The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

216
The Quran 23: 23
23 We sent Noah to his people. He said, ‘My people, serve God, for
He is your only god. Will you not heed Him?’ 24 But the leading
disbelievers among his people said, ‘He is merely a mortal like
you, trying to gain some superiority over you. God would have
sent down angels if He had wished; besides, we never heard of
anything like this from our forefathers. 25 He is just a madman, so
let’s wait and see what happens to him.’ 26 Noah said, ‘My Lord, help
me! They call me a liar,’ 27 and so We revealed to him: ‘Build the
Ark under Our watchful eye and according to Our revelation.
When Our command comes and water gushes up out of the earth, a
take pairs of every species on board, and your family, except for
those on whom the sentence has already been passed – do not plead
with me for the evildoers: they will be drowned – 28 and when
you and your companions are settled on the Ark, say, “Praise be to
God, who delivered us from the wicked people,” 29 and say, “My
Lord, let me land with Your blessing: it is You who provide the best
landings”.’ 30 There are signs in all this: We have always put [people]
to the test.
31 Then We raised another generation after them, 32 and sent one of
their own as a messenger: ‘Serve God, for He is your only god. Will
you not heed Him?’ 33 But the leading disbelievers among his
people, who denied the Meeting in the Hereafter, to whom We had
granted ease and plenty in this life, said, ‘He is just a mortal like
you – he eats what you eat and drinks what you drink – 34 and you
will really be losers if you obey a mortal like yourselves. 35 How can
he promise you that after you die and become dust and bones you
will be brought out alive? 36 What you are promised is very farfetched.
37 There is only the life of this world: we die, we live, b but we
will never be resurrected. 38 He is just a man making lies up about
God. We will never believe in him.’ 39 The prophet said, ‘My Lord,
help me! They call me a liar,’ 40 and so God said, ‘Soon they will be
filled with regret.’ 41 The blast justly struck them and We swept them
away like scum. Away with the evildoers! 42 We raised other generations
after them – 43 no community can advance or delay its time –
44 and We sent Our messengers in succession: whenever a messenger
came to a community they invariably called him a liar, so We
a Literally ‘the furnace boils over’.
b Razi interprets this order to mean successive generations.