In the name of God, the Lord of Grace, the Ever Merciful
They found their forefathers astray, and rushed to follow in their footsteps. Most of the people of old went astray before them; although We had sent them warners. Behold what happened in the end to those that had been warned. Not so God’s true servants.
Noah cried to Us, and We are the best to answer prayer: We saved him and his household from great distress; and caused his offspring to be the survivors. We caused him to be praised by later generations: Peace be upon Noah in all the worlds! Thus do we reward those who do good. He was truly one of our believing servants. Then We caused the others to drown. (Ranged in Rank, Al-Saffat: 37: 69-82)
These verses begin the second part of the surah, which picks up the lessons of history as it mentions communities going back to the early days of humanity and their attitudes toward divine guidance. We find the story frequently repeating itself. Indeed, the people who persisted in disbelief in Makkah, taking a hostile attitude to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), appear to be an offshoot of those earlier communities that went astray. The fates of those earlier communities are mentioned, putting before the Arab unbelievers certain historical events for them to reflect upon as also to reassure the believers that divine care, which never deserted the believers of old, would also not fail them.
The surah gives brief accounts of Noah, Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac, Moses and Aaron, Elijah, Lot and Jonah. It dwells more on Abraham’s and Ishmael’s story as it puts before us an example of supreme faith and sacrifice showing us the nature of true surrender to God’s will. This particular episode is not mentioned anywhere else in the Qur’an. Together, these stories make up the entire passage.
“They found their forefathers astray, and rushed to follow in their footsteps. Most of the people of old went astray before them; although We had sent them warners. Behold what happened in the end to those that had been warned. Not so God’s true servants.”
These people are hardened in following error, but at the same time they are simply following the footsteps of others, without thinking or reflection. They rush to follow their fathers’ lead taking no opportunity to question or examine: “They found their forefathers astray, and rushed to follow in their footsteps.” Both they and their fathers are examples of going astray, which was also the case of the majority of earlier communities: “Most of the people of old went astray before them.” Yet they did receive warnings, but paid no heed: “although We had sent them warners.” What did this lead to in the end? What was the outcome of the unbelievers’ attitude, as compared with the outcome of heeding the warnings and accepting the faith? This is shown in the stories that follow. The verses that ensue serve as a mere announcement of what is to come: “Behold what happened in the end to those that had been warned. Not so God’s true servants.”
The first story is Noah’s, but the account here dwells only briefly on the outcome, highlighting the care God took of His true servants: “Noah cried to Us, and We are the best to answer prayer: We saved him and his household from great distress; and caused his offspring to be the survivors. We caused him to be praised by later generations: Peace be upon Noah in all the worlds! Thus do we reward those who do good. He was truly one of our believing servants. Then We caused the others to drown.”
This reference to Noah includes his appeal to God and the full answer to his prayer by the best to give such an answer. It also tells of the fact that he and his household were saved from the great floods that drowned all except those whom God willed to be saved. It speaks of God’s will to make of his offspring communities which build the earth and establish its heritage, while he, himself would be remembered by future generations until the end of time. “We caused him to be praised by later generations.” It declares to all the worlds God’s greeting to Noah, as he was one who fulfilled well the assignment given him: “Peace be upon Noah in all the worlds! Thus do we reward those who do good.” What reward could anyone wish for when he has received God’s own greetings and is to be remembered for the rest of time? The mark of Noah’s doing well that so ensured his great reward was his unshakable faith: “He was truly one of our believing servants.” This outcome is brought about by faith. The unbelievers among Noah’s people met their own ruin: “Then We caused the others to drown.” This has set the rule ever since the dawn of history. It is the pattern given in general terms immediately before these stories: “We had sent them warners. Behold what happened in the end to those that had been warned. Not so God’s true servants.