سُورَةُ هُودٍ
Reading Al-Mukhtasar in Interpreting the Noble Qur'an by Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies
Ayahs 71–80 of 123
وَٱمْرَأَتُهُۥ قَآئِمَةٌۭ فَضَحِكَتْ فَبَشَّرْنَٰهَا بِإِسْحَٰقَ وَمِن وَرَآءِ إِسْحَٰقَ يَعْقُوبَ
And his Wife was standing, and she smiled. Then We gave her good tidings of Isaac and after Isaac, Jacob.
Abraham’s wife, Sarah, was standing. Then they told her something that greatly pleased her, that she would bear Isaac, and that Isaac would have Jacob. She laughed and was delighted by what she heard.
قَالَتْ يَٰوَيْلَتَىٰٓ ءَأَلِدُ وَأَنَا۠ عَجُوزٌۭ وَهَٰذَا بَعْلِى شَيْخًا ۖ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَشَىْءٌ عَجِيبٌۭ
She said, "Woe to me! Shall I give birth while I am an old woman and this, my husband, is an old man? Indeed, this is an amazing thing!"
When the angels gave Sarah this amazing good news, she asked how she could have a child when she was an old woman and her husband was also advanced in age. Having a child at such an age was incredible, and was not normal.
قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَعْجَبِينَ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ رَحْمَتُ ٱللَّهِ وَبَرَكَٰتُهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ ٱلْبَيْتِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ حَمِيدٌۭ مَّجِيدٌۭ
They said, "Are you amazed at the decree of Allah? May the mercy of Allah and His blessings be upon you, people of the house. Indeed, He is Praiseworthy and Honorable."
When Sarah was amazed at the news, the angels asked her if she was amazed by Allah’s decree and command, because people like her know that Allah is able to do such things. ‘The mercy of Allah and His blessings be upon you, people of Abraham!’ they said. Allah is praised in His attributes and actions, the Possessor of Glory and the Honourable.
فَلَمَّا ذَهَبَ عَنْ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلرَّوْعُ وَجَآءَتْهُ ٱلْبُشْرَىٰ يُجَٰدِلُنَا فِى قَوْمِ لُوطٍ
And when the fright had left Abraham and the good tidings had reached him, he began to argue with Us concerning the people of Lot.
After the departure of the fear that Abraham (peace be upon him) had felt because of his guests not eating his food, the discovery that the guests were angels, and receiving the joyous news that he would have Isaac, who would have Jacob, he then started to debate with the messengers about the people of Lot, asking that the punishment for them be delayed, and that Lot and his family be saved.
إِنَّ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ لَحَلِيمٌ أَوَّٰهٌۭ مُّنِيبٌۭ
Indeed, Abraham was forbearing, grieving and [frequently] returning [to Allah].
Abraham was forbearing, wanting to delay the punishment, praying often to his Lord, calling upon Him, and turning to Him.
يَٰٓإِبْرَٰهِيمُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَٰذَآ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ قَدْ جَآءَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ ۖ وَإِنَّهُمْ ءَاتِيهِمْ عَذَابٌ غَيْرُ مَرْدُودٍۢ
[The angels said], "O Abraham, give up this [plea]. Indeed, the command of your Lord has come, and indeed, there will reach them a punishment that cannot be repelled."
The angels told Abraham to leave off debating about the people of Lot: the command of his Lord had come that they would receive the punishment He had decreed for them, and there was a great punishment coming to the people of Lot, which no debate or prayer could turn back.
وَلَمَّا جَآءَتْ رُسُلُنَا لُوطًۭا سِىٓءَ بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ بِهِمْ ذَرْعًۭا وَقَالَ هَٰذَا يَوْمٌ عَصِيبٌۭ
And when Our messengers, [the angels], came to Lot, he was anguished for them and felt for them great discomfort and said, "This is a trying day."
When the angels came to Lot in the form of men he was distressed by their coming to him, and he was upset because he feared for them due to the fact that his people went to men with desire instead of women. Lot said that it was a terrible day because he thought his people would force themselves on his guests.
وَجَآءَهُۥ قَوْمُهُۥ يُهْرَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَمِن قَبْلُ كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ ۚ قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ بَنَاتِى هُنَّ أَطْهَرُ لَكُمْ ۖ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُخْزُونِ فِى ضَيْفِىٓ ۖ أَلَيْسَ مِنكُمْ رَجُلٌۭ رَّشِيدٌۭ
And his people came hastening to him, and before [this] they had been doing evil deeds. He said, "O my people, these are my daughters; they are purer for you. So fear Allah and do not disgrace me concerning my guests. Is there not among you a man of reason?"
The people of Lot came rushing to him, intending to commit an outrage against his guests. They were used to going to men with desire instead of women. In order to put his people off his guests, Lot told them that they should marry the women among his people, because they were purer for them than the outrage they committed. He told them to fear Allah and not to disgrace him concerning his guests, asking if there was a single right-minded man among them who would tell them not to commit such a shameful act.
قَالُوا۟ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا لَنَا فِى بَنَاتِكَ مِنْ حَقٍّۢ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَعْلَمُ مَا نُرِيدُ
They said, "You have already known that we have not concerning your daughters any claim, and indeed, you know what we want."
His people said to him that he knew that they had no need of the women among his people, and no desire, and he knew very well what they wanted, as they only desired men.
قَالَ لَوْ أَنَّ لِى بِكُمْ قُوَّةً أَوْ ءَاوِىٓ إِلَىٰ رُكْنٍۢ شَدِيدٍۢ
He said, "If only I had against you some power or could take refuge in a strong support."
Lot said that if only he had strength to use against them or people to support him, then he would be able to come between them and his guests.
Commentary: Al-Mukhtasar in Interpreting the Noble Qur'an by Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies. Qur'an text and translation via AlQuran Cloud.
