Maktab QuranSurah Nuh is a prophet's report to his Lord after nine and a half centuries of calling: 'My Lord, I called my people night and day, and my calling only increased them in flight.' Its 28 ayahs are almost entirely Nuh's own voice — the public preaching, the private appeals, the promise that istighfar brings rain, wealth, sons and gardens, the despair at a people who clung to their idols, and finally the dua that sealed their fate and the prayer for forgiveness that closes the surah.
Surah Nuh is the 71st chapter of the Qur'an, a Meccan surah of 28 verses named after the Prophet Nuh (Noah). Almost the whole surah is his own speech: how he called his people night and day, what he promised them if they sought forgiveness, the signs he pointed them to, and finally the supplication he made when they refused.
Surah Nuh at a glance
| Surah number | 71 of 114 |
|---|---|
| Arabic name | سُورَةُ نُوحٍ |
| Name in English | Nuh — “Noah” |
| Verses (ayahs) | 28 |
| Revealed in | Makkah |
| Juz | 29 |
| Length in the Mushaf | about 2 pages |
A call that lasted night and day
Nuh is sent to warn his people before a painful punishment. He reports back to his Lord that he invited them night and day, and that his invitation increased them only in flight — that every time he called them to be forgiven they put their fingers in their ears, covered themselves with their garments, persisted, and were arrogant. He then called them publicly, then announced to them and confided to them privately.
Ask forgiveness — and what follows it
The heart of his message is to ask forgiveness of a Lord who is a Perpetual Forgiver, with a promise attached: rain in continuing showers, increase in wealth and children, gardens and rivers. He then asks why they do not attribute to Allah due grandeur, and points to the seven heavens in layers, the moon as a reflected light, the sun as a burning lamp, their own growth from the earth, their return into it, and the earth spread as an expanse with roads to travel.
The closing supplication
When they disobey and follow those whose wealth and children only increase them in loss, Nuh makes his final supplication. The surah closes with him asking forgiveness for his parents, for whoever enters his house as a believer, and for the believing men and women.
For children, our Prophet Nuh story for kids tells his whole account — the call, the ark and the flood — from the passages of the Quran that describe it.
Read Surah Nuh in full
The Arabic below is the Uthmani script, with a Roman transliteration to help you sound out each verse and the Sahih International English translation of the meaning. If you are learning to recite it, read the Arabic line first and use the transliteration only to check yourself — leaning on it slows real reading down.
Listen to Surah Nuh (Mishary Al-Afasy)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦٓ أَنْ أَنذِرْ قَوْمَكَ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۭ
Innaaa arsalnaa Noohan ilaa qawmihee an anzir qawmaka min qabli any yaatiyahum 'azaabun aleem
Indeed, We sent Noah to his people, [saying], "Warn your people before there comes to them a painful punishment."
قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ إِنِّى لَكُمْ نَذِيرٌۭ مُّبِينٌ
Qaala yaa qawmi innee lakum nazeerum mubeen
He said, "O my people, indeed I am to you a clear warner,
أَنِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱتَّقُوهُ وَأَطِيعُونِ
Ani'udul laaha watta qoohu wa atee'oon
[Saying], 'Worship Allah, fear Him and obey me.
يَغْفِرْ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرْكُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍۢ مُّسَمًّى ۚ إِنَّ أَجَلَ ٱللَّهِ إِذَا جَآءَ لَا يُؤَخَّرُ ۖ لَوْ كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
Yaghfir lakum min zunoobikum wa yu'akhkhirkum ilaaa ajalim musammaa; innaa ajalal laahi izaa jaaa'a laa yu'akhkhar; law kuntum ta'lamoon
Allah will forgive you of your sins and delay you for a specified term. Indeed, the time [set by] Allah, when it comes, will not be delayed, if you only knew.' "
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى دَعَوْتُ قَوْمِى لَيْلًۭا وَنَهَارًۭا
Qaala rabbi innee da'awtu qawmee lailanw wa naharaa
He said, "My Lord, indeed I invited my people [to truth] night and day.
فَلَمْ يَزِدْهُمْ دُعَآءِىٓ إِلَّا فِرَارًۭا
Falam yazid hum du'aaa 'eee illaa firaaraa
But my invitation increased them not except in flight.
وَإِنِّى كُلَّمَا دَعَوْتُهُمْ لِتَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ جَعَلُوٓا۟ أَصَٰبِعَهُمْ فِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَٱسْتَغْشَوْا۟ ثِيَابَهُمْ وَأَصَرُّوا۟ وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ ٱسْتِكْبَارًۭا
Wa inee kullamaa da'awtuhum litaghfira lahum ja'alooo asaabi'ahum fee aazaanihim wastaghshaw siyaabahum wa asaarroo wastakbarus tikbaaraa
And indeed, every time I invited them that You may forgive them, they put their fingers in their ears, covered themselves with their garments, persisted, and were arrogant with [great] arrogance.
