29:14
We (once) sent Noah to his people, and he tarried among them a thousand years less fifty: but the Deluge overwhelmed them while they (persisted in) sin.
Some interpreters understand the Qurʾānic reference to the period of 950 years in relation to Prophet Noah not as the literal span of his physical life but as the duration of his prophetic mission and teaching (see Qurʾān 21:8; 21:34). In the verse describing this period, two different Arabic terms are used: sanah and ʿām. Linguistically, commentators note that sanah can sometimes carry connotations associated with hardship or difficulty, whereas ʿām is often used in contexts suggesting prosperity or favorable conditions. Based on this distinction, some interpretations propose that the initial fifty years of Noah’s mission were characterized by spiritual progress and reform, while the subsequent period witnessed moral decline among the people.
Additionally, classical lexicographical sources such as Tāj al-ʿArūs and Lisān al-ʿArab indicate that the term sanah, commonly translated as “year,” can also refer to a seasonal period or a portion of the year in certain contexts. These linguistic nuances have contributed to varying interpretations of the timeframe mentioned in the verse.
References:
NOORUDDÎN ,ALLÂMAH. (2015). Exegesis of The Holy Qur’ân Commentary and Reflections.