Rather, long before he said anything to Noah about building an ark, God fixed the time for the Flood to begin.
بِٱلْأَحْرَى ،‏ حَدَّدَ ٱلْمَوْعِدَ قَبْلَ فَتْرَةٍ طَوِيلَةٍ مِنْ إِصْدَارِ ٱلْأَمْرِ بِبِنَاءِ ٱلْفُلْكِ .‏