11. Hud

And verily, there came Our messengers to Ibrahim with the glad tidings. They said: "Salaman (greetings or peace!)" He answered, "Salamun (greetings or peace!)," and he hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf (69)But when he saw their hands went not towards it (the meal), he mistrusted them, and conceived a fear of them. They said: "Fear not, we have been sent against the people of Lut. (70)And his wife was standing (there), and she laughed. But We gave her glad tidings of Ishaq, and after Ishaq, of Ya'qub (71)She said (in astonishment): "Woe unto me! Shall I bear a child while I am an old woman, and here is my husband an old man? Verily, this is a strange thing! (72)They said: "Do you wonder at the decree of Allah? The mercy of Allah and His blessings be on you, O the family [of Ibrahim]. Surely, He (Allah) is All-Praiseworthy, All-Glorious. (73)

The Coming of the Angels to Ibrahim and Their Glad Tidings to Him of Ishaq and Ya'qub

Allah, the Exalted, says,

وَلَقَدْ جَاءَتْ رُسُلُنَا

(And verily, there came Our messengers) The word "messengers" here means angels.

إِبْرَاهِيمَ بِالْبُشْرَىٰ

(to Ibrahim with the glad tidings.) It has been said that the word "the glad tidings" means, "Receive the glad tidings of Ishaq." Others have said that it means, "The destruction of the people of Prophet Lut." The proof of the correctness of the first view is in Allah's statement,

فَلَمَّا ذَهَبَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الرَّوْعُ وَجَاءَتْهُ الْبُشْرَىٰ يُجَادِلُنَا فِي قَوْمِ لُوطٍ

(Then when the fear had gone away from (the mind of) Ibrahim, and the glad tidings had reached him, he began to plead with Us for the people of Lut.)[11:74]

قَالُوا سَلَامًا ۖ قَالَ سَلَامٌ

(They said: "Salaman." He answered, "Salamun.") This means, "Upon you." The scholars of explanation have said, "Ibrahim's reply of 'Salamun' was better than that with which they had greeted him with, because the subjective case (Salamun instead of Salaman) alludes to affirmation and eternity. "

فَمَا لَبِثَ أَن جَاءَ بِعِجْلٍ حَنِيذٍ

(and he hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf.) This means that he (Ibrahim) left with haste in order to bring them food, as a host. The food that he brought was a calf. The word Hanidh means roasted upon heated stones. This meaning has been reported from Ibn 'Abbas, Qatadah and others. This is as Allah has said in another verse,

فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِ فَجَاءَ بِعِجْلٍ سَمِينٍ - فَقَرَّبَهُ إِلَيْهِمْ قَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ

(Then he turned to his household, and brought out a roasted calf. And placed it before them (saying): "Will you not eat")[51:26-27] This verse contains many aspects of the etiquettes of hosting guests.

فَلَمَّا رَأَىٰ أَيْدِيَهُمْ لَا تَصِلُ إِلَيْهِ نَكِرَهُمْ

(But when he saw their hands went not towards it (the meal), he mistrusted them,) This means that he felt estranged from them.

وَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً

(and conceived a fear of them.) This is because angels are not concerned with food. They do not desire it, nor do they eat it. Therefore, when Ibrahim saw them reject the food that he had brought them, without tasting any of it at all, he felt a mistrust of them.

وَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً

(and …

And verily, there came Our messengers to Ibrahim with the glad tidings. They said: "Salaman (greetings or peace!)" He answered, "Salamun (greetings or peace!)," and he hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf (69)But when he saw their hands went not towards it (the meal), he mistrusted them, and conceived a fear of them. They said: "Fear not, we have been sent against the people of Lut. (70)And his wife was standing (there), and she laughed. But We gave her glad tidings of Ishaq, and after Ishaq, of Ya'qub (71)She said (in astonishment): "Woe unto me! Shall I bear a child while I am an old woman, and here is my husband an old man? Verily, this is a strange thing! (72)They said: "Do you wonder at the decree of Allah? The mercy of Allah and His blessings be on you, O the family [of Ibrahim]. Surely, He (Allah) is All-Praiseworthy, All-Glorious. (73)

The Coming of the Angels to Ibrahim and Their Glad Tidings to Him of Ishaq and Ya'qub

Allah, the Exalted, says,

وَلَقَدْ جَاءَتْ رُسُلُنَا

(And verily, there came Our messengers) The word "messengers" here means angels.

