7. Sura al-Araf
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلُوطًا
...
7: 80. We also (sent) Lut:
C1049. Lut is the Lot of the English Bible. His story is biblical, but freed from some shameful features which are a blot on the biblical narrative, (e.g., see Gen. 19:30-36).
He was a nephew of Abraham, and was sent as a Prophet and warner to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, cities utterly destroyed for their unspeakable sins. They cannot be exactly located, but it may be supposed that they were somewhere in the plain cast of the Dead Sea.
The story of their destruction is told in the 19th chapter of Genesis. Two angels in the shape of handsome young men came to Lot in the evening and became his guests by night. The inhabitants of Sodom in their lust for unnatural crime invaded Lut's house but were repulsed. In the morning, the angels warned Lut to escape with his family. "Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; and He overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." (Gen. 19:24-26).
Note that Lut's people are the people to whom he is sent on a mission. He was not one of their own brethren, as was Salih or Shu'aib. But he looked upon his people as his brethren (50:13), as a man of God always does.
... إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ أَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُم بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّن الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٨٠﴾
he said to his people:
"Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you?
إِنَّكُمْ
لَتَأْتُونَ
الرِّجَالَ
شَهْوَةً مِّن
دُونِ النِّسَاء...
7: 81. "For ye practice your lusts on men in preference to women:
...بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُّسْرِفُونَ ﴿٨١﴾
ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds."
وَمَا
كَانَ جَوَابَ
قَوْمِهِ إِلاَّ
أَن قَالُواْ
أَخْرِجُوهُم
مِّن قَرْيَتِكُمْ...
7: 82. And his people gave no answer but this: they said,
"Drive them out of your city:
...إِنَّهُمْ أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ ﴿٨٢﴾
these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!"
C1050. An instance of the withering sarcasm that hardened sinners use against the righteous. They wound with words, and follow up the insult with deeds of injustice, thinking that they would bring the righteous into disgrace. But Allah looks after His own, and in the end, the wicked themselves are overthrown when the cup of their iniquity is full.
فَأَنجَيْنَاهُ
وَأَهْلَهُ
إِلاَّ امْرَأَتَهُ
كَانَتْ مِنَ
الْغَابِرِينَ
﴿٨٣﴾
7: 83. But We saved him and his family, except his wife:
she was of those who lagged behind.
C1051. In the biblical narrative she looks back, a physical act (see n. 1049): here she is a type of those who lag behind, i.e., whose mental and moral attitude, in spite of their association with the righteous, is to hark back to the glitter of wickedness and sin.
The righteous should have one sole objective, the Way of Allah. they should not took behind, nor yet to the right or the left.
وَأَمْطَرْنَا
عَلَيْهِم
مَّطَرًا...
7: 84. And We rained down on them a shower (of brimstone):
C1052. The shower is expressly stated in 11:82 to have been of stones.
In 15:73-74, we are told that there was a terrible blast or noise (saihat) in addition to the shower of stones,
Taking these passages into consideration along with Gen. 19:24. (see n. 1049 above), I think it is legitimate to translate: "a shower of brimstone."
...فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ ﴿٨٤﴾
then see what was the end of those who indulged in sin and crime!
Other versions:
7: 80 [al-Araf, Mecca 39]
Yusuf Ali We also (sent) Lut: he said to his people: "Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you?
Pickthall And Lo! (Remember) when he said unto his folk: Will ye commit abomination such as no creature ever did before you?
Transliteration Wa lu_tan iz qa_la liqaumihi ata'tu_nal fa_hisyata ma_ sabaqakum biha_ min ahadim minal 'a_lamin(a).
7: 81
Yusuf Ali "For ye practice your lusts on men in preference to women: ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds."
Pickthall Lo! ye come with lust unto men instead of women. Nay, but ye, are wanton folk.
Transliteration Innakum lata'tu_nar rija_la syahwatam min du_nin nisa_'(i), bal antum qaumum musrifu_n(a).
[[ Asad’s note 63 – The story of Lot, Abraham’s nephew (Lut in Arabic)….]
7: 82
Yusuf Ali And his people gave no answer but this: they said "drive them out of your city: these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!"
Pickthall And the answer of his people was only that they said (one to another): Turn them out of your township. They are folk, forsooth, who keep pure.
Transliteration Wa ma_ ka_na jawa_ba qaumihi illa_ an qa_lu_ akhriju_hum min qaryatikum, innahum una_suy yatatahharu_n(a).
7: 83
Yusuf Ali But We saved him and his family except his wife: she was of those who lagged behind.
Pickthall And We rescued him and his household, save his wife, who was of those who stayed behind.
Transliteration Fa anjaina_hu wa ahlahu_ illamra'atahu_ ka_nat minal ga_birin(a).
7: 84
Yusuf Ali And We rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): then see what was the end of those who indulged in sin and crime!
