Adh-Dhaariyat (The Winnowing Winds)

46. [And were] the people of Noah [AS] before them [whom We destroyed]. Indeed, they were a people transgressing Divine Bounds.

The Noble Prophet of Islam (S) and Muslims were able to take a lesson out of the story of Noah’s (as) people whom Noah called to monotheism for a thousand years. The common run of people at times incline toward committing sins and pave the ground for Divine torment.

The opening conjunction particle ‘and’ connects the blessed Verse in question with the preceding ones, as per which the blessed Verse is saying that God Almighty caused the destruction of the people of Noah prior to those of ‘Ad and Thamud, since they were wrong-doers who were totally sinners disobedient to Divine Command.

They disbelieved Prophetic Calls as a consequence of which they were given the ultimatum and were afflicted with the recompense of their vicious deeds - the excruciating torment. These blessed Verses treat of five Prophets (as) and their peoples and the torments inflicted upon the disobedient peoples.

The reminder serves two purposes: firstly, warning others against disobedience to God Almighty which necessitates Divine torments illustrating those in store in the Hereafter and secondly, consoling the Noble Prophet of Islam (S) encouraging him to entertain no sorrow because of some people attributing unbefitting qualities to him including sorcery and madness.

He is thereby reminded that people have been the same at different times and those seeking truth are very few in number. Former Prophets (as) were patient against disbelievers’ persecutions and persevered firmly in propagating their Prophetic Missions. The Noble Prophet of Islam (S) is encouraged to persevere firmly in the Cause of Allah like former Prophets (as).

The same motif is attested elsewhere in the Holy Qur’an, including 46:35:

“Therefore, be patient [O Muhammad (S)!] as did the Prophets of strong will (ulu al-‘azm).”

These blessed Verses encouraging him to be patient reflect that the Noble Prophet (S) suffered many abuses by the disbelievers from Quraysh and he was quite anxious because of their denial of his Prophetic Call.