إِبْرَاهِيمَ بِالْبُشْرَىٰ

(to Ibrahim with the glad tidings.) It has been said that the word "the glad tidings" means, "Receive the glad tidings of Ishaq." Others have said that it means, "The destruction of the people of Prophet Lut." The proof of the correctness of the first view is in Allah's statement,

فَلَمَّا ذَهَبَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الرَّوْعُ وَجَاءَتْهُ الْبُشْرَىٰ يُجَادِلُنَا فِي قَوْمِ لُوطٍ

(Then when the fear had gone away from (the mind of) Ibrahim, and the glad tidings had reached him, he began to plead with Us for the people of Lut.)[11:74]

قَالُوا سَلَامًا ۖ قَالَ سَلَامٌ

(They said: "Salaman." He answered, "Salamun.") This means, "Upon you." The scholars of explanation have said, "Ibrahim's reply of 'Salamun' was better than that with which they had greeted him with, because the subjective case (Salamun instead of Salaman) alludes to affirmation and eternity. "

فَمَا لَبِثَ أَن جَاءَ بِعِجْلٍ حَنِيذٍ

(and he hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf.) This means that he (Ibrahim) left with haste in order to bring them food, as a host. The food that he brought was a calf. The word Hanidh means roasted upon heated stones. This meaning has been reported from Ibn 'Abbas, Qatadah and others. This is as Allah has said in another verse,

فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِ فَجَاءَ بِعِجْلٍ سَمِينٍ - فَقَرَّبَهُ إِلَيْهِمْ قَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ

(Then he turned to his household, and brought out a roasted calf. And placed it before them (saying): "Will you not eat")[51:26-27] This verse contains many aspects of the etiquettes of hosting guests.

فَلَمَّا رَأَىٰ أَيْدِيَهُمْ لَا تَصِلُ إِلَيْهِ نَكِرَهُمْ

(But when he saw their hands went not towards it (the meal), he mistrusted them,) This means that he felt estranged from them.

وَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً

(and conceived a fear of them.) This is because angels are not concerned with food. They do not desire it, nor do they eat it. Therefore, when Ibrahim saw them reject the food that he had brought them, without tasting any of it at all, he felt a mistrust of them.

وَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً

(and …

And verily, there came Our messengers to Ibrahim with the glad tidings. They said: "Salaman (greetings or peace!)" He answered, "Salamun (greetings or peace!)," and he hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf (69)But when he saw their hands went not towards it (the meal), he mistrusted them, and conceived a fear of them. They said: "Fear not, we have been sent against the people of Lut. (70)And his wife was standing (there), and she laughed. But We gave her glad tidings of Ishaq, and after Ishaq, of Ya'qub (71)She said (in astonishment): "Woe unto me! Shall I bear a child while I am an old woman, and here is my husband an old man? Verily, this is a strange thing! (72)They said: "Do you wonder at the decree of Allah? The mercy of Allah and His blessings be on you, O the family [of Ibrahim]. Surely, He (Allah) is All-Praiseworthy, All-Glorious. (73)

The Coming of the Angels to Ibrahim and Their Glad Tidings to Him of Ishaq and Ya'qub

Allah, the Exalted, says,

وَلَقَدْ جَاءَتْ رُسُلُنَا

(And verily, there came Our messengers) The word "messengers" here means angels.

