Historicity and Coverage
A literal interpretation of Genesis 10 suggests that the present population of the world was descended from Noah's three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and their wives. Until the mid-19th century, this was taken by many as historical fact, and still is by many Orthodox Jews, and Christians.
There are disputes about how many of the peoples of the Earth this story was intended to cover, and as to its accuracy. Many Jews and Christians retain the belief that the table applies to the entire population of the earth, while others read it as a guide only to local ethnic groups.
The sons of Noah have not been mentioned in the Qur'an, except for the fact that one of the sons was among the people who did not follow his own father, not among the believers and thus was washed away in the flood. Also the Qur'an does not hint at a global deluge, but rather a regional flood, a great calamity, enough to have destroyed Noah's people, but to have saved him and his generations to come. The Qur'an hints to the sons of Noah in 37:75-77 Muhammad Muhsin Khan's translation: "And indeed Nuh (Noah) invoked Us, and We are the Best of those who answer (the request). And We rescued him and his family from the great distress (i.e. drowning),And, his progeny, them We made the survivors (i.e. Shem, Ham and Japheth)." In International Sahih translation: "And Noah had certainly called Us, and the best of responders. And We saved him and his family from the great affliction. And We made his descendants those remaining " In Marmaduke Pickthall translation: "And Noah verily prayed unto Us, and gracious was the Hearer of his prayer. And We saved him and his household from the great distress,And made his seed the survivors," In Shakir translation: "And Nuh did certainly call upon Us, and most excellent answerer of prayer are We. And We delivered him and his followers from the mighty distress. And We made his offspring the survivors."
Read more about this topic: Sons Of Noah