Ash-Shu'ara · Makki · ayah 121 of 227

Ash-Shu'ara 26:121

إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً ۖ وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

“Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.”

Saheeh International

Essence

The refrain first heard at 26:8 closes Nuh's story: an ark left as a sign for every age, and still most did not believe.

A reflection

A sign left floating for later readers

This exact line was first met at 26:8, and its full treatment lives there. Here it closes the story of Nuh, and 'that' has something specific to point at: the laden ark and the flood around it.

Other surahs say what became of that ship. 'We left it as a sign, so is there anyone who will take heed?' (54:15). 'We made it a sign for the worlds' (29:15). The sign was not used up on the day of the flood. It was left for later readers.

One commentator spells out what the sign teaches. It is a sign of Allah's way with His messengers: He saves them and those who follow them, and He brings down those who deny. Then he turns it to the Prophet ﷺ. 'So is My way with you and your people.'

That makes the refrain more than a comment on the past. It is a promise to whoever stands with the truth today, and a warning to whoever mocks it.

The full entry has 2 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.