11.47 – unless You forgive me and have compassion on me, I shall be one of the losers

Noah asks forgiveness for appealing to his Lord about his son. In the Quran, biblical prophets generally acknowledge their faults and ask forgiveness. This clashes with the Muslim doctrine of the sinlessness of prophets known by the Arabic term ‘iṣma. In fact, the Islamic interpretive tradition debated who is guilty of “an unrighteous deed” in verse 46, and how to interpret this verse so that it leaves no stain on Noah’s claimed sinlessness. See the analysis of verses on the sins of prophets at 48.2.