Pickthall And We rained a rain upon them. See now the nature of the consequence for evil doers!
Transliteration Wa amtarna_ 'alaihim matara_(n), fanzur kaifa ka_na 'a_qibatul mujrimin(a).
[[ Ali’s Notes - 1049 Lut is the Lot of the English Bible. His story is biblical, but freed from some shameful features which are a blot on the biblical narrative, (e.g., see Gen. xix. 30-36). He was a nephew of Abraham, and was sent as a Prophet and warner to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, cities utterly destroyed for their unspeakable sins. They cannot be exactly located, but it may be supposed that they were somewhere in the plain cast of the Dead Sea. The story of their destruction is told in the 19th chapter of Genesis. Two angels in the shape of handsome young men came to Lot in the evening and became his guests by night. The inhabitants of Sodom in their lust for unnatural crime invaded Lot's house but were repulsed. In the morning, the angels warned Lot to escape with his family. "Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; and He overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." (Gen. xix. 24-26). Note that Lot's people are the people to whom he is sent on a mission. He was not one of their own brethren, as was Salih or Shu'aib. But he looked upon his people as his brethren (I. 13), as a man of God always does. (7.80)
1050 An instance of the withering sarcasm that hardened sinners use against the righteous. They wound with words, and follow up the insult with deeds of injustice, thinking that they would bring the righteous into disgrace. But Allah looks after His own, and in the end, the wicked themselves are overthrown when the cup of their iniquity is full. (7.82)
1051 In the biblical narrative she looks back, a physical act (see n. 1049): here she is a type of those who lag behind, i.e, whose mental and moral attitude, in spite of their association with the righteous, is to hark back to the glitter of wickedness and sin. The righteous should have one sole objective, the Way of Allah. They should not took behind, nor yet to the right or the left. (7.83) ]]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
أَلَمْ
يَأْتِهِمْ
نَبَأُ الَّذِينَ
مِن قَبْلِهِمْ
قَوْمِ نُوحٍ
وَعَادٍ وَثَمُودَ...
9: 70. Hath not the story reached them of those before them?
The people of Noah, and Ad, and Thamud;
C1328. The story:
- of Noah is told in 7:59-64:
- of 'Ad in 7:65-72; and
- of Thamud in 7:73-79;
- of Abraham in numerous places, but see specially 6:74-82;
- of Midianites in 7:85-93; and
- of Lut and the Cities of the Plain overthrown for their wickedness, in 7:80-84.
...وَقَوْمِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وِأَصْحَابِ مَدْيَنَ ...
the people of Abraham,
the men of Madyan,
C1329. In the case of Noah and Abraham, the word I have translated as "people of..." is qaum:
these prophets were messengers each to his own people or nation, as was also Hud to the 'Ad people and Salih to the Thamud people.
The word used for the Midianites is Ashabi Madyan, which I have translated "men of Midian" for want of a better word.
The Midianites were for the greater part of their history nomads, with pasture grounds but no settled territory or town. The town of Madyan on the Gulf of 'Aqaba refers to much later times when the Midianites as a people had ceased to count.
See n. 1053 to 7:85.
... وَالْمُؤْتَفِكَاتِ...
and the cities overthrown.
C1330. The Cities of Plain, Sodom and Gomorrah, to whom Lut preached in vain to desist from their abominations: 7:80-84.
...أَتَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ...
To them came their Messengers with clear signs.
...فَمَا كَانَ اللّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَـكِن كَانُواْ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ ﴿٧٠﴾
It is not Allah who wrongs them, but they wrong their own souls.
Asad’s Version:
9: 70 Have then the stories of those who preceded them never come within the ken of these – of Noah’s people , and of Ad and Thamud, and of Abraham’s people, and of the folk of Madyan, and of the cities that were overthrown? To them their apostles had come with all evidence of the truth, and so it was not God who wronged them, but it was they who wronged themselves.
[asad note 98 Sodom and Gomorrah, the cities of Lot’s people…….]
11.Surah Hud
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
فَلَمَّا
ذَهَبَ عَنْ
إِبْرَاهِيمَ
الرَّوْعُ
وَجَاءتْهُ
الْبُشْرَى
يُجَادِلُنَا
فِي قَوْمِ
لُوطٍ ﴿٧٤﴾
11: 74. When fear had passed from (the mind of) Abraham and the glad tidings had reached him, he began to plead with Us for Lut's people.
C1571. Glad-tidings: not only that he was to have a son, but that he was to be a fountain-head of prophets.
So he now begins to plead at once for the sinful people to whom Lut was sent as a warner.
إِنَّ
إِبْرَاهِيمَ
لَحَلِيمٌ
أَوَّاهٌ
مُّنِيبٌ ﴿٧٥﴾
11: 75. For Abraham was, without doubt, forbearing (of faults), compassionate, and given to look to Allah.