إِبْرَاهِيمَ بِالْبُشْرَىٰ

(to Ibrahim with the glad tidings.) It has been said that the word "the glad tidings" means, "Receive the glad tidings of Ishaq." Others have said that it means, "The destruction of the people of Prophet Lut." The proof of the correctness of the first view is in Allah's statement,

فَلَمَّا ذَهَبَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الرَّوْعُ وَجَاءَتْهُ الْبُشْرَىٰ يُجَادِلُنَا فِي قَوْمِ لُوطٍ

(Then when the fear had gone away from (the mind of) Ibrahim, and the glad tidings had reached him, he began to plead with Us for the people of Lut.)[11:74]

قَالُوا سَلَامًا ۖ قَالَ سَلَامٌ

(They said: "Salaman." He answered, "Salamun.") This means, "Upon you." The scholars of explanation have said, "Ibrahim's reply of 'Salamun' was better than that with which they had greeted him with, because the subjective case (Salamun instead of Salaman) alludes to affirmation and eternity. "

فَمَا لَبِثَ أَن جَاءَ بِعِجْلٍ حَنِيذٍ

(and he hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf.) This means that he (Ibrahim) left with haste in order to bring them food, as a host. The food that he brought was a calf. The word Hanidh means roasted upon heated stones. This meaning has been reported from Ibn 'Abbas, Qatadah and others. This is as Allah has said in another verse,

فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِ فَجَاءَ بِعِجْلٍ سَمِينٍ - فَقَرَّبَهُ إِلَيْهِمْ قَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ

(Then he turned to his household, and brought out a roasted calf. And placed it before them (saying): "Will you not eat")[51:26-27] This verse contains many aspects of the etiquettes of hosting guests.

فَلَمَّا رَأَىٰ أَيْدِيَهُمْ لَا تَصِلُ إِلَيْهِ نَكِرَهُمْ

(But when he saw their hands went not towards it (the meal), he mistrusted them,) This means that he felt estranged from them.

وَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً

(and conceived a fear of them.) This is because angels are not concerned with food. They do not desire it, nor do they eat it. Therefore, when Ibrahim saw them reject the food that he had brought them, without tasting any of it at all, he felt a mistrust of them.

وَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً

(and …

Then when the fear had gone away from (the mind of) Ibrahim, and the glad tidings had reached him, he began to plead with Us (Our messengers) for the people of Lut (74)Verily, Ibrahim was, without doubt, forbearing, used to invoke Allah with humility, and was repentant (75)"O Ibrahim! Forsake this. Indeed, the commandment of your Lord has gone forth. Verily, there will come a torment for them which cannot be turned back. (76)

The Dispute of Ibrahim over the People of Lut

Allah, the Exalted, informs of what happened after the fright of Ibrahim left him and he felt no more fear of the angels when they refused to eat. After this, they gave him the glad tidings of the birth of a son and the destruction of the people of Lut. When they told him of this, he spoke to them as Sa'id bin Jubayr narrated concerning this verse. Sa'id said: When Jibril and the other angels who were with him came to Ibrahim, they said,

إِنَّا مُهْلِكُو أَهْلِ هَٰذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ

(Verily, we are going to destroy the people of this town.)[29:31] Ibrahim said to them, "Will you destroy a town that has three hundred believers in it?" They said, "No." He then said, "Will you destroy a town that has two hundred believers in it?" They said, "No." He said, "Will you destroy a town that has forty believers in it?" They said, "No." He then said, "Thirty?" They still replied, "No." This continued until he said, "Five?" They said, "No." Then he said, "What do you think if there is one Muslim man in the town, would you destroy it?" They said, "No." With this, Ibrahim ﷺ said,

إِنَّ فِيهَا لُوطًا ۚ قَالُوا نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن فِيهَا ۖ لَنُنَجِّيَنَّهُ وَأَهْلَهُ إِلَّا امْرَأَتَهُ

(But there is Lut in it. They said: "We know better who is there. We will verily, save him and his family except his wife.")[29:32] Therefore, Ibrahim remained silent and his soul was at rest. Concerning Allah's statement,

إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَحَلِيمٌ أَوَّاهٌ مُّنِيبٌ

(Verily, Ibrahim was, without doubt, forbearing, used to invoke Alllah with humility, and was repentant (to Allah).)[11:75] This is a commendation for Ibrahim because of these beautiful characteristics. Then Allah says,

يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَٰذَا ۖ إِنَّهُ قَدْ جَاءَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ

(O Ibrahim! Forsake this. Indeed, the commandment of your Lord has gone forth.) This means the decree was settled concerning them and the Word was already given that they should be destroyed. The evil torment was coming to them, that cannot be averted from wicked people.

