Tafsir Ibn Kathir -> Surah Hud -> The Story of the drowning of Nuh's Disbelieving Son

Allah continues the story, saying,

﴿وَنَادَى نُوحٌ ابْنَهُ﴾

(and Nuh called out to his son,) This was the fourth son of Nuh. His name was Yam and he was a disbeliever. His father, Nuh, called him at the time of boarding the ship, that he might believe and embark with them. If he did so, he would be saved from drowning like the other disbelievers.

﴿قَالَ سَآوِى إِلَى جَبَلٍ يَعْصِمُنِى مِنَ الْمَآءِ﴾

(The son replied: "I will betake myself to some mountain, it will save me from the water.'') He believed, in his ignorance, that the flood would not reach the tops of the mountains and that if he clung to the top of a mountain, he would be saved from drowning. His father, Nuh, said to him,

﴿لاَ عَاصِمَ الْيَوْمَ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ مَن رَّحِمَ﴾

(This day there is no savior from the decree of Allah except him on whom He has mercy.) This means that nothing will be saved today from the command of Allah.

﴿وَحَالَ بَيْنَهُمَا الْمَوْجُ فَكَانَ مِنَ الْمُغْرَقِينَ﴾

(And waves came in between them, so he (the son) was among the drowned.)

﴿وَقِيلَ يَأَرْضُ ابْلَعِى مَآءَكِ وَيَسَمَآءُ أَقْلِعِى وَغِيضَ الْمَآءُ وَقُضِىَ الاٌّمْرُ وَاسْتَوَتْ عَلَى الْجُودِىِّ وَقِيلَ بُعْدًا لِّلْقَوْمِ الظَّـلِمِينَ ﴾

(44. And it was said: "O earth! Swallow up your water, and O sky! Withhold (your rain).'' And the water was made to subside and the decree was fulfilled. And it rested on (Mount) Judi, and it was said: "Away with the people who are wrongdoing!'')