C1572. Like Al-Mustafa, Abraham had three qualities in a preeminent degree, which are here mentioned:
- he was long-suffering with other people's faults:
- his sympathies and compassion were very wide: and
- for every difficulty or trouble he turned to Allah and sought Him in prayer.
يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ
أَعْرِضْ عَنْ
هَذَا إِنَّهُ
قَدْ جَاء أَمْرُ
رَبِّكَ...
11: 76. Abraham! seek not this.
The decree of thy Lord hath gone forth:
...وَإِنَّهُمْ آتِيهِمْ عَذَابٌ غَيْرُ مَرْدُودٍ ﴿٧٦﴾
for them there cometh a Penalty that cannot be turned back!
C1573. This is a sort of prophetic apostrophe.
'O Abraham! All your warning. O Lut, will be unheeded! Alas! they are so deep in sin that nothing will reclaim them!'
This is illustrated in verse 79 below.
And now we proceed to Lut and how he was dealt with by the wicked.
وَلَمَّا جَاءتْ
رُسُلُنَا
لُوطًا سِيءَ
بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ
بِهِمْ ذَرْعًا...
11: 77. When Our Messengers came to Lut, he was grieved on their account and felt himself powerless (to protect) them.
...وَقَالَ هَـذَا يَوْمٌ عَصِيبٌ ﴿٧٧﴾
He said: "This is a distressful day."
C1574. The story of Lut, as referred to in 7:80-84, laid emphasis on the rejection of Lut's mission by men who practised unnatural abominations. See n. 1049 to 7:80.
Here the emphasis is laid on Allah's dealings with men;
- in mercy for true spiritual service and in righteous wrath and punishment for those who defy the laws of nature established by Him;
- also on men's dealings with each other and the contrast between the righteous and the wicked who respect no laws human or divine.
وَجَاءهُ
قَوْمُهُ يُهْرَعُونَ
إِلَيْهِ...
11: 78. And his people came rushing towards him,
...وَمِن قَبْلُ كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ...
and they had been long in the habit of practicing abominations.
...قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ هَـؤُلاء بَنَاتِي هُنَّ أَطْهَرُ لَكُمْ...
He said:
"O my people! here are my daughters: they are purer for you (if ye marry)!
C1575. The Biblical narrative suggests that the daughters were married and their husbands were close by (Gen. 19:14) and that these same daughters afterwards committed incest with their father and had children by him (Gen. 19:31-33).
The holy Quran nowhere suggests such abominations. Some Commentators suggest that "my daughters" in the mouth of a venerable man like Lut, the father of his people, may mean any young girls of those Towns.
"My son" (waladi) is still a common mode of address in Arabic-speaking countries when an elderly man addresses a young man.
...فَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ وَلاَ تُخْزُونِ فِي ضَيْفِي...
Now fear Allah, and cover me not with shame about my guests!
...أَلَيْسَ مِنكُمْ رَجُلٌ رَّشِيدٌ ﴿٧٨﴾
Is there not among you a single right-minded man?"
قَالُواْ لَقَدْ
عَلِمْتَ مَا
لَنَا فِي بَنَاتِكَ
مِنْ حَقٍّ...
11: 79. They said:
"Well dost thou know we have no need of thy daughters:
...وَإِنَّكَ لَتَعْلَمُ مَا نُرِيدُ ﴿٧٩﴾
indeed thou knowest quite well what we want!"
قَالَ
لَوْ أَنَّ لِي
بِكُمْ قُوَّةً
أَوْ آوِي إِلَى
رُكْنٍ شَدِيدٍ ﴿٨٠﴾
11: 80. He said: "Would that I had power to suppress you or that I could betake myself to some powerful support."
C1576. Lut seemed helpless in the situation in which he found himself,-alone against a rabble of people inflamed with evil passions. He wished he had had the strength to suppress them himself or had had some powerful support to lean on!
But the powerful support was there, though he had not realized it till then. It was the support of Allah. His guests were not ordinary men, but Angels who had come to test the people before they inflicted the punishment. They now declared themselves, and gave him directions to get away before the morning, when the punishment would descend on the doomed Cities of the Plain.
قَالُواْ
يَا لُوطُ إِنَّا
رُسُلُ رَبِّكَ
لَن يَصِلُواْ
إِلَيْكَ...
11: 81. (The Messengers) said
"O Lut! we are Messengers from thy Lord!
By no means shall they reach thee!
...فَأَسْرِ بِأَهْلِكَ بِقِطْعٍ مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ وَلاَ يَلْتَفِتْ مِنكُمْ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ امْرَأَتَكَ...
Now travel with thy family while yet a part of the night remains, and let not any of you look back:
but thy wife (will remain behind):
C1577. Even in Lut's household was one who detracted from the harmony of the family. She was disobedient to her husband, and he was here obeying Allah's Command.
She looked back and shared the fate of the wicked inhabitants of the Cities of the Plain:
see also 66:10.
