قِيلَ يَـٰنُوحُ ٱهْبِطْ بِسَلَـٰمٍ مِّنَّا وَبَرَكَـٰتٍ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَىٰٓ أُمَمٍ مِّمَّن مَّعَكَ ۚ وَأُمَمٌ سَنُمَتِّعُهُمْ ثُمَّ يَمَسُّهُم مِّنَّا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ 48
Translations
It was said, "O Noah, disembark in security from Us and blessings upon you and upon nations [descending] from those with you. But other nations [of them] We will grant enjoyment; then there will touch them from Us a painful punishment."
Transliteration
Qila ya Noohu ihbeet bi-salamin minna wa barakatun alayka wa ala umamin mimman ma'ak wa umamun sa-numatti'uhum thumma yamasshuhum minna adhabun aleem
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands Prophet Nuh (Noah) to descend from the ark with peace and blessings upon him and the believing communities that were with him. However, there will be other nations from among those who were aboard the ark whose descendants will be granted worldly enjoyment, but they will eventually be afflicted with a painful punishment from Allah. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers to the progeny of Noah's sons who would later disbelieve and turn away from the path of Allah, illustrating that prophethood and divine guidance do not guarantee the righteousness of all descendants.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs near the conclusion of the story of Prophet Noah in Surah Hud (11:25-48), specifically at the moment when the flood has ended and Noah is commanded to disembark from the ark. The context reflects the aftermath of the great deluge, where only the believers were saved with Noah, yet it acknowledges that even among Noah's own family and descendants, some would later reject faith and face divine punishment.
Related Hadiths
The Quran itself references in 11:46 that one of Noah's sons refused to board the ark and drowned. Additionally, Hadith in Sahih Muslim (Book of Prophets) describes how Noah complained to Allah about his people's rejection, and how his call was answered with the flood. The theme of distinguishing between the guided and misguided is found throughout prophetic traditions.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that righteousness and divine favor are not inherited automatically through family lineage; each individual must choose to follow Allah's guidance. It also provides hope for believers that their patient struggle in da'wah (calling to Allah) will ultimately bear fruit through Allah's justice, even if some reject the message.
Related Ayahs
فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ مَن يَأْتِيهِ عَذَابٌ يُخْزِيهِ وَيَحِلُّ عَلَيْهِ عَذَابٌ مُّقِيمٌ
And you are going to know who will get a punishment that will disgrace him [on earth] and upon whom will descend an enduring punishment [in the Hereafter]."
وَلَا تَرْكَنُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ فَتَمَسَّكُمُ ٱلنَّارُ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِنْ أَوْلِيَآءَ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ
And do not incline toward those who do wrong, lest you be touched by the Fire, and you would not have other than Allāh any protectors; then you would not be helped.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ إِلَّا ٱلنَّارُ ۖ وَحَبِطَ مَا صَنَعُوا۟ فِيهَا وَبَـٰطِلٌ مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
Those are the ones for whom there is not in the Hereafter but the Fire. And lost is what they did therein, and worthless is what they used to do.
وَجَآءَهُۥ قَوْمُهُۥ يُهْرَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَمِن قَبْلُ كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ ۚ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ بَنَاتِى هُنَّ أَطْهَرُ لَكُمْ ۖ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُخْزُونِ فِى ضَيْفِىٓ ۖ أَلَيْسَ مِنكُمْ رَجُلٌ رَّشِيدٌ
And his people came hastening to him, and before [this] they had been doing evil deeds. He said, "O my people, these are my daughters; they are purer for you. So fear Allāh and do not disgrace me concerning my guests. Is there not among you a man of reason?"