Then when the fear had gone away from (the mind of) Ibrahim, and the glad tidings had reached him, he began to plead with Us (Our messengers) for the people of Lut (74)Verily, Ibrahim was, without doubt, forbearing, used to invoke Allah with humility, and was repentant (75)"O Ibrahim! Forsake this. Indeed, the commandment of your Lord has gone forth. Verily, there will come a torment for them which cannot be turned back. (76)

The Dispute of Ibrahim over the People of Lut

Allah, the Exalted, informs of what happened after the fright of Ibrahim left him and he felt no more fear of the angels when they refused to eat. After this, they gave him the glad tidings of the birth of a son and the destruction of the people of Lut. When they told him of this, he spoke to them as Sa'id bin Jubayr narrated concerning this verse. Sa'id said: When Jibril and the other angels who were with him came to Ibrahim, they said,

إِنَّا مُهْلِكُو أَهْلِ هَٰذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ

(Verily, we are going to destroy the people of this town.)[29:31] Ibrahim said to them, "Will you destroy a town that has three hundred believers in it?" They said, "No." He then said, "Will you destroy a town that has two hundred believers in it?" They said, "No." He said, "Will you destroy a town that has forty believers in it?" They said, "No." He then said, "Thirty?" They still replied, "No." This continued until he said, "Five?" They said, "No." Then he said, "What do you think if there is one Muslim man in the town, would you destroy it?" They said, "No." With this, Ibrahim ﷺ said,

إِنَّ فِيهَا لُوطًا ۚ قَالُوا نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن فِيهَا ۖ لَنُنَجِّيَنَّهُ وَأَهْلَهُ إِلَّا امْرَأَتَهُ

(But there is Lut in it. They said: "We know better who is there. We will verily, save him and his family except his wife.")[29:32] Therefore, Ibrahim remained silent and his soul was at rest. Concerning Allah's statement,

إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَحَلِيمٌ أَوَّاهٌ مُّنِيبٌ

(Verily, Ibrahim was, without doubt, forbearing, used to invoke Alllah with humility, and was repentant (to Allah).)[11:75] This is a commendation for Ibrahim because of these beautiful characteristics. Then Allah says,

يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَٰذَا ۖ إِنَّهُ قَدْ جَاءَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ

(O Ibrahim! Forsake this. Indeed, the commandment of your Lord has gone forth.) This means the decree was settled concerning them and the Word was already given that they should be destroyed. The evil torment was coming to them, that cannot be averted from wicked people.

Then when the fear had gone away from (the mind of) Ibrahim, and the glad tidings had reached him, he began to plead with Us (Our messengers) for the people of Lut (74)Verily, Ibrahim was, without doubt, forbearing, used to invoke Allah with humility, and was repentant (75)"O Ibrahim! Forsake this. Indeed, the commandment of your Lord has gone forth. Verily, there will come a torment for them which cannot be turned back. (76)

The Dispute of Ibrahim over the People of Lut

Allah, the Exalted, informs of what happened after the fright of Ibrahim left him and he felt no more fear of the angels when they refused to eat. After this, they gave him the glad tidings of the birth of a son and the destruction of the people of Lut. When they told him of this, he spoke to them as Sa'id bin Jubayr narrated concerning this verse. Sa'id said: When Jibril and the other angels who were with him came to Ibrahim, they said,

إِنَّا مُهْلِكُو أَهْلِ هَٰذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ

(Verily, we are going to destroy the people of this town.)[29:31] Ibrahim said to them, "Will you destroy a town that has three hundred believers in it?" They said, "No." He then said, "Will you destroy a town that has two hundred believers in it?" They said, "No." He said, "Will you destroy a town that has forty believers in it?" They said, "No." He then said, "Thirty?" They still replied, "No." This continued until he said, "Five?" They said, "No." Then he said, "What do you think if there is one Muslim man in the town, would you destroy it?" They said, "No." With this, Ibrahim ﷺ said,

