Overall meaning : We sent forth Noah to his people. ‘Worship Allah alone, my people,’ he said, ‘for there is no god worthy of worship except Him. Will you not, then, fear Allah and His punishment?’ The unbelieving leaders of his people said to the masses, ‘This man is but a human being like yourselves, who only seeks dominance over you and thus be better than you. Had Allah willed, He could have sent down angels to deliver His message to us. We have never heard anything like this ever happening in the time of our forefathers. Noah is only a madman, so wait for a while until he dies and you will not be bothered by him ever again!’
He prayed, ‘Help me, Lord, for their denying Your message that I have conveyed to them.’ So We inspired him thus: Build the Ark under Our watchful eyes, according to Our instructions. When Our command to destroy the unbelievers comes and water starts gushing forth from the oven, take aboard pairs of every species, male and female, and the members of your household (as well as the believers) except those on whom a sentence of destruction has already passed because of their unbelief. Do not plead with Me for your unbelieving people, for they will surely be drowned. When you and those with you have settled in the Ark, say, ‘Praise be to Allah who has saved us from the wrongdoing people.’ And pray, ‘Lord, let my landing be blessed. You are the best to give us a safe landing.’
Surely Our destruction of Noah’s unbelieving people and Our saving the believers provides clear signs of the truthfulness of what Our messengers had brought from us. We do put nations to the test by sending them Our messengers before inflicting punishment on them, to see how they will act.