( Source: Ibn Kathir )
(51)And tell them about the guests (the angels) of Ibrahim (Abraham).
(52) When they entered unto him, and said: Salaman (peace)! [Ibrahim (Abraham)] said: "Indeed! We are afraid of you."
(they entered upon him, and said: "Salaman (peace!).'' He said: "Indeed we are frightened of you.'') meaning that they were scared. The reason for their fear has been mentioned previously, which is that they noticed that these guests did not eat of the food that was offered, which was a fattened calf.
(53) They (the angels) said: "Do not be afraid! We give you glad tidings of a boy (son) possessing much knowledge and wisdom."
(We bring you the good news of a boy possessing much knowledge and wisdom.) this refers to Ishaq, as was previously mentioned in Surat Hud.
(54) [Ibrahim (Abraham)] said: "Do you give me glad tidings (of a son) when old age has overtaken me? Of what then is your news?"
(55) They (the angels) said: "We give you glad tidings in truth. So be not of the despairing ones."
(56) [Ibrahim (Abraham)] said: "And who despairs of the Mercy of his Lord except those who are astray?"
(57) [Ibrahim (Abraham) again] said: "What then is the business on which you have come, O Messengers?"
(58) They (the angels) said: "We have been sent to a people who are Mujrimun (criminals, disbelievers, polytheists, sinners).
(We have been sent to a guilty people.) meaning the people of Lut. They told him that they were going to save the family of Lut from among those people, except for his wife, because she was one of those who were doomed.
Thus it was said,
(59) "(All) except the family of Lout (Lot). Them all we are surely going to save (from destruction).
(60) "Except his wife, of whom We have decreed that she shall be of those who remain behind (i.e. she will be destroyed)."
(Except for his wife, of whom We have decreed that she shall be of those who remain behind.) i.e., she was one of those who would be left behind and will be destroyed.
(61) Then, when the Messengers (the angels) came unto the family of Lout (Lot).
When they entered his home, he said:
(62) He said: "Verily! You are people unknown to me."
(63) They said: "Nay, we have come to you with that (torment) which they have been doubting.
("Verily, you are people unknown to me.'' They said: "Nay, we have come to you with that (torment) which they have been doubting.'') meaning that they were bringing the punishment and destruction that the people doubted they would ever suffer from.
(64) "And we have brought to you the truth (the news of the destruction of your nation) and certainly, we tell the truth.
(and certainly, we tell the truth.) They said this in affirmation of the news that they brought him, that he would be saved and his people would be destroyed.
(65) "Then travel in a part of the night with your family, and you go behind them in the rear, and let no one amongst you look back, but go on to where you are ordered."
(and let no one amongst you look back,) meaning - when you hear the people screaming from their torment, do not turn around to look at them; leave them to face whatever punishment and vengeance is coming to them.
(but go on to where you are ordered.) - it is as if they had a guide with them to show them the way.
(66) And We made known this decree to him, that the root of those (sinners) was to be cut off in the early morning.
(And We made this decree known to him) meaning - We already told him about that.
(67) And the inhabitants of the city came rejoicing (at the news of the young men's arrival)
(68) [Lout (Lot)] said: "Verily! these are my guests, so shame me not.
(69) "And fear Allah and disgrace me not."
﴿Lut﴾ said: "Verily, these are my guests, so do not shame me. And have Taqwa of Allah, and do not disgrace me.'') This is what Lut said to them before he knew that his guests were messengers from Allah, as mentioned in Surat Hud, but here (in this Surah), we have already been told that they are messengers from Allah, and this is followed by an account of Lut's people coming and his exchange with them. However, here the conjunction (wa, meaning "and'') does not imply the sequence of events, especially since there is something to indicate that this is not the case.
They said answering him,
(70) They (people of the city) said: "Did we not forbid you to entertain (or protect) any of the 'Alamin (people, foreigners, strangers, etc. from us)?"
(Did we not forbid you from entertaining (or protecting) any of the `Alamin) meaning, `did we not tell you that you should not have anyone as a guest' He reminded them about their womenfolk and what their Lord had created for them in the women of permissible sexual relationships. This issue has already been explained and is no need to repeat the discussion here. All of this happened while they were still unaware of the inevitable calamity and punishment that was about to befall them the following morning.
(71) [Lout (Lot)] said: "These (the girls of the nation) are my daughters (to marry lawfully), if you must act (so)."
(72) Verily, by your life (O Muhammad SAW), in their wild intoxication, they were wandering blindly.
(Verily, by your life, in their wild intoxication, they were wandering blindly.) Allah swore by the life of His Prophet , which is an immense honor reflecting his high rank and noble status. `Amr bin Malik An-Nakari reported from Abu Al-Jawza' that Ibn `Abbas said: "Allah has never created or made or formed any soul that is dearer to him than Muhammad . I never heard that Allah swore by the life of anyone else.
(Verily, by your life, in their wild intoxication, they were wandering blindly.) meaning, by your life and the length of your stay in this world,
(73) So As-Saihah (torment - awful cry, etc.) overtook them at the time of sunrise;
(74) And We turned (the towns of Sodom in Palestine) upside down and rained down on them stones of baked clay.
(So the Sayhah overtook them) This is the piercing sound that came to them when the sun rose, which was accompanied by the city being flipped upside down, and stones of baked clay (As-Sijjil) raining down upon them. The discussion of As-Sijjil in Surah Hud is a sufficient explanation.
