Surah As Saffat Tafseer

And, his progeny, them We made the survivors.

Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him,

"There was no one left apart from the offspring of Nuh, peace be upon him."

Sa`id bin Abi `Arubah said, narrating from Qatadah concerning the Ayah,

(And, his progeny, them We made the survivors).

"All people descended from the offspring of Nuh, peace be upon him."

At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abi Hatim narrated from Samurah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet said, concerning the Ayah,

(And, his progeny, them We made the survivors):

سَامُ وَحَامُ وَيَافِث

Sam, Ham and Yafith.

Imam Ahmad recorded from Samurah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah said:

سَامُ أَبُو الْعَرَبِ وَحَامُ أَبُو الْحَبَشِ وَيَافِثُ أَبُو الرُّوم

Sam was the father of the Arabs, Ham was the father of the Ethiopians and Yafith was the father of the Romans."

This was also recorded by At-Tirmidhi.

What is meant here by Romans is the original Romans, i.e., the Greeks who claimed descent from Ruma (Roma) the son of Liti, the son of Yunan, the son of Yafith, the son of Nuh, peace be upon him.

وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ فِي الاْخِرِينَ