إِنَّ فِيهَا لُوطًا ۚ قَالُوا نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن فِيهَا ۖ لَنُنَجِّيَنَّهُ وَأَهْلَهُ إِلَّا امْرَأَتَهُ

(But there is Lut in it. They said: "We know better who is there. We will verily, save him and his family except his wife.")[29:32] Therefore, Ibrahim remained silent and his soul was at rest. Concerning Allah's statement,

إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَحَلِيمٌ أَوَّاهٌ مُّنِيبٌ

(Verily, Ibrahim was, without doubt, forbearing, used to invoke Alllah with humility, and was repentant (to Allah).)[11:75] This is a commendation for Ibrahim because of these beautiful characteristics. Then Allah says,

يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَٰذَا ۖ إِنَّهُ قَدْ جَاءَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ

(O Ibrahim! Forsake this. Indeed, the commandment of your Lord has gone forth.) This means the decree was settled concerning them and the Word was already given that they should be destroyed. The evil torment was coming to them, that cannot be averted from wicked people.

And when Our messengers came to Lut, he was grieved on account of them and was concerned for them. He said: "This is a distressful day. (77)And his people came rushing towards him, and since aforetime they used to commit crimes, he said: "O my people! Here are my daughters, they are purer for you. So have Taqwa of Allah and disgrace me not with regard to my guests! Is there not among you a single right-minded man? (78)They said: "Surely, you know that we have no need of your daughters, and indeed you know well what we want! (79)

The Coming of the Angels to Lut, His Grief, and His Discussion with His People

Allah, the Exalted, informs about the coming of His messenger angels. After they informed Ibrahim of their mission to destroy the people of Lut, they left him and set out to destroy Lut's people that very night. After leaving Ibrahim, they came to Lut. Some say that they came to him while he was on a piece of land that belonged to him. Others say that they came to him while he was in his home. They approached him while they were in the most handsome of forms. They appeared in the forms of young men with handsome faces. This was a test from Allah that contained much wisdom and a firm evidence. Their appearance saddened him (Lut) and he felt grief in his soul because of them. He was afraid that if he did not host them as his guests, someone else of his people would host them and harm them.

وَقَالَ هَٰذَا يَوْمٌ عَصِيبٌ

(He said: "This is a distressful day.") Ibn 'Abbas and others said that this means, "A severe test for him." This was because he knew that he would have to defend them and it would cause great problems for him. Qatadah said, "They came to him while he was on a piece of land that belonged to him. They requested him to host them. He agreed, but he was shy of them and he walked in front of them. On the way to his home he said to them in attempt to convince them to go away, 'By Allah, I do not know any people on the face of the earth more wicked and disgusting than these people of this town.' Then he walked on a little further. Then he repeated the same statement to them. He continued doing this until he had repeated the same thing four times." Then Qatadah said, "They were ordered not to destroy them until their Prophet testified against them of this." Concerning Allah's statement,

يُهْرَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ

(rushing towards him.) meaning, they made haste and rushed due to their delight of this (new young men). Concerning the statement,

وَمِن قَبْلُ كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ

(and since aforetime they used to commit crimes.) This means that this did not cease being their behavior until they were seized (by Allah's torment) and they were still in the same condition.

قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ هَٰؤُلَاءِ بَنَاتِي هُنَّ أَطْهَرُ لَكُمْ

(He said: "O my people! Here are my daughters (the women of the nation), they are purer for you...") This was his attempt to direct them to their women, for verily the Prophet is like a father for his nation. Therefore, he tries to guide them to that which is better for them in this life and the Hereafter. This is similar to his statement to them in another verse,