The Biblical narrative suggests that she was turned into a pillar of salt (Gen. 19:26).
...إِنَّهُ مُصِيبُهَا مَا أَصَابَهُمْ...
to her will happen what happens to the people.
...إِنَّ مَوْعِدَهُمُ الصُّبْحُ...
Morning is their time appointed:
...أَلَيْسَ الصُّبْحُ بِقَرِيبٍ ﴿٨١﴾
is not the morning nigh?"
فَلَمَّا
جَاء أَمْرُنَا
جَعَلْنَا عَالِيَهَا
سَافِلَهَا...
11: 82. When Our decree issued, We turned (the cities) upside down,
...وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهَا حِجَارَةً ...
and rained down on them brimstones
... مِّن سِجِّيلٍ مَّنضُودٍ ﴿٨٢﴾
hard as baked clay, spread, layer on layer --
C1579. Sijjil, a Persian word Arabicised, from Sang-o-gil, or Sang-i-gil, stone and clay, or hard as baked clay, according to the Qamus.
Sodom and Gomorrah were in a tract of hard, caky, sulphurous soil, to which this description well applies.
Cf. 51:33, where the words are "stones of clay" (hijarat min tin) in connection with the same incident.
On the other hand, in 105:4, the word sijjil is used for pellets of hard-baked clay in connection with Abraha and the Companions of the Elephant.
11: 83. Marked as from thy Lord:
C1580. If we take the words literally, they would mean that the showers of brimstones were marked with the destiny of the wicked as decreed by Allah.
But would it not be better to take them figuratively, to mean that the shower of brimstones was especially appointed in Allah's Decree or Plan to mark the punishment for the crimes of Sodom and Gomorrah?
...وَمَا هِيَ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ بِبَعِيدٍ ﴿٨٣﴾
nor are they ever far from those who do wrong!
C1581. They: Arabic, hiya: some Commentators take the pronoun to refer to the wicked cities so destroyed: the meaning then would be: those wicked cities were not so different from other cities that do wrong, for they would all suffer similar punishment!
Perhaps it would be better to refer "they" to the stones of punishment by a metonymy for "Punishment": 'punishment would not be far from any people that did wrong.'
Other versions:
11: 74 [Hud, Mecca 52]
Asad …..he began to plead with Us for Lot’s people [note 106]
Yusuf Ali When fear had passed from (the mind of) Abraham and the glad tidings had reached him he began to plead with Us for Lut's people.
Pickthall And when the awe departed from Abraham, and the glad news reached him, he pleaded with Us on behalf of the folk of Lot.
Yuksel So when the shock left Abraham, and the good news was delivered to him, he began to argue with Us for the people of Lot.
Transliteration Falamma_ zahaba 'an ibra_himar rau'u wa ja_'athul busyra_ yuja_diluna_ fi qaumi lu_t(in).
[[ Asad’s note 106 – According to all commentators, this means “he pleaded {lit., “argued”] with Our messengers”(who, as is evident from 29:31, had announced to him the impending doom of Sodom and Gomorrah), and not with God himself.]]
11: 75
Asad for, behold, Abraham was most clement, most tender-hearted, intent upon turning to God again and again.
Yusuf Ali For Abraham was without doubt forbearing (of faults) compassionate and given to look to Allah.
Pickthall Lo! Abraham was mild, imploring, penitent.
Yuksel Abraham was compassionate, kind.
Transliteration Inna ibra_hima lahalimun awwa_hum munib(un).
11: 76
Yusuf Ali O Abraham! seek not this. The decree of thy Lord hath gone forth: for them there cometh a Penalty that cannot be turned back!
Pickthall (It was said) O Abraham! Forsake this! Lo! thy Lord's commandment hath gone forth, and lo! there cometh unto them a doom which cannot be repelled.
Yuksel O Abraham, turn away from this. Your Lord's command has come, and a retribution that will not be turned back is coming for them.
Transliteration Ya_ ibra_himu a'rid 'an ha_za_, innahu_ qad ja_'a amru rabbik(a), wa innahum a_tihim 'aza_bun gairu mardu_d(in).
[[ Ali’s notes -
571 Glad-tidings: not only that he was to have a son, but that he was to be a fountain-head of prophets. So he now begins to plead at once for the sinful people to whom Lot was sent as a warner. (11.74)
1572 Like Al-Mustafa, Abraham had three qualities in a preeminent degree, which are here mentioned: (1) he was long-suffering with other people's faults: (2) his sympathies and compassion were very wide: and (3) for every difficulty or trouble he turned to Allah and sought Him in prayer. (11.75)
1573 This is a sort of prophetic apostrophe. 'O Abraham! All your warning. O Lut, will be unheeded! Alas! they are so deep in sin that nothing will reclaim them!' This is illustrated in verse 79 below. And now we proceed to Lut and how he was dealt with by the wicked. (11.76) ]]
11: 77
Asad And when Our messengers came unto Lot, he was sorely grieved on their account, seeing that it was beyond his power to shield them [note 107]; and he exclaimed: “This is a woeful day!”
