Noah is an important character in the Quran, and different versions of his story appear seven times. He is portrayed mainly as a messenger whom Allah sends to his people. This version (vv. 59–64) features a long speech from Noah in which he defends himself from the accusation of leading the people astray. The detail of the ark or “ship” (v. 64) seems almost incidental. The focus is on how God rescued Noah and drowned Noah’s opponents.

Further versions of the Noah story come at 10.71–3; 11.25–48; 23.23–30; 26.105–20; 54.7–17; and 71.1–28.

This story of Noah is the first in a series of stories in this sūra in which messengers are sent to various peoples. Similar material appears in many of the sūras starting with Sūra 10 and continuing up to Sūra 46. Some scholars of the Quran call these stories “punishment narratives.” Other examples of a series of such stories – involving the same five characters presented in this sūra – are given in Sūras 11 (which adds Abraham before Lot) and 26.