21قالَ نوحٌ رَبِّ إِنَّهُم عَصَوني وَاتَّبَعوا مَن لَم يَزِدهُ مالُهُ وَوَلَدُهُ إِلّا خَسارًاMuhammad Asad[And] Noah continued: "O my Sustainer! Behold, they have opposed me [throughout], for they follow people whose wealth and children lead them increasingly into ruin,1Lit., "and have followed him whose wealth and children do not increase him in aught but loss": i.e., people whose propensity and power only enhance their false pride and arrogance, and thus lead them to spiritual ruin. Beyond this, we have here a subtle allusion to the fact that an exclusive devotion to material prosperity must of necessity, in the long run, destroy all moral values and, thus, the very fabric of society.