Tafsir of Al-Haqqah 69:11

Al-Haqqah (The Inevitable Reality): Verse 11

إِنَّا لَمَّا طَغَى الْمَاءُ Indeed, when the water overflowed...

Translation and Exegesis (Tafsir):

1. The Meaning of Ṭaghā (Overflowed):
   • Some commentators suggest that the water overflowed its reservoirs/containers (khazā’inihi), and it was unknown how much water was released. This view implies that not a single drop fell from the sky before or after that event except by a known measure.
   • The majority of exegetes state that {طَغَى الْمَاءُ} (the water overflowed) means it exceeded its limit, rising above everything else.

2. The Meaning of Ḥamalnākum (We carried you):
   • This refers to carrying your forefathers while you were still in their loins.
   • Undoubtedly, those addressed by this verse are the descendants of those who were on the Ark.

3. The Meaning of Fī l-Jāriyah (In the running vessel):
   • This refers to the ship that sailed upon the water, which is the Ark of Noah (peace be upon him).
   • Al-Jāriyah is one of the names for a ship, as seen in the verse: {وَلَهُ الْجَوَارِي} (And to Him belong the running ships) (Ar-Rahman: 24).

لِّنَجْعَلَهَا لَكُمْ تَذْكِرَةً وَتَعِيَهَا أُذُنٌ وَاعِيَةٌ That We might make it a lesson for you and that a conscious ear might retain it.

Translation and Exegesis (Tafsir):

1. Purpose of Preservation: We preserved the event (the flood and the Ark) {لِّنَجْعَلَهَا لَكُمْ تَذْكِرَةً} (that We might make it a lesson for you).
2. The Receptive Ear: And {وَتَعِيَهَا أُذُنٌ وَاعِيَةٌ} (that a conscious/receptive ear might retain it). This means that the story should be understood and remembered by an ear that is attentive, comprehending, and capable of preserving the lesson.