أَتَأْتُونَ الذُّكْرَانَ مِنَ …

And when Our messengers came to Lut, he was grieved on account of them and was concerned for them. He said: "This is a distressful day. (77)And his people came rushing towards him, and since aforetime they used to commit crimes, he said: "O my people! Here are my daughters, they are purer for you. So have Taqwa of Allah and disgrace me not with regard to my guests! Is there not among you a single right-minded man? (78)They said: "Surely, you know that we have no need of your daughters, and indeed you know well what we want! (79)

The Coming of the Angels to Lut, His Grief, and His Discussion with His People

Allah, the Exalted, informs about the coming of His messenger angels. After they informed Ibrahim of their mission to destroy the people of Lut, they left him and set out to destroy Lut's people that very night. After leaving Ibrahim, they came to Lut. Some say that they came to him while he was on a piece of land that belonged to him. Others say that they came to him while he was in his home. They approached him while they were in the most handsome of forms. They appeared in the forms of young men with handsome faces. This was a test from Allah that contained much wisdom and a firm evidence. Their appearance saddened him (Lut) and he felt grief in his soul because of them. He was afraid that if he did not host them as his guests, someone else of his people would host them and harm them.

وَقَالَ هَٰذَا يَوْمٌ عَصِيبٌ

(He said: "This is a distressful day.") Ibn 'Abbas and others said that this means, "A severe test for him." This was because he knew that he would have to defend them and it would cause great problems for him. Qatadah said, "They came to him while he was on a piece of land that belonged to him. They requested him to host them. He agreed, but he was shy of them and he walked in front of them. On the way to his home he said to them in attempt to convince them to go away, 'By Allah, I do not know any people on the face of the earth more wicked and disgusting than these people of this town.' Then he walked on a little further. Then he repeated the same statement to them. He continued doing this until he had repeated the same thing four times." Then Qatadah said, "They were ordered not to destroy them until their Prophet testified against them of this." Concerning Allah's statement,

يُهْرَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ

(rushing towards him.) meaning, they made haste and rushed due to their delight of this (new young men). Concerning the statement,

وَمِن قَبْلُ كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ

(and since aforetime they used to commit crimes.) This means that this did not cease being their behavior until they were seized (by Allah's torment) and they were still in the same condition.

قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ هَٰؤُلَاءِ بَنَاتِي هُنَّ أَطْهَرُ لَكُمْ

(He said: "O my people! Here are my daughters (the women of the nation), they are purer for you...") This was his attempt to direct them to their women, for verily the Prophet is like a father for his nation. Therefore, he tries to guide them to that which is better for them in this life and the Hereafter. This is similar to his statement to them in another verse,

أَتَأْتُونَ الذُّكْرَانَ مِنَ …

And when Our messengers came to Lut, he was grieved on account of them and was concerned for them. He said: "This is a distressful day. (77)And his people came rushing towards him, and since aforetime they used to commit crimes, he said: "O my people! Here are my daughters, they are purer for you. So have Taqwa of Allah and disgrace me not with regard to my guests! Is there not among you a single right-minded man? (78)They said: "Surely, you know that we have no need of your daughters, and indeed you know well what we want! (79)

The Coming of the Angels to Lut, His Grief, and His Discussion with His People

Allah, the Exalted, informs about the coming of His messenger angels. After they informed Ibrahim of their mission to destroy the people of Lut, they left him and set out to destroy Lut's people that very night. After leaving Ibrahim, they came to Lut. Some say that they came to him while he was on a piece of land that belonged to him. Others say that they came to him while he was in his home. They approached him while they were in the most handsome of forms. They appeared in the forms of young men with handsome faces. This was a test from Allah that contained much wisdom and a firm evidence. Their appearance saddened him (Lut) and he felt grief in his soul because of them. He was afraid that if he did not host them as his guests, someone else of his people would host them and harm them.

