Quran Universe
11:32

قَالُواْ يَٰنُوحُ قَدۡ جَٰدَلۡتَنَا فَأَكۡثَرۡتَ جِدَٰلَنَا فَأۡتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ

Qaloo ya noohu qad jadaltana faaktharta jidalana fatina bima taAAiduna in kunta mina alssadiqeena

They said, "O Noah, you have disputed us and been frequent in dispute of us. So bring us what you threaten us, if you should be of the truthful."

Word by word
  1. قَالُواْThey said
  2. يَٰنُوحُO Nuh
  3. قَدۡIndeed
  4. جَٰدَلۡتَنَاyou disputed with us
  5. فَأَكۡثَرۡتَand you (have been) frequent
  6. جِدَٰلَنَا(in) dispute with us
  7. فَأۡتِنَاSo bring us
  8. بِمَاwhat
  9. تَعِدُنَآyou threaten us (with)
  10. إِنif
  11. كُنتَyou are
  12. مِنَof
  13. ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَthe truthful
Hud · 11:32Makkah

Enough talking, bring the punishment then.

Tired of argument, they dare the warning

How they ended the talk
you arguedfor so long
we still refuse
bring it onwhat you warn us of
if
you are truthfultheir challenge
What the dare shows
strong confidencewe are not scared
a closed heartasking for harm over change

After long years of Nuh's advice, his people gave their final word. You have argued with us long enough, and we still will not follow you. They asked him to bring the punishment he warned of, hurrying Allah's anger on themselves rather than change.

Your doctor has warned you about your blood sugar three visits in a row. You roll your eyes and say "we all die of something." A dare can be a way of not listening. Sometimes "bring it on" just means "I will not change."

Challenging a warning shows I am not afraid of it.

Daring the warning to come is often just a way to avoid changing.

Try this

Think of one warning you keep brushing off, about health, money, or faith. Write down one small step you could take.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

They said: "O Nuh! You have disputed with us, and much have you prolonged the dispute with us, now bring upon us what you threaten us with, if you are of the truthful. (32)He said: "Only Allah will bring it (the punishment) on you, if He wills, and then you will escape not (33)"And my advice will not profit you, even if I wish to give you good counsel, if Allah's will is to keep you astray. He is your Lord! and to Him you shall return. (34)

The People's Request of Nuh to bring the Torment and His Response to Them

Allah, the Exalted, informs that the people of Nuh sought to hasten Allah's vengeance, torment, anger and the trial (His punishment). This is based on their saying,

قَالُوا يَا نُوحُ قَدْ جَادَلْتَنَا فَأَكْثَرْتَ جِدَالَنَا

(They said: "O Nuh! You have disputed with us and much have you prolonged the dispute with us...") They meant by this, "You (Nuh) have argued with us long enough, and we are still not going to follow you."

فَأْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَا

(now bring upon us what you threaten us with,) What he (Nuh) promised is referring to the vengeance and torment (from Allah). They were actually saying, "Supplicate against us however you wish, and let whatever you have supplicated come to us."

إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ - قَالَ إِنَّمَا يَأْتِيكُم بِهِ اللَّهُ إِن شَاءَ وَمَا أَنتُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ

("...if you are of the truthful." (In reply to this,) He said: "Only Allah will bring it (the punishment) on you, if He wills, and then you will escape not.)[11:32-33] This means, 'It is only Allah Who can punish you and hasten your punishment for you. He is the One from Whom nothing escapes. '

وَلَا يَنفَعُكُمْ نُصْحِي إِنْ أَرَدتُّ أَنْ أَنصَحَ لَكُمْ إِن كَانَ اللَّهُ يُرِيدُ أَن يُغْوِيَكُمْ

(And my advice will not profit you, even if I wish to give you good counsel, if Allah's will is to keep you astray.) This means: something that could be useful to you (in acceptance) of my preaching to you, warning you and advising you.

إِن كَانَ اللَّهُ يُرِيدُ أَن يُغْوِيَكُمْ

(if Allah's will is to keep you astray.) This means: your deception and your ultimate destruction.

هُوَ رَبُّكُمْ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

(He is your Lord! and to Him you shall return.) He is the Owner of the finality of all matters. He is the Controller, the Judge, the Most Just and He does not do any injustice. Unto Him belongs the creation and the command. He is the Originator and the Repeater (of the creation). He is the Owner of this life and the Hereafter.