى الرُّشْدِ فَآمَنَّا بِهِ وَلَنْ نُشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَا أَحَدًا‏﴾‏ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَى نَبِيِّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم [quran sura="72" aya_start="1" aya_end="1"]‏{‏قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَىَّ‏}‏ وَإِنَّمَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْهِ قَوْلُ الْجِنِّ‏.‏

    Narrated Ibn `Abbas: The Prophet (ﷺ) set out with the intention of going to Suq `Ukaz (market of `Ukaz) along with some of his companions. At the same time, a barrier was put between the devils and the news of heaven. Fire commenced to be thrown at them. The Devils went to their people, who asked them, "What is wrong with you?" They said, "A barrier has been placed between us and the news of heaven. And fire has been thrown at us." They said, "The thing which has put a barrier between you and the news of heaven must be something which has happened recently. Go eastward and westward and see what has put a barrier between you and the news of heaven." Those who went towards Tuhama came across the Prophet at a place called Nakhla and it was on the way to Suq `Ukaz and the Prophet (ﷺ) was offering the Fajr prayer with his companions. When they heard the Qur'an they listened to it and said, "By Allah, this is the thing which has put a barrier between us and the news of heaven." They went to their people and said, "O our people; verily we have heard a wonderful recital (Qur'an) which shows the true path; we believed in it and would not ascribe partners to our Lord." Allah revealed the following verses to his Prophet (Sura 'Jinn') (72): "Say: It has been revealed to me." And what was revealed to him was the conversation of the Jinns.

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The link between each āyah and these narrations is the Quran Foundation's reviewed reference map. The wording is reproduced verbatim from a public-domain edition of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and is not edited, summarised or generated; every narration also opens at Sunnah.com so it can be checked against another copy.

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