وَقَالَ هَٰذَا يَوْمٌ عَصِيبٌ

(He said: "This is a distressful day.") Ibn 'Abbas and others said that this means, "A severe test for him." This was because he knew that he would have to defend them and it would cause great problems for him. Qatadah said, "They came to him while he was on a piece of land that belonged to him. They requested him to host them. He agreed, but he was shy of them and he walked in front of them. On the way to his home he said to them in attempt to convince them to go away, 'By Allah, I do not know any people on the face of the earth more wicked and disgusting than these people of this town.' Then he walked on a little further. Then he repeated the same statement to them. He continued doing this until he had repeated the same thing four times." Then Qatadah said, "They were ordered not to destroy them until their Prophet testified against them of this." Concerning Allah's statement,

يُهْرَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ

(rushing towards him.) meaning, they made haste and rushed due to their delight of this (new young men). Concerning the statement,

وَمِن قَبْلُ كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ

(and since aforetime they used to commit crimes.) This means that this did not cease being their behavior until they were seized (by Allah's torment) and they were still in the same condition.

قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ هَٰؤُلَاءِ بَنَاتِي هُنَّ أَطْهَرُ لَكُمْ

(He said: "O my people! Here are my daughters (the women of the nation), they are purer for you...") This was his attempt to direct them to their women, for verily the Prophet is like a father for his nation. Therefore, he tries to guide them to that which is better for them in this life and the Hereafter. This is similar to his statement to them in another verse,

أَتَأْتُونَ الذُّكْرَانَ مِنَ …

He said: "Would that I had strength to overpower you, or that I could betake myself to some powerful support. (80)They (messengers) said: "O Lut! Verily, we are the messengers from your Lord! They shall not reach you! So travel with your family in a part of the night, and let not any of you look back; but your wife (will remain behind), verily, the punishment which will afflict them, will afflict her. Indeed, morning is their appointed time. Is not the morning near? (81)

Lut's Inability, His Desire for Strength and the Angels' Informing Him of the Reality

Allah, the Exalted says that Lut was threatening them with his statement,

لَوْ أَنَّ لِي بِكُمْ قُوَّةً

(Would that I had strength (men) to overpower you,) meaning, 'I would surely have made an example of you and done (harm) to you from myself and my family.' In this regard, there is a Hadith which is reported from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَى لُوطٍ لَقَدْ كَانَ يَأْوِي إِلَى رُكْنٍ شَدِيدٍ - يَعْنِي اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - فَمَا بَعَثَ اللهُ بَعْدَهُ مِنْ نَبِيٍّ إِلَّا فِي ثَرْوَةٍ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ

(May Allah's mercy be upon Lut, for verily, he betook himself to a powerful support –[meaning Allah, the Mighty and Sublime.] Allah did not send any Prophet after him, except amidst [an influential family] among his people.) With this, the angels informed him that they were the messengers of Allah sent to them. They also told him that his people would not be able to reach him (with any harm).

قَالُوا يَا لُوطُ إِنَّا رُسُلُ رَبِّكَ لَن يَصِلُوا إِلَيْكَ

(They (messengers said): "O Lut! Verily, we are the messengers from your Lord! They shall not reach you!) They commanded him to travel with his family during the last part of night and that he should follow them from behind. In this way it would be as though he were driving his family (as a cattle herder).

وَلَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنكُمْ أَحَدٌ

(and let not any of you look back;) This means, "If you hear the sound of what (torment) befalls them (the people of the village), do not rush towards that disturbing noise. Rather, continue leaving."

إِلَّا امْرَأَتَكَ

(but your wife,) Most of the scholars said that this means that she would not travel at night and she did not go with Lut. Rather, she stayed in her house and was destroyed. Others said that it means that she looked back (during the travel). This later group says that she left with them and when she heard the inevitable destruction, she turned and looked back. When she looked she said, "O my people!" Thus, a stone came down from the sky and killed her. Then they (the angels) brought close to him the destruction of his people as good news for him, because he said to them, "Destroy them in this very hour." They replied,

إِنَّ مَوْعِدَهُمُ الصُّبْحُ ۚ أَلَيْسَ الصُّبْحُ بِقَرِيبٍ

(Indeed, morning is their appointed time. Is not the morning near?) They were saying this while Luts people were standing at his door. They tried to rush his door from all sides and Lut was standing at the door repelling them, deterring them and trying to prevent them from what they were doing. Yet, they would not listen to him. Instead, they threatened him and sought to …