Yusuf Ali When Our Messengers came to Lut he was grieved on their account and felt himself powerless (to protect) them. He said: "This is a distressful day."
Pickthall And when Our messengers came unto Lot, he was distressed and knew not how to protect them. He said: This is a distressful day.
Transliteration Wa lamma_ ja_'at rusuluna_ lu_tan si'a bihim wa da_qa bihim zar'aw wa qa_la ha_za_ yaumun 'asib(un).
[[ Asad’s note 107 - …………denoting here Lot’s utter inability to afford his guests protection from the people of Sodom, whose homosexuality propensities have ever since been commemorated in the term “sodomy”. Since Lot thought that the strangers were no more than handsome young men, he felt certain that they would be sexually assaulted by his sinful countrymen. ]]
[[ Ali’s notes -
573 This is a sort of prophetic apostrophe. 'O Abraham! All your warning. O Lut, will be unheeded! Alas! they are so deep in sin that nothing will reclaim them!' This is illustrated in verse 79 below. And now we proceed to Lut and how he was dealt with by the wicked. (11.76)
1574 The story of Lot, as referred to in vii. 80-84, laid emphasis on the rejection of Lot's mission by men who practised unnatural abominations. See n. 1049 to vii. 80. Here the emphasis is laid on Allah's dealings with men-in mercy for true spiritual service and in righteous wrath and punishment for those who defy the laws of nature established by Him;-also on men's dealings with each other and the contrast between the righteous and the wicked who respect no laws human or divine. (11.77)
1575 The Biblical narrative suggests that the daughters were married and their husbands were close by (Gen. xix. 14) and that these same daughters afterwards committed incest with their father and had children by him (Gen. xix. 31). The holy Quran nowhere suggests such abominations. Some Commentators suggest that "my daughters" in the mouth of a venerable man like Lut, the father of his people, may mean any young girls of those]]
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11: 78
Asad And his people came running to him, impelled towards his house [by their desire]: [note 108] for they had ever been wont to commit [such] abominations. Said [Lot]: “O my people! [Take instead] these daughters of mine: they are purer for you [than men]! [note 109]. Be, then, conscious of God, and disgrace me not by [assaulting] my guests. Is there not among you even one right-minded man?
Yusuf Ali And his people came rushing towards him and they had been long in the habit of practicing abominations. He said: "O my people! here are my daughters: they are purer for you (if ye marry)! Now fear Allah and cover me not with shame about my guests! Is there not among you a single right-minded man?"
Pickthall And his people came unto him, running towards him and before then they used to commit abominations. He said: O my people! Here are my daughters! They are purer for you. Beware of Allah, and degrade me not in (the person of) my guests. Is there not among you any upright man?
Yuksel His people came rushing towards him, and were accustomed to committing sin. He said, "My people, these are my daughters, they are purer for you, so be aware of God and do not disgrace me regarding my guests. Is there no reasonable man among you?"
Transliteration Wa ja_'ahu_ qaumuhu_ yuhra'u_na ilaih(i), wa min qablu ka_nu_ ya'malu_ nas sayyi'a_t(i), qa_la ya_ qaumi ha_'ula_'i bana_ti hunna atharu lakum fa-ttaqulla_ha wa la_ tukhzu_ni fi daifi, alaisa minkum rajulur rasyid(un).
11: 79
Yusuf Ali They said: "Well dost thou know we have no need of thy daughters: indeed thou knowest quite well what we want!"
Pickthall They said: Well thou knowest that we have no right to thy daughters, and well thou knowest what we want.
Yuksel They said, "You know we have no interest in your daughters, and you are aware of what we want!"*
Transliteration Qa_lu_ laqad 'alimta ma_ lana_ fi bana_tika min haqq(in), wa innaka lata'lamu ma_ nurid(u).
[[ * Yuksel’s note - 011:079 Note that these are not people who are committing sin in their private lives; they are aggressive homosexuals who are proud of their behavior and show the audacity to harass men around them. ]]
[[ Ruby’s note 11-79 – I totally agree with Yuksel that through these expressions the Quran is establishing the complete indecency and aggressiveness. It is the publicly demonstrated behavior. As soon as they found out about Lot’s guests Lot’s people [here men] publicly demonstrated their sexual desire and were driven by it.]]
[[ Asad’s note 108 – Lit., “towards him” – but since their desire was obviously dericted at Lot’s guests, and not at himself, my rendering would seem appropriate. …the verb “yuhra’un” does not merely mean “they came running” but, rather, “running as if driven, onward by some force” (Zamakhshari) – in this case, the force of their perverse desire.