(75) Surely! In this are signs, for those who see (or understand or learn the lessons from the Signs of Allah).
(Surely, in this are signs for those who see.) meaning that the traces of the destruction of that city are easily visible to any one who ponder about it, whether they look at it with physical eyesight or mental and spiritual insight.
(those who see) therefore the meaning is "those who ponder''.
(76) And verily! They (the cities) were right on the highroad (from Makkah to Syria i.e. the place where the Dead Sea is now).
(And verily, they were right on the highroad.) meaning that the city of Sodom, which was physically and spiritually turned upside down, and pelted with stones until it became a foul smelling lake (the Dead Sea), is on a route that is easily accessible until the present day.
(77) Surely! Therein is indeed a sign for the believers.
(Surely, there is indeed a sign in that for the believers.) meaning, `All that We did to the people of Lut, from the destruction and the vengeance, to how We saved Lut and his family, these are clear signs to those who believe in Allah and His Messengers.'
The Guests of Ibrahim and their Good News of a Son for Him
(they entered upon him, and said: "Salaman (peace!).'' He said: "Indeed we are frightened of you.'') meaning that they were scared. The reason for their fear has been mentioned previously, which is that they noticed that these guests did not eat of the food that was offered, which was a fattened calf.
(We bring you the good news of a boy possessing much knowledge and wisdom.) this refers to Ishaq, as was previously mentioned in Surat Hud.
The Reason why the Angels came
Allah tells us that after Ibrahim had calmed down from the excitement of this good news, he started to ask them why they had come to him. They said,
(We have been sent to a guilty people.) meaning the people of Lut. They told him that they were going to save the family of Lut from among those people, except for his wife, because she was one of those who were doomed.
Thus it was said,
(Except for his wife, of whom We have decreed that she shall be of those who remain behind.) i.e., she was one of those who would be left behind and will be destroyed.
The Angels coming to Lut
Allah tells us about when the angels came to Lut in the form of young men with handsome faces.
When they entered his home, he said:
("Verily, you are people unknown to me.'' They said: "Nay, we have come to you with that (torment) which they have been doubting.'') meaning that they were bringing the punishment and destruction that the people doubted they would ever suffer from.
(and certainly, we tell the truth.) They said this in affirmation of the news that they brought him, that he would be saved and his people would be destroyed.
Lut is ordered to leave with His Family during the Night
Allah tells us that His angels ordered Lut to set out after part of the night had passed. They told him to walk behind them, to protect them. Similarly, the Messenger of Allah would walk in the rear of the army on military campaigns, in order to help the weak and carry those who had no means of transport.
(and let no one amongst you look back,) meaning - when you hear the people screaming from their torment, do not turn around to look at them; leave them to face whatever punishment and vengeance is coming to them.
(but go on to where you are ordered.) - it is as if they had a guide with them to show them the way.
(And We made this decree known to him) meaning - We already told him about that.
The People of the City arrive upon the Angels, thinking that they are Men
﴿Lut﴾ said: "Verily, these are my guests, so do not shame me. And have Taqwa of Allah, and do not disgrace me.'') This is what Lut said to them before he knew that his guests were messengers from Allah, as mentioned in Surat Hud, but here (in this Surah), we have already been told that they are messengers from Allah, and this is followed by an account of Lut's people coming and his exchange with them. However, here the conjunction (wa, meaning "and'') does not imply the sequence of events, especially since there is something to indicate that this is not the case.
They said answering him,
(Did we not forbid you from entertaining (or protecting) any of the `Alamin) meaning, `did we not tell you that you should not have anyone as a guest' He reminded them about their womenfolk and what their Lord had created for them in the women of permissible sexual relationships. This issue has already been explained and is no need to repeat the discussion here. All of this happened while they were still unaware of the inevitable calamity and punishment that was about to befall them the following morning.
(Verily, by your life, in their wild intoxication, they were wandering blindly.) Allah swore by the life of His Prophet , which is an immense honor reflecting his high rank and noble status. `Amr bin Malik An-Nakari reported from Abu Al-Jawza' that Ibn `Abbas said: "Allah has never created or made or formed any soul that is dearer to him than Muhammad . I never heard that Allah swore by the life of anyone else.
(Verily, by your life, in their wild intoxication, they were wandering blindly.) meaning, by your life and the length of your stay in this world,
(in their wild intoxication) "It means - in their misguided state;
(they were wandering blindly) means - they were playing.
(in their wild intoxica- tion, they were wandering blindly.) means that they were confused.''
The Destruction of the People of Lut
(So the Sayhah overtook them) This is the piercing sound that came to them when the sun rose, which was accompanied by the city being flipped upside down, and stones of baked clay (As-Sijjil) raining down upon them. The discussion of As-Sijjil in Surah Hud is a sufficient explanation.
(Surely, in this are signs for those who see.) meaning that the traces of the destruction of that city are easily visible to any one who ponder about it, whether they look at it with physical eyesight or mental and spiritual insight.
(those who see) therefore the meaning is "those who ponder''.
The City of Sodom on the Highroad
(And verily, they were right on the highroad.) meaning that the city of Sodom, which was physically and spiritually turned upside down, and pelted with stones until it became a foul smelling lake (the Dead Sea), is on a route that is easily accessible until the present day.
(Surely, there is indeed a sign in that for the believers.) meaning, `All that We did to the people of Lut, from the destruction and the vengeance, to how We saved Lut and his family, these are clear signs to those who believe in Allah and His Messengers.'
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