وَهِىَ تَجْرِى بِهِمْ فِى مَوْجٍ كَٱلْجِبَالِ وَنَادَىٰ نُوحٌ ٱبْنَهُۥ وَكَانَ فِى مَعْزِلٍ يَـٰبُنَىَّ ٱرْكَب مَّعَنَا وَلَا تَكُن مَّعَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ 42
Translations
And it sailed with them through waves like mountains, and Noah called to his son who was apart [from them], "O my son, come aboard with us and be not with the disbelievers."
Transliteration
Wa-hiya tajree bihim fee mawjin ka-al-jibaal wa-nada Nuhun ibnahu wa-kana fee ma'zil ya-bunayya arkab ma'ana wa-la takun ma'a al-kafireen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah depicts the pivotal moment when the ark is sailing with the believers through massive waves like mountains, and Prophet Nuh calls out to his son who had separated himself from the believers, urging him to board the ark and not remain with the disbelievers. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this son (referred to as Kan'an in other sources) represents the ultimate rejection of faith despite being born to a prophet, illustrating that lineage alone does not guarantee salvation without personal submission to Allah.
Revelation Context
This verse occurs within Surah Hud's detailed narrative of Prophet Nuh's story, specifically during the flood when Allah's punishment upon the disbelievers was being executed. The surah emphasizes the patience of the prophets and the inevitability of Allah's judgment, with Nuh's son serving as a tragic example of how even proximity to a prophet cannot save one who chooses disbelief.
Related Hadiths
Ibn Abbas reported that Prophet Muhammad said regarding Nuh's son: 'He was among those who disbelieved' (related to the tafsir of this incident). Additionally, there are hadiths emphasizing that one's family relationship provides no benefit on the Day of Judgment if faith is absent, as referenced in various collections including Tirmidhi.
Themes
Key Lesson
Even the closest familial relationships cannot substitute for individual faith and obedience to Allah; each person is responsible for their own spiritual journey and will face the consequences of their choices. This ayah reminds believers that sincere belief requires personal commitment and that proximity to guidance without acceptance leads to destruction.
Related Ayahs
وَلِلَّهِ غَيْبُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَإِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُ ٱلْأَمْرُ كُلُّهُۥ فَٱعْبُدْهُ وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَيْهِ ۚ وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
And to Allāh belong the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth and to Him will be returned the matter, all of it, so worship Him and rely upon Him. And your Lord is not unaware of that which you do.
وَنَادَىٰ نُوحٌ رَّبَّهُۥ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنَّ ٱبْنِى مِنْ أَهْلِى وَإِنَّ وَعْدَكَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَأَنتَ أَحْكَمُ ٱلْحَـٰكِمِينَ
And Noah called to his Lord and said, "My Lord, indeed my son is of my family; and indeed, Your promise is true; and You are the most just of judges!"
وَيَـٰقَوْمِ هَـٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةُ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ ءَايَةً فَذَرُوهَا تَأْكُلْ فِىٓ أَرْضِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ قَرِيبٌ
And O my people, this is the she-camel of Allāh - [she is] to you a sign. So let her feed upon Allāh's earth and do not touch her with harm, or you will be taken by an impending punishment."
إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَإِي۟هِۦ فَٱتَّبَعُوٓا۟ أَمْرَ فِرْعَوْنَ ۖ وَمَآ أَمْرُ فِرْعَوْنَ بِرَشِيدٍ
To Pharaoh and his establishment, but they followed the command of Pharaoh, and the command of Pharaoh was not [at all] discerning.