Note 109 – Most of the commentators are of the opinion that the phrase “three daughters of mine” signifies here “the daughters of my community”………in their wider implication they point to the natural relationship between man and woman as contrasted with the perverse desires of the men of Sodom.]]
[[ Ali’s notes –
1574 The story of Lot, as referred to in vii. 80-84, laid emphasis on the rejection of Lot's mission by men who practiced unnatural abominations. See n. 1049 to vii. 80. Here the emphasis is laid on Allah's dealings with men-in mercy for true spiritual service and in righteous wrath and punishment for those who defy the laws of nature established by Him;-also on men's dealings with each other and the contrast between the righteous and the wicked who respect no laws human or divine. (11.77)
1575 The Biblical narrative suggests that the daughters were married and their husbands were close by (Gen. xix. 14) and that these same daughters afterwards committed incest with their father and had children by him (Gen. xix. 31). The holy Qur-an nowhere suggests such abominations. Some Commentators suggest that "my daughters" in the mouth of a venerable man like Lut, the father of his people, may mean any young girls of those Towns. "My son" (waladi) is still a common mode of address in Arabic-speaking countries when an elderly man addresses a young man. (11.78) ]]
11: 80
Asad Exclaimed [Lot]: “Would that I had the strength to defeat you, or that I could lean upon some mightier support!
Yusuf Ali He said: "Would that I had power to suppress you or that I could betake myself to some powerful support."
Pickthall He said: Would that I had strength to resist you or had some strong support (among you)!
Yuksel He said, "If only I had strength against you, or I could find for myself some powerful support."
Transliteration Qa_la lau anna li bikum quwwatan au a_wi ila_ ruknin syadid(in).
[[ Ruby’s note 11-80 – This is coming out of the anguish of the Prophet. He wanted to help his community but his community turned against him. What he is expressing is his frustration over his failure to lead his people in the right direction and anguishing that he wished he had power to change them towards good. Or God would give him the support to change the people and help them save from this abominable behavior and the painful consequence. ]]
11: 81
Asad ……………..Depart, then, with your household while it is yet night, ….with the exception of your wife: for, behold, that which is befall these [people of Sodom] shall befall her [as well] [note 113]…………….
Yusuf Ali (The Messengers) said "O Lut! we are Messengers from thy Lord! By no means shall they reach thee! Now travel with thy family while yet a part of the night remains and let not any of you look back: but thy wife (will remain behind): to her will happen what happens to the people. Morning is their time appointed: is not the morning nigh?"
Pickthall (The messengers) said: O Lot! Lo! we are messengers of thy Lord; they shall not reach thee. So travel with thy people in a part of the night, and let not one of you turn round (all) save thy wife. Lo! that which smiteth them will smite her (also). Lo! their tryst is (for) the morning. Is not the morning nigh?
Yuksel They said, "O Lot, we are your Lord's messengers; they will not be able to harm you. So travel with your family during the cover of the night and let not any of you look back except for your wife; she will be afflicted with what they will be afflicted. Their appointed time will be the morning. Is the morning not near?"
Transliteration Qa_lu_ ya_ lu_tu inna_ rusulu rabbika lay yasilu_ ilaika fa asri bi ahlika bi qit'im minal laili wa la_ yaltafit minkum ahadun illa-mra'atak(a), innahu_ musibuha_ ma_ asa_bahum, inna mau'idahumus subh(u), alaisas subhu bi qarib(in).
[[Asad’s note 113 – Cf. 7:83 and the corresponding note, as well as 66:10, where it is mentioned that Lot’s wife, who apparently a native of Sodom, had acted faithlessly towards her husband, i.e., had refused to believe in his prophetic mission; and her story was thereupon “propounded as a parable of those who are bent on denying the truth”.]]
[[ Ali’s note - 1577 Even in Lot's household was one who detracted from the harmony of the family. She was disobedient to her husband, and he was here obeying Allah's Command. She looked back and shared the fate of the wicked inhabitants of the Cities of the Plain: see also lxvi. 10. The Biblical narrative suggests that she was turned into a pillar of salt (Gen. xix. 26). (11.81)]]
1576 Lot seemed helpless in the situation in which he found himself,-alone against a rabble of people inflamed with evil passions. He wished he had had the strength to suppress them himself or had had some powerful support to lean on! But the powerful support was there, though he had not realised it till then. It was the support of Allah. His guests were not ordinary men, but Angels who had come to test the people before they inflicted the punishment. They now declared themselves, and gave him directions to get away before the morning, when the punishment would descend on the doomed Cities of the Plain. (11.80)
1577 Even in Lot's household was one who detracted from the harmony of the family. She was disobedient to her husband, and he was here obeying Allah's Command. She looked back and shared the fate of the wicked inhabitants of the Cities of the Plain: see also lxvi. 10. The Biblical narrative suggests that she was turned into a pillar of salt (Gen. xix. 26). (11.81)
1578 Cf. vii. 84 and n. 1052. (11.82)]]
11: 82
Asad And so, when Our judgment came to pass, We turned those [sinful towns] upside down, and rained down upon them stone-hard blows of chastisement pre-ordained [note 114] one upon another,
Yusuf Ali When Our decree issued We turned (the cities) upside down and rained down on them brimstones hard as baked clay spread layer on layer
Pickthall So when Our commandment came to pass We overthrew (that township) and rained upon it stones of clay, one after another,
Yuksel So when Our command came, We turned it upside down, and We rained on it with hardened fiery projectiles.
