Overall meaning : Allah, Exalted be He, instructs His Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to relate to the idolaters of Makkah the story of Noah, peace be upon him, with his people when he said to them, 'If my presence among you and my reminding you of Allah’s signs and proofs has become too much for you to bear, know, then, that in Allah have I placed my trust and He will certainly protect me against your harm; therefore, decide on what you plan to do against me, and seek the help of those you associate with Allah and worship besides Him. Do not intrigue in secret, then go ahead and carry out against me whatever you may have decided and give me no respite. If you turn away from the message my Lord has commanded me to convey to you, then remember that I have not asked you for any reward whatsoever. My reward rests with none but Allah Almighty, and I have been commanded to be among those who have surrendered themselves to Him.’
Noah’s people disbelieved him, Allah states, and so He saved him and those who were with him in the Ark and made them successors of the unbelievers in the land, and He drowned those who disbelieved His signs and proofs. Then He asks His Prophet, Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to see and reflect on the evil fate of these people whose messenger had warned them of Allah’s severe punishment for their unbelief and rejection of their messenger.