Surah Hud Tafseer

The riding upon the Ship and Its sailing through the huge Waves

Allah, the Exalted, says concerning Nuh, that;

وَقَالَ ارْكَبُواْ فِيهَا بِسْمِ اللّهِ مَجْرَاهَا وَمُرْسَاهَا

And he said:"Embark therein:in the Name of Allah will be its (moving) course and its (resting) anchorage.

This means that its sailing upon the surface of the water, the end of its journeying and its anchoring, would all be with the Name of Allah.

Abu Raja' Al-Utaridi recited it,

بِسْمِ اللّهِ مُجْرِيهَا وَمُرْسِيهَا

"In the Name of Allah, Who will be the One Who moves its course, and rests its anchor."

Allah, the Exalted, said,

فَإِذَا اسْتَوَيْتَ أَنتَ وَمَن مَّعَكَ عَلَى الْفُلْكِ فَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ للَّهِ الَّذِى نَجَّانَا مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّـلِمِينَ

وَقُل رَّبِّ أَنزِلْنِى مُنزَلاً مُّبَارَكاً وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْمُنزِلِينَ

And when you have embarked on the ship, you and whoever is with you, then say:"All the praises and thanks are to Allah, Who has saved us from the people who are wrongdoers. And say:"My Lord! Cause me to land at a blessed landing place, for You are the Best of those who bring to land." (23:28-29)

For this reason, it is preferred to mention the Name of Allah (Bismillah) at the beginning of all affairs.

The Name of Allah should be mentioned when boarding a ship, or when mounting an animal. This is as Allah, the Exalted, says,

وَالَّذِى خَلَقَ الَازْوَجَ كُلَّهَا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِّنَ الْفُلْكِ وَالاٌّنْعَـمِ مَا تَرْكَبُونَ لِتَسْتَوُواْ عَلَى ظُهُورِهِ

And Who has created all the pairs and has appointed for you ships and cattle on which you ride, in order that you may mount on their backs. (43:12-13)

This practice (mentioning Allah's Name) has been encouraged in the Sunnah and is considered a preferred act. A discussion concerning this is forthcoming in the explanation of Surah Az-Zukhruf(43), if Allah wills.

In reference to Allah's statement,

إِنَّ رَبِّي لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Surely, my Lord is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Such statement is suitable while mentioning (His) vengeance upon the disbelievers by drowning all of them. Therefore, he (Nuh) mentions that His Lord is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.

This is similar to Allah's statement,

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَسَرِيعُ الْعِقَابِ وَإِنَّهُ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Surely, your Lord is swift in retribution, and certainly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (7:167)

He also says,

وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍ لِّلنَّاسِ عَلَى ظُلْمِهِمْ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَشَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ

But verily, your Lord is full of forgiveness for mankind inspite of their wrongdoing. And verily, your Lord is (also) severe in punishment. (13:6)

Likewise, there are many other verses that combine Allah's mercy and His vengeance.

Concerning Allah's statement