নূহ (আঃ) বললেন-হে আমার জাতি! দেখ তো আমি যদি আমার পালনকর্তার পক্ষ হতে স্পষ্ট দলীলের উপর থাক, আর তিনি যদি তাঁর পক্ষ হতে আমাকে রহমত দান করে থাকেন, তারপরেও তা তোমাদের চোখে না পড়ে, তাহলে আমি কি উহা তোমাদের উপর তোমাদের ইচ্ছার বিরুদ্ধেই চাপিয়ে দিতে পারি ?
He said: ”O my people! Tell me, if I have a clear proof from my Lord, and a Mercy (Prophethood, etc.) has come to me from Him, but that (Mercy) has been obscured from your sight. Shall we compel you to accept it (Islâmic Monotheism) when you have a strong hatred for it?
قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِن كُنتُ عَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّيَ وَآتَانِي رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِهِ فَعُمِّيَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنُلْزِمُكُمُوهَا وَأَنتُمْ لَهَا كَارِهُونَ
Qala ya qawmi araaytum in kuntu AAala bayyinatin min rabbee waatanee rahmatan min AAindihi faAAummiyat AAalaykum anulzimukumooha waantum laha karihoona
YUSUFALI: He said: “O my people! See ye if (it be that) I have a Clear Sign from my Lord, and that He hath sent Mercy unto me from His own presence, but that the Mercy hath been obscured from your sight? shall we compel you to accept it when ye are averse to it?
PICKTHAL: He said: O my people! Bethink you, if I rely on a clear proof from my Lord and there hath come unto me a mercy from His presence, and it hath been made obscure to you, can we compel you to accept it when ye are averse thereto?
SHAKIR: He said: O my people! tell me if I have with me clear proof from my Lord, and He has granted me mercy from Himself and it has been made obscure to you; shall we constrain you to (accept) it while you are averse from it?
KHALIFA: He said, “O my people, what if I have a solid proof from my Lord? What if He has blessed me out of His mercy, though you cannot see it? Are we going to force you to believe therein?