Surah 11

Surah 11:33

"He said, ‘Only God will bring it to you, if He (so) pleases, and you will not escape."
The People's Request of Nuh to bring the Torment and His Response to Them Verses 11:32-34
Show Full Scripture Context (11:32-34) — 3 Verses
Verse 32

قَالُواْ يَٰنُوحُ قَدۡ جَٰدَلۡتَنَا فَأَكۡثَرۡتَ جِدَٰلَنَا فَأۡتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ

They said, ‘Noah! You have disputed with us, and disputed (too) much with us. Bring us what you promise us, if you are one of the truthful.’

Verse 33

قَالَ إِنَّمَا يَأۡتِيكُم بِهِ ٱللَّهُ إِن شَآءَ وَمَآ أَنتُم بِمُعۡجِزِينَ

He said, ‘Only God will bring it to you, if He (so) pleases, and you will not escape.

Verse 34

وَلَا يَنفَعُكُمۡ نُصۡحِيٓ إِنۡ أَرَدتُّ أَنۡ أَنصَحَ لَكُمۡ إِن كَانَ ٱللَّهُ يُرِيدُ أَن يُغۡوِيَكُمۡۚ هُوَ رَبُّكُمۡ وَإِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُونَ

My advice will not benefit you – (even) if I wish to advise you – if God wishes to make you err. He is your Lord, and to Him you will be returned.’

Allah, the Exalted, informs that the people of Nuh sought to hasten Allah's vengeance, torment, anger and the trial (His punishment). This is based on their saying,

Quoted Scripture
"They said: "O Nuh! You have disputed with us and much have you prolonged the dispute with us...""

They meant by this, "You (Nuh) have argued with us long enough, and we are still not going to follow you."

Quoted Scripture
"now bring upon us what you threaten us with,"

What he (Nuh) promised is referring to the vengeance and torment (from Allah). They were actually saying, "Supplicate against us however you wish, and let whatever you have supplicated come to us."

{"...if you are of the truthful." (In reply to this,) He said: "Only Allah will bring it (the punishment) on you, if He wills, and then you will escape not."} 11:32-33

This means, 'It is only Allah Who can punish you and hasten your punishment for you. He is the One from Whom nothing escapes.'

Quoted Scripture
"And my advice will not profit you, even if I wish to give you good counsel, if Allah's will is to keep you astray."

This means: something that could be useful to you (in acceptance) of my preaching to you, warning you and advising you.

Quoted Scripture
"if Allah's will is to keep you astray."

This means: your deception and your ultimate destruction.

Quoted Scripture
"He is your Lord! and to Him you shall return."

He is the Owner of the finality of all matters. He is the Controller, the Judge, the Most Just and He does not do any injustice. Unto Him belongs the creation and the command. He is the Originator and the Repeater (of the creation). He is the Owner of this life and the Hereafter.

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.