Sa‘id ibn al-Musayyib said: Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Shem was the forefather of the Arabs, Persians, and Romans; Ham was the forefather of the black peoples; and Japheth was the forefather of the Turks, the Khazars, Gog and Magog, and others besides (1).

“And We left for him honourable mention among later generations: Peace be upon Noah among all peoples. Indeed, this is how We reward those who do good. Indeed, he was among Our believing servants. Then We drowned the others. And indeed, among his followers was Abraham, when he came to his Lord with a sound heart; when he said to his father and his people, ‘What is it that you worship? Is it falsehood—gods apart from Allah—that you desire? Then what do you expect of the Lord of the worlds?’ Then he cast a glance at the stars and said, ‘Indeed, I am ill.’”

“And We left for him honourable mention among later generations”: that is, We preserved for him fine praise and beautiful mention among the prophets and nations who came after him, until the Day of Resurrection.

“Peace be upon Noah among all peoples”: that is, peace from Us be upon him among all peoples (2). It was also said that this means: We left for him among later generations that prayers be invoked for him until the Day of Resurrection.

“Indeed, this is how We reward those who do good.” Muqatil said: Allah rewarded him for his good conduct with fine praise among all peoples. “Indeed, he was among Our believing servants. Then We drowned the others”—meaning, the disbelievers (3).

His saying, Exalted is He, “And indeed, among his followers”: that is, among the people of his religion and sunnah (4). “Was Abraham, when he came to his Lord with a sound heart”: one free from polytheism and doubt.

“When he said to his father and his people, ‘What is it that you worship?’” This is a question of rebuke.

“Is it falsehood—gods apart from Allah—that you desire?” That is, do you deliberately fabricate falsehood—the worst kind of lie—and worship gods besides Allah?

“Then what do you expect of the Lord of the worlds?” That is, when you meet Him after having worshipped others besides Him, what do you think He will do to you?

“Then he cast a glance at the stars and said, ‘Indeed, I am ill.’” Ibn ‘Abbas said: His people practised astrology, so he dealt with them according to what they knew, lest they object to him. He wished to devise a plan against them concerning their idols, so as to establish proof against them that the idols were not worthy of worship. The following day, they were to hold a festival and gathering. They would go to their idols, offer sacrifices to them (5), and prepare food before them prior to leaving for their festival—claiming that this was to seek blessing for it. Then, when