“And We made his descendants the survivors.” (77)
“Then, indeed, they will have after it a mixture of scalding water”: that is, a mixture and admixture of intensely hot water. It will be said to them, when they have eaten the zaqqum (the tree of Hell): “Drink the scalding water over it.” Thus, the scalding water will mingle with the zaqqum in their bellies, becoming a mixture for them.
“Then, indeed, their return,” after drinking the scalding water, [“will surely be to the Blazing Fire”] (1). This is because they will be led out to the scalding water to drink from it, just as camels are led to water; then they will be returned to the Blazing Fire. This is indicated by His saying, Exalted is He: “They will go between it and scalding water, intensely heated.” (al-Rahman 44) Ibn Mas‘ud recited it: “Then, indeed, their resting place will surely be in the Blazing Fire.”
“Indeed, they found their forefathers astray.” “So they rush in their footsteps”: that is, they hasten after them. Al-Kalbi said: “They do deeds like their deeds.”
“Yet most of the earlier peoples went astray before them”: that is, among the bygone nations.
“We certainly sent warners among them. So see what was the end of those who were warned”: that is, the disbelievers—their end was punishment.
“Except for Allah’s chosen servants”: the people who affirmed His oneness were saved from the punishment.
His saying, Exalted is He: “Noah certainly called upon Us”: he supplicated to his Lord against his people, saying, “Indeed, I am overpowered, so help me.” (al-Qamar 10) “And how excellent are We in answering!” That is, We answered his supplication and destroyed his people.
“And We saved him and his family from the great distress”: [the great anguish] (2) that befell his people, namely drowning.
“And We made his descendants the survivors”: this means that all people are from Noah’s progeny.
Al-Dahhak narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas that, when Noah disembarked from the Ark, every man and woman who had been with him died, except for his children and their wives (3).