Transliteration Falamma_ ja_'a amruna_ ja'alna_ 'a_liyaha_ sa_filaha_ wa amtarna_ 'alaiha_ hija_ratam min sijjilim mandu_d(in).
[[ Asad’s note 114 – Lit., “stones of sijjil”, which latter nound is regarded by some philologists as the Arabicized form of the Persian sang-i-gil (“clay-stone” or “petrified clay”): …….If this supposition is correct, the “stones of petrified clay” would be more or less synonymous with “brimstones”, which in its turn would point to a volcanic eruption, probably in conjunction with a severe earthquake (alluded in the preceding phrase “We turned those [sinful towns] upside down”). But there is also a strong probability, pointing out by Zamakhshari and Razi, that the term sijjil is of purely Arabic origin – namely, a synonym of sijill, which primarily signifies “a writing”, and secondarily, “something that has been decreed”: in which case the expression hijarah min sijjil can be understood in a metaphorical sense, namely, as “stones of all the chastisement laid down in God’s decree” (…….their commentary on 105:4). It is, I believe, this metaphorical meaning of “stone-hard blown of chastisement pre-ordained”, i.e., of God-willed doom, that the concluding sentence of the next verse alludes to.]]
[[ Ali’s notes -
1577 Even in Lot's household was one who detracted from the harmony of the family. She was disobedient to her husband, and he was here obeying Allah's Command. She looked back and shared the fate of the wicked inhabitants of the Cities of the Plain: see also lxvi. 10. The Biblical narrative suggests that she was turned into a pillar of salt (Gen. xix. 26). (11.81)
1578 Cf. vii. 84 and n. 1052. (11.82)
1579 Sijjil, a Persian word Arabicised, from Sang-o-gil, or Sang-i-gil, stone and clay, or hard as baked clay, according to the Qamus. Sodom and Gomorrah were in a tract of hard, caky, sulphurous soil, to which this description well applies. Cf. Ii. 33, where the words are "stones of clay" (hijarat min tin) in connection with the same incident. On the other hand, in cv. 4, the word sijjil is used for pellets of hard-baked clay in connection with Abraha and the Companions of the Elephant. (11.82)]]
11: 83
Asad marked out in thy Sustainer’s sight [for the punishment of such as are lost in sin] and these are never far from evildoers!
Yusuf Ali Marked as from thy Lord: nor are they ever far from those who do wrong!
Pickthall Marked with fire in the providence of thy Lord (for the destruction of the wicked). And they are never far from the wrong-doers.
Yuksel Marked from your Lord, and they are never far from the wicked.
Transliteration Musawwamatan 'inda rabbik(a), wa ma_ hiya minaz za_limina bi ba'id(in).
15. Surah Al Hijr
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
قَالُواْ
إِنَّا أُرْسِلْنَا
إِلَى قَوْمٍ
مُّجْرِمِينَ ﴿٥٨﴾
15: 58. They said:
"We have been sent to a people (deep) in sin.
C1985. The Cities of the Plain round the Dead Sea, which to this day is called the Bahr Lut. They were given to unspeakable abominations.
Read in this connection 11:77-83 and notes.
إِلاَّ
آلَ لُوطٍ إِنَّا
لَمُنَجُّوهُمْ
أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿٥٩﴾
15: 59. "Excepting the adherents of Lut: them we are certainly (charged) to save (from harm) -- all --
C1986. Here, again, Allah's saving Grace is linked with His Wrath, and is mentioned first.
إِلاَّ
امْرَأَتَهُ
قَدَّرْنَا
إِنَّهَا لَمِنَ
الْغَابِرِينَ ﴿٦٠﴾
15: 60. "Except his wife, who, we have ascertained, will be among those who will lag behind."
C1987. See 11:81, and n. 1577.
فَلَمَّا
جَاء آلَ لُوطٍ
الْمُرْسَلُونَ ﴿٦١﴾
15: 61. At length when the messengers arrived among the adherents of Lut,
C1988. Al means people who adhere to the ways and teaching of a great Teacher; e.g., Ali Muhammad: it does not necessarily mean race or descendants.
Ahl (15:65 below) usually implies "household" but may be taken in an extended sense to include People generally, see 15:67.
Qaum (15:62) may be any collection or aggregate of people. In 11:70 the hostile inhabitants of the Cities of the Plain are called the qaum-u-Lut (the People of Lut).
