In today’s age, Islam is subjected to heavy criticisms, and its teachings and commandments are often misunderstood. Since most of these criticisms arise from the misinterpretation of the Quranic text, an accurate and true explanation of the scripture is called for. As such, this series aims to present the authentic interpretation of the Holy Quran as provided by the leaders of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, which we believe will do a great deal in dispelling the numerous misconceptions that have become associated with Islam.
In this instalment, we present the commentary on Quranic verse 11:45. This explanation is primarily sourced from the Tarjamatul Quran class of Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmadrh, delivered on 11 March 1996. The exegesis of the relevant verses from Tafsir-e-Kabir (The Grand Exegesis) by Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadra has also been consulted.
This abridged translation is not an official rendering but is being published for the benefit of readers in view of the aforementioned objective. Light of Islam takes full responsibility for any errors in the translation and summary.
وَ قِیۡلَ یٰۤاَرۡضُ ابۡلَعِیۡ مَآءَکِ وَ یٰسَمَآءُ اَقۡلِعِیۡ وَ غِیۡضَ الۡمَآءُ وَ قُضِیَ الۡاَمۡرُ وَ اسۡتَوَتۡ عَلَی الۡجُوۡدِیِّ وَ قِیۡلَ بُعۡدًا لِّلۡقَوۡمِ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ
And it was said, ‘O earth, swallow thy water, and O sky, cease (raining).’ And the water was made to subside and the matter was ended. And (the Ark) came to rest on al-Judi. And it was said, ‘Cursed be the wrongdoing people.’
Holy Quran 11:45
Commentary
Unlike the Quran, the Bible names Mount Ararat as the resting place of the Ark. Located in Turkey towards the Armenian border, this mountain has attracted numerous expeditions seeking to excavate the Ark’s remains. Some of these missions have identified specific locations as the exact landing site, and have also inspired a wealth of literature on the subject. Explorers even claim to have spotted the remnants of the vessel buried beneath the snow.
However, these claims are mere baseless conjectures. The reason is that for a flood to reach such a height would require the water to rise above all lower-lying mountain ranges, necessitating a global deluge. Scientifically, such a universal flood is physically impossible. If at all possible, it would require the total melting of the ice caps at both poles—an event that has never occurred in human history.
Hence, the only naturally plausible scenario is a regional deluge driven by torrential rains that affected a specific area of the Earth. There is absolutely no evidence indicating that a global flood occurred during the lifetime of Hazrat Noahas. Indeed, if a universal flood of that scale had taken place, no traces of the ancient civilisations we uncover today across the globe could have possibly survived.
The Quranic mention of Mount Judi—which, unlike Ararat, is a relatively small mountain—clarifies the matter completely and points directly to a regional flood. The landscape where Hazrat Noahas lived appears to have been a low-lying valley basin surrounded by hills and higher ground. This is further indicated by the use of the word jabal (a mountain) regarding Noah’s son seeking shelter. The term occurring here as a common noun points to the fact that there was a chain of mountains on one of which he wished to take shelter.[1] In such a bowl-like topography, heavy rains could quickly submerge and trap the entire area, making a localised deluge highly plausible.
END NOTES
[1] See Tafsir-e-Kabir 11:44
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