Tafsir of Al-Mu'minoon 23:26

In His help lies their destruction. It is as if he said: "Destroy them because they denied me," or "Help me in place of their denial of me," just as one says, "This for that," meaning in place of it and in its stead. The meaning is: "Replace the grief of their denial with the solace of victory over them," or "Help me by fulfilling the punishment I promised them," which is what they denied when he said to them: "I fear for you the punishment of a Great Day" (Al-A'raf: 59, Ash-Shu'ara: 135, Al-Ahqaf: 21).

"Under Our eyes" Meaning: under Our protection and guardianship. It is as if he had guardians from Allah watching over him with their eyes, so that no one could harm him or spoil his work. From this comes the saying: "He has a watchful eye from Allah upon him."

"And Our revelation" Meaning: We command you how to act and We instruct you. It is narrated that it was revealed to him to build it in the likeness of a bird's breastbone.

It is narrated that Noah (peace be upon him) was told: "When you see water gushing from the tannur (oven), embark with those who are with you in the ark." When the water sprang forth from the oven, his wife informed him, and he embarked. It is said it was the oven of Adam (peace be upon him), made of stone, which passed to Noah. There is disagreement regarding its location: Al-Sha'bi says it was in the Kufa Mosque, to the right of the entrance near the Kinda gate, where Noah built the ark in the middle of the mosque. Others say it was in Syria at a place called 'Ayn Warda, or in India. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The tannur is the face of the earth." Qatada said: "The highest place on earth." Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The gushing of the tannur is the breaking of dawn." Others say it is a metaphor, like the saying: "The furnace (war) has heated up." The first view is the most accurate.

"Embark therein" It is said: salaka fihi (he entered it). Salaka ghayrahu (he caused another to enter), and aslakahu (he made him enter). As the poet said: "Until they made them enter into its narrow passes."

"Of every pair, two" Meaning: of every species, a pair—the male species and the female species—like camels (male and female), horses and mares. It is narrated that he only carried what gives birth or lays eggs. It is read as min kullin (with tanwin), meaning: of every species, a pair. "Two" is an emphasis and further clarification.

"Except those against whom the word has already gone forth" Ala (against) is used here with the mention of harm, just as lam (for) is used with the mention of benefit. Allah says: "Those for whom the best has preceded from Us" (Al-Anbiya: 101), and "Our word has already preceded for Our servants, the messengers" (As-Saffat: 171). Similar to His saying: "It will have what it earned, and against it will be what it acquired" (Al-Baqarah: 286).

If you ask: Why did He forbid him from praying for their salvation? I say: Because the verse implies they are wrongdoers, and wisdom dictates they must be drowned, given the known benefit in their destruction and the harm in their survival. After He granted them a long life and they only increased in error, and the conclusive proof was established against them, nothing remained but to make them a lesson for those who take heed. He emphasized this by following the prohibition with a command to praise Him for their destruction and his salvation, as in: "So the last remnant of the people who did wrong was cut off. And praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds" (Al-An'am: 45). Then He commanded him to call upon Him with a prayer more important and beneficial: to be landed in the ark, or on the earth when exiting it, in a blessed place that grants him increase in the good of both worlds, and to follow the prayer with praise that matches his request: "And You are the best of those who bring to land."

If you ask: Why was it not said "Say" (plural), given the verse "When you and those with you have boarded"? I say: Because he is their Prophet and leader; his speech is their speech. It also signals the excellence of Prophethood and the majesty of Lordship, showing that the rank of such address is only attained by an angel or a prophet.

"Indeed, We were the ones to test" Inna is the lightened form of the heavy inna, and the lam is the one that distinguishes the negative from the affirmative. The "matter and story" is that We were testing the people of Noah with a great trial and severe punishment, or testing Our servants with these signs to see who takes heed and remembers, as in: "And We have left it as a sign, so is there any who will remember?" (Al-Qamar: 15).