Ashab (companions) refers to a Group rather than to a People-. Cf. 15:78. (R).
قَالَ
إِنَّكُمْ
قَوْمٌ مُّنكَرُونَ ﴿٦٢﴾
15: 62. He said: "Ye appear to be uncommon folk."
قَالُواْ
بَلْ جِئْنَاكَ
بِمَا كَانُواْ
فِيهِ يَمْتَرُونَ ﴿٦٣﴾
15: 63. They said:
"Yea, we have come to thee to accomplish that of which they doubt.
C1989. The unusual appearance of the angels struck Lut as it had struck Abraham. Knowing the abominable vices to which the Cities were addicted, he feared to entertain handsome young men.
They at once disclosed their mission to him. In effect they said:
"You, Lut, have been preaching in vain to these wicked Cities. When you warn them of their inevitable end: Destruction, they laugh and doubt. Now their doubt will be resolved. Their destruction will be accomplished before the morning."
وَأَتَيْنَاكَ
بَالْحَقِّ
وَإِنَّا
لَصَادِقُونَ ﴿٦٤﴾
15: 64. "We have brought to thee that which is inevitably due, and assuredly we tell the truth.
C1990. Al-Haqq: the Punishment which is justly and inevitably due, which must certainly come to pass.
Cf. 22:18.
فَأَسْرِ
بِأَهْلِكَ
بِقِطْعٍ مِّنَ
اللَّيْلِ
وَاتَّبِعْ
أَدْبَارَهُمْ...
15: 65. "Then travel by night with thy household, when a portion of the night (yet remains), and do thou bring up the rear:
...وَلاَ يَلْتَفِتْ مِنكُمْ أَحَدٌ وَامْضُواْ حَيْثُ تُؤْمَرُونَ ﴿٦٥﴾
let no one amongst you look back, but pass on whither ye are ordered."
وَقَضَيْنَا
إِلَيْهِ ذَلِكَ
الأَمْرَ أَنَّ
دَابِرَ هَؤُلاء
مَقْطُوعٌ
مُّصْبِحِينَ ﴿٦٦﴾
15: 66. And We made known this decree to him, that the last remnants of those (sinners) should be cut off by the morning.
C1991. As the last remnants of the wicked were to be cut off, and as the Mercy of Allah wished to save every true soul who might be with Lut, Allah's decree was made known to Lut, so that he might save his adherents.
وَجَاء
أَهْلُ الْمَدِينَةِ
يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ ﴿٦٧﴾
15: 67. The inhabitants of the City came in (mad) joy (at news of the young men).
C1992. They were addicted to unnatural crime, and the news of the advent of handsome young men inflamed them. How true it is that at the very verge of destruction, men rush blindly to their fate, and cut off any last hope of repentance and mercy for themselves.
Cf. 15:72 below.
قَالَ
إِنَّ هَؤُلاء
ضَيْفِي فَلاَ
تَفْضَحُونِ ﴿٦٨﴾
15: 68. Lut said:
"These are my guests: disgrace me not:
وَاتَّقُوا
اللّهَ وَلاَ
تُخْزُونِ ﴿٦٩﴾
15: 69. "But fear Allah, and shame me not."
قَالُوا
أَوَلَمْ نَنْهَكَ
عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٧٠﴾
15: 70. They said: "Did we not forbid thee (to speak) for all and sundry?"
C1993. 1 understand the meaning to be that Lut, the only righteous man in the City, had frequently remonstrated with the inhabitants against their unnatural crimes, and they had forbidden him to speak to them again on behalf of any one, "as if" (they might tauntingly say) "he was the protector of all and sundry".
Some Commentators understand the verse to mean: 'Did we not forbid thee to entertain any strangers?'
قَالَ
هَؤُلاء بَنَاتِي
إِن كُنتُمْ
فَاعِلِينَ ﴿٧١﴾
15: 71. He said: "There are my daughters (to marry). If ye must act (so)."
"My daughters" in the mouth of a venerable man may mean young girls of the City, which would be appropriate considering the large number of men who came to besiege Lot's house.
لَعَمْرُكَ
إِنَّهُمْ لَفِي
سَكْرَتِهِمْ
يَعْمَهُونَ ﴿٧٢﴾
15: 72. Verily, by thy life (O Prophet), in their wild intoxication, they wander in distraction, to and fro.
C1995. The wild, mad fury of passion and sin attains its own destruction and cuts off the last hope of repentance or mercy.
فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ
الصَّيْحَةُ
مُشْرِقِينَ ﴿٧٣﴾
15: 73. But the (mighty) Blast overtook them before morning,
C1996. As-Saihat: the mighty Blast, is mentioned as accompanying earthquakes:
Cf. 11:67-94. Here it was the violent wind and noise accompanying the shower of brimstones, possibly with some volcanic action.
فَجَعَلