And when the context was for trial and testing, and patience in the face of humiliation, and the affirmation of Allah's knowledge and His ability to save the obedient and punish the disobedient, He mentioned among the noble messengers, blessings and peace be upon them, one whose patience was prolonged in the face of trial, and whose determination did not waver from advising the servants regarding what they treated him with of harm. This was a consolation for His Messenger, blessings and peace be upon him, and for his followers, may Allah be pleased with them, and a strengthening for them and a threat to Quraysh. He said, referring to "And certainly We tested those before them" [Al-Ankabut: 3], which is like an explanation for it. And He has a great consideration for "And certainly We have conveyed to them the saying" [Al-Qasas: 51] and confirmed it to dispel the misconception of those who say that the ability to influence hearts is sufficient without the message in the abode of causation: "And certainly We have sent" meaning: according to what We have of greatness that suffices for the message, conducting matters according to what this abode necessitates of the wisdom of causation. (p-404) "Nuh" meaning: the first of Allah's messengers to the inhabitants of the earth, and this is the meaning of "to his people" for disbelief had spread among the people of the earth, and he, blessings and peace be upon him, was the prophet who faced the greatest trial with them. Therefore, he said, causing that and following up: "So he remained among them" meaning: after the message, calling them to Allah. The matter became great by his saying: "a thousand" for he mentioned the head of the number which has no greater head than it, and he expressed it with the term "year" as a reproach for the days of disbelief. And he said: "except fifty" confirming that this time was nine hundred and fifty without increase or decrease, with brevity and sweetness. And he said: "a year" indicating that the time of his life, blessings and peace be upon him, after their drowning was a prosperous and good time due to the faith of the believers and the fertility of the earth.

And when the repetition of supplication with the absence of response is a clear indication of compliance and lack of weariness, he said, causing that regarding his remaining among them and his supplication for them and following it up: "So We seized them" meaning: all of them by drowning, a seizing of overpowering and dominance. "The flood" meaning: of water, for the flood originally refers to anything that is overwhelming, encompassing, dominant, filled with abundance, intensity, and strength from a torrent or darkness or death or otherwise, and what is meant here is the water. "And they were wrongdoers" meaning: deeply entrenched in this description, which is the placing of things in other than their proper places, the action of one who walks in the deepest darkness, by denying their messenger and persisting in their disbelief, which is consistent with their supplication to him night and day, with none returning from their misguidance except a few (p-405) due to their small number, they are not counted; and this was indicated by him, causing that with his saying.