Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged)

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The People of the City arrive upon the Angels, thinking that they are Men Allah tells us about how Lut's people came to him when they found out about his handsome guests, and they came happily rejoicing about them. قَالَ إِنَّ هَـؤُلآءِ ضَيْفِى فَلاَ تَفْضَحُونِ - وَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ وَلاَ تُخْزُونِ (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, أَوَلَمْ نَنْهَكَ عَنِ الْعَـلَمِينَ (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. Hence Allah, may He be exalted, said to Muhammad ﷺ, لَعَمْرُكَ إِنَّهُمْ لَفِى سَكْرَتِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ (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 ﷺ. I never heard that Allah swore by the life of anyone else. Allah says, لَعَمْرُكَ إِنَّهُمْ لَفِى سَكْرَتِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ (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, إِنَّهُمْ لَفِى سَكْرَتِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ (in their wild intoxication, they were wandering blindly.) This was reported by Ibn Jarir. Qatadah said: لَفِى سَكْرَتِهِمْ (in their wild intoxication) "It means - in their misguided state; يَعْمَهُونَ (they were wandering blindly) means - they were playing. " `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said: لَعَمْرُكَ (Verily, by your life) means by your life, and إِنَّهُمْ لَفِى سَكْرَتِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ (in their wild intoxica- tion, they were wandering blindly.) means that they were confused."

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The People of the City arrive upon the Angels, thinking that they are Men Allah tells us about how Lut's people came to him when they found out about his handsome guests, and they came happily rejoicing about them. قَالَ إِنَّ هَـؤُلآءِ ضَيْفِى فَلاَ تَفْضَحُونِ - وَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ وَلاَ تُخْزُونِ (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, أَوَلَمْ نَنْهَكَ عَنِ الْعَـلَمِينَ (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. Hence Allah, may He be exalted, said to Muhammad ﷺ, لَعَمْرُكَ إِنَّهُمْ لَفِى سَكْرَتِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ (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 ﷺ. I never heard that Allah swore by the life of anyone else. Allah says, لَعَمْرُكَ إِنَّهُمْ لَفِى سَكْرَتِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ (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, إِنَّهُمْ لَفِى سَكْرَتِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ (in their wild intoxication, they were wandering blindly.) This was reported by Ibn Jarir. Qatadah said: لَفِى سَكْرَتِهِمْ (in their wild intoxication) "It means - in their misguided state; يَعْمَهُونَ (they were wandering blindly) means - they were playing. " `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said: لَعَمْرُكَ (Verily, by your life) means by your life, and إِنَّهُمْ لَفِى سَكْرَتِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ (in their wild intoxica- tion, they were wandering blindly.) means that they were confused."

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The Destruction of the People of Lut Allah said; فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّيْحَةُ (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. Allah said: إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لآيَـتٍ لِلْمُتَوَسِّمِينَ (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, as Mujahid said concerning the phrase, لِلْمُتَوَسِّمِينَ (those who see) he said, "those who have insight and discernment." It was reported from Ibn `Abbas and Ad-Dahhak that it referred to those who look. Qatadah said: "those who learn lessons". لِلْمُتَوَسِّمِينَ (those who see) therefore the meaning is "those who ponder". The City of Sodom on the Highroad وَإِنَّهَا لَبِسَبِيلٍ مُّقِيمٍ (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. This is like the Ayah, وَإِنَّكُمْ لَّتَمُرُّونَ عَلَيْهِمْ مُّصْبِحِينَ - وَبِالَّيْلِ أَفَلاَ تَعْقِلُونَ (Verily, you pass by them in the morning, and at night. Will you not then reflect) (37:137-138). إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لآيَةً لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ (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.'

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The Destruction of the People of Lut Allah said; فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّيْحَةُ (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. Allah said: إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لآيَـتٍ لِلْمُتَوَسِّمِينَ (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, as Mujahid said concerning the phrase, لِلْمُتَوَسِّمِينَ (those who see) he said, "those who have insight and discernment." It was reported from Ibn `Abbas and Ad-Dahhak that it referred to those who look. Qatadah said: "those who learn lessons". لِلْمُتَوَسِّمِينَ (those who see) therefore the meaning is "those who ponder". The City of Sodom on the Highroad وَإِنَّهَا لَبِسَبِيلٍ مُّقِيمٍ (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. This is like the Ayah, وَإِنَّكُمْ لَّتَمُرُّونَ عَلَيْهِمْ مُّصْبِحِينَ - وَبِالَّيْلِ أَفَلاَ تَعْقِلُونَ (Verily, you pass by them in the morning, and at night. Will you not then reflect) (37:137-138). إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لآيَةً لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ (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.'

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The Destruction of the People of Lut Allah said; فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّيْحَةُ (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. Allah said: إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لآيَـتٍ لِلْمُتَوَسِّمِينَ (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, as Mujahid said concerning the phrase, لِلْمُتَوَسِّمِينَ (those who see) he said, "those who have insight and discernment." It was reported from Ibn `Abbas and Ad-Dahhak that it referred to those who look. Qatadah said: "those who learn lessons". لِلْمُتَوَسِّمِينَ (those who see) therefore the meaning is "those who ponder". The City of Sodom on the Highroad وَإِنَّهَا لَبِسَبِيلٍ مُّقِيمٍ (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. This is like the Ayah, وَإِنَّكُمْ لَّتَمُرُّونَ عَلَيْهِمْ مُّصْبِحِينَ - وَبِالَّيْلِ أَفَلاَ تَعْقِلُونَ (Verily, you pass by them in the morning, and at night. Will you not then reflect) (37:137-138). إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لآيَةً لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ (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.'