ثُمَّ إِنِّى دَعَوْتُهُمْ جِهَارًۭا
Summa innee da'aw tuhum jihaara
Then I invited them publicly.
ثُمَّ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَنتُ لَهُمْ وَأَسْرَرْتُ لَهُمْ إِسْرَارًۭا
Summaa inneee a'lantu lahum wa asrartu lahum israaraa
Then I announced to them and [also] confided to them secretly
فَقُلْتُ ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ غَفَّارًۭا
Faqultus taghfiroo Rabakam innahoo kaana Ghaffaaraa
And said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver.
يُرْسِلِ ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًۭا
Yursilis samaaa'a 'alaikum midraaraa
He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers
وَيُمْدِدْكُم بِأَمْوَٰلٍۢ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ جَنَّٰتٍۢ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ أَنْهَٰرًۭا
Wa yumdidkum bi am waalinw wa baneena wa yaj'al lakum Jannaatinw wa yaj'al lakum anhaaraa
And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers.
مَّا لَكُمْ لَا تَرْجُونَ لِلَّهِ وَقَارًۭا
Maa lakum laa tarjoona lillaahi waqaaraa
What is [the matter] with you that you do not attribute to Allah [due] grandeur
وَقَدْ خَلَقَكُمْ أَطْوَارًا
Wa qad khalaqakum at waaraa
While He has created you in stages?
أَلَمْ تَرَوْا۟ كَيْفَ خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ سَبْعَ سَمَٰوَٰتٍۢ طِبَاقًۭا
Alam taraw kaifa khalaqal laahu sab'a samaawaatin tibaaqaa
Do you not consider how Allah has created seven heavens in layers
وَجَعَلَ ٱلْقَمَرَ فِيهِنَّ نُورًۭا وَجَعَلَ ٱلشَّمْسَ سِرَاجًۭا
Wa ja'alal qamara feehinna nooranw wa ja'alash shamsa siraajaa
And made the moon therein a [reflected] light and made the sun a burning lamp?
وَٱللَّهُ أَنۢبَتَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ نَبَاتًۭا
Wallaahu ambatakum minal ardi nabaataa
And Allah has caused you to grow from the earth a [progressive] growth.
ثُمَّ يُعِيدُكُمْ فِيهَا وَيُخْرِجُكُمْ إِخْرَاجًۭا
Summa yu'eedukum feehaa wa ukhrijukum ikhraajaa
Then He will return you into it and extract you [another] extraction.
وَٱللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ بِسَاطًۭا
Wallaahu ja'ala lakumul arda bisaataa
And Allah has made for you the earth an expanse
لِّتَسْلُكُوا۟ مِنْهَا سُبُلًۭا فِجَاجًۭا
Litaslukoo minhaa subulan fijaajaa
That you may follow therein roads of passage.' "
قَالَ نُوحٌۭ رَّبِّ إِنَّهُمْ عَصَوْنِى وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ مَن لَّمْ يَزِدْهُ مَالُهُۥ وَوَلَدُهُۥٓ إِلَّا خَسَارًۭا
Qaala Noohur Robbi innahum 'asawnee wattaba'oo mal lam yazid hu maaluhoo wa waladuhooo illaa khasaara
Noah said, "My Lord, indeed they have disobeyed me and followed him whose wealth and children will not increase him except in loss.
وَمَكَرُوا۟ مَكْرًۭا كُبَّارًۭا
Wa makaroo makran kubbaaraa
And they conspired an immense conspiracy.
وَقَالُوا۟ لَا تَذَرُنَّ ءَالِهَتَكُمْ وَلَا تَذَرُنَّ وَدًّۭا وَلَا سُوَاعًۭا وَلَا يَغُوثَ وَيَعُوقَ وَنَسْرًۭا
Wa qaaloo laa tazarunna aalihatakum wa laa tazarunna Waddanw wa laa Suwaa'anw wa laa Yaghoosa wa Ya'ooqa wa Nasraa
And said, 'Never leave your gods and never leave Wadd or Suwa' or Yaghuth and Ya'uq and Nasr.
وَقَدْ أَضَلُّوا۟ كَثِيرًۭا ۖ وَلَا تَزِدِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا ضَلَٰلًۭا
Wa qad adalloo kasee ranw wa laa tazidiz zaalimeena illaa dalaalaa
And already they have misled many. And, [my Lord], do not increase the wrongdoers except in error."
