وَأُوحِيَ إِلَى نُوحٍ أَنَّهُ لَنْ يُؤْمِنَ مِنْ قَوْمِكَ إِلَّا مَنْ قَدْ آمَنَ فَلَا تَبْتَئِسْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْعَلُونَ ﴿۳۶﴾ وَاصْنَعِ الْفُلْكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَوَحْيِنَا وَلَا تُخَاطِبْنِي فِي الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا إِنَّهُمْ مُغْرَقُونَ ﴿۳۷﴾ وَيَصْنَعُ الْفُلْكَ وَكُلَّمَا مَرَّ عَلَيْهِ مَلَأٌ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ سَخِرُوا مِنْهُ قَالَ إِنْ تَسْخَرُوا مِنَّا فَإِنَّا نَسْخَرُ مِنْكُمْ كَمَا تَسْخَرُونَ ﴿۳۸﴾ فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ يَأْتِيهِ عَذَابٌ يُخْزِيهِ وَيَحِلُّ عَلَيْهِ عَذَابٌ مُقِيمٌ ﴿۳۹﴾

﴾36﴿ Wa oohiya ilaa Noohin annahoo lany-yu'mina min qawmika illaa man qad aamana falaa tabta'is bimaa kaanoo yaf'aloon
﴾37﴿ Wasna'il fulka bi-a'yuninaa wa wahyinaa wa laa tukhaa tibnee fil lazeena zalamoo; innahum mughraqoon
﴾38﴿ Wa yasna'ul fulka wa kullamaa marra 'alaihi mala'um min qawmihee sakhiroo minh; qaala in taskharoo minnaa fa innaa naskharu minkum kamaa taskharoon
﴾39﴿ Fasawfa ta'lamoona mai ya'teehi 'azaabuny yukhzeehi wa yahillu 'alaihi 'azaabun muqeem

﴾36﴿ And it was revealed to Noah (peace be upon him) that none of your people will believe except those who have already believed. So do not grieve over what they do
﴾37﴿ And construct the ship under our observation and according to our revelation and fo not plead with me concerning those who have wronged indeed they are to be drowned
﴾38﴿ And he was building the ark, and whenever the chiefs of his people passed by him, they mocked him. He said, 'If you mock us, then indeed we will mock you just as you mock us
﴾39﴿ "So soon you will know upon whom a disgraceful punishment will come, and upon whom a lasting torment will descend

[36] After detailing the call of Nuh (peace be upon him), this verse now describes the details of the punishment.
This verse is also evidence that Nuh (peace be upon him) had prayed against his people, but only after receiving revelation from Allah.
Through this revelation, he became certain that his people would no longer believe, and thus lost hope in their guidance.
The phrase (لَنْ يُؤْمِنَ) — they will never believe — is a definitive statement from Allah, just like in verse 6 of Surah Al-Baqarah, where Allah declares that disbelievers will not believe whether warned or not.
This affirms that Nuh’s supplication was not out of personal frustration, but based on divine knowledge and permission.
[37] Before this point, it is understood that the opposition of Nuh’s people had become extremely severe, so Nuh (peace be upon him) made the supplication mentioned in Surah Nuh.
That du‘a was accepted, and then Allah said to him: (وَاصْنَعِ الْفُلْكَ) — Build the Ark.
This verse indicates Allah's plan for the salvation of Nuh (peace be upon him).
(بِأَعْيُنِنَا) — literally means under Our eyes. It is one of the ambiguous expressions (mutashabihat) — the apparent meaning is “eye,” but its true nature is beyond human comprehension, and it must not be likened to creation.
Interpreting it as “protection” is contrary to the path of the salaf (righteous predecessors), who would affirm such attributes without delving into the how.
(وَوَحْيِنَا) — here means Our command, specifically referring to the instructions on how to build the Ark.
(وَلَا تُخَاطِبْنِي) — means do not plead with Me on behalf of the disbelievers.
This is a clear prohibition from interceding for them once the divine judgment has been passed.
(مُغْرَقُونَ) — means they are already judged to be drowned, and their fate is sealed.
[38] In this wording, the verb (كان) carries an implied meaning of continuity and consistency — as in كان يصنع (he used to make / he was continuously making).
The verse also points to the fact that ignorant people mock the Prophets (peace be upon them) and those who follow the truth, because they do not understand the wisdom and purpose behind their actions.
There is also an indication that when the disbelievers are punished and destroyed, then mocking them at that moment becomes justified and fitting — as a form of divine justice.
This theme is also echoed at the end of Surah Al-Mutaffifin, where the believers are seen laughing at the disbelievers in the Hereafter, just as they were once mocked by them in the world.
[39] The first mention of punishment refers to the worldly punishment, and the second refers to the punishment of the Hereafter.
This structure emphasizes that the disbelievers face both immediate consequences in this world and eternal punishment in the next life for their rejection and arrogance.