مِّمَّا خَطِيٓـَٰٔتِهِمْ أُغْرِقُوا۟ فَأُدْخِلُوا۟ نَارًۭا فَلَمْ يَجِدُوا۟ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَنصَارًۭا
Mimmaa khateee' aatihim ughriqoo fa udkhiloo Naaran falam yajidoo lahum min doonil laahi ansaaraa
Because of their sins they were drowned and put into the Fire, and they found not for themselves besides Allah [any] helpers.
وَقَالَ نُوحٌۭ رَّبِّ لَا تَذَرْ عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ مِنَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ دَيَّارًا
Wa qaala Noohur Rabbi laa tazar 'alal ardi minal kaafireena daiyaaraa
And Noah said, "My Lord, do not leave upon the earth from among the disbelievers an inhabitant.
إِنَّكَ إِن تَذَرْهُمْ يُضِلُّوا۟ عِبَادَكَ وَلَا يَلِدُوٓا۟ إِلَّا فَاجِرًۭا كَفَّارًۭا
Innaka in tazarhum yudil loo 'ibaadaka wa laa yalidooo illaa faajiran kaffaaraa
Indeed, if You leave them, they will mislead Your servants and not beget except [every] wicked one and [confirmed] disbeliever.
رَّبِّ ٱغْفِرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَىَّ وَلِمَن دَخَلَ بَيْتِىَ مُؤْمِنًۭا وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِ وَلَا تَزِدِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا تَبَارًۢا
Rabbigh fir lee wa liwaa lidaiya wa liman dakhala baitiya mu'minanw wa lil mu'mineena wal mu'minaati wa laa tazidiz zaalimeena illaa tabaaraa
My Lord, forgive me and my parents and whoever enters my house a believer and the believing men and believing women. And do not increase the wrongdoers except in destruction."
Learning Surah Nuh
Nuh reads as one continuous speech, which helps — the argument moves in a straight line rather than jumping. The list of signs in the middle is the passage most students rehearse separately.
Why memorize Surah Nuh?
Because it is a masterclass in dua wrapped in two pages. The surah teaches how a caller persists, how istighfar opens provision — the passage scholars across the centuries have prescribed for rain and rizq — and ends with a forgiveness prayer many Muslims adopt word for word: 'My Lord, forgive me and my parents and whoever enters my house a believer…'
How long does Surah Nuh take to memorize?
Honest answer: it depends on your daily portion and whether someone is correcting you. Surah Nuh is about 28 lines of mushaf text. Here is what that means at three realistic paces — each assuming you also run the revision cycle (which is what makes it permanent):
| Pace | New memorization per day | Time to finish Surah Nuh | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relaxed | ~3 lines | about 10 days | Busy adults, first-time memorizers |
| Steady | ~5 lines | about 6 days | Most students — the sweet spot |
| Focused | ~10 lines | about 3 days | Experienced memorizers, school holidays |
Add roughly a consolidation week at the end — the point where you can recite the whole surah to a listener without prompts. Our guide to how long the whole Quran takes uses the same arithmetic.
The smart way to memorize Surah Nuh
Follow the single voice. The surah is one man's speech in movements: the commission and the call (1–4), the report of rejection — night and day, public and private (5–9), the istighfar promise passage with its cascade of blessings (10–12), the argument from creation in stages, the seven heavens, the earth as a carpet (13–20), and the final complaint, the drowning, and the two duas (21–28). Memorize the istighfar passage (10–12) and the closing dua (28) to perfection first — they are the pieces you will use for life; the narrative then connects them.
A milestone plan for Surah Nuh
At the steady pace (~5 lines a day), Surah Nuh breaks into four milestones. Print our free planner PDF and mark them off:
| Portion | New-memorization time | Cumulative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milestone 1 | Ayahs 1–7 | ~2 days | Day 2 |
| Milestone 2 | Ayahs 8–14 | ~2 days | Day 4 |
| Milestone 3 | Ayahs 15–21 | ~2 days | Day 6 |
| Milestone 4 | Ayahs 22–28 | ~2 days | Day 8 |
Sabaq, sabqi, manzil — the three gears
Memorize new lines (sabaq), keep this week's lines warm (sabqi), and cycle everything older (manzil) — three gears that together make memorization permanent instead of temporary. The pattern is centuries old because it works. Get it as a printable system in our free Quran memorization planner, or run it with a teacher on the Hifz course.
Don't memorize your mistakes
The most expensive error in memorization is invisible: reciting to yourself, you cannot catch your own mispronunciations — and repetition welds them in. This is why every serious hifz program pairs students with a listening teacher. Ours work one-to-one on a live synchronized Quran page, correcting letter by letter, with female teachers available for women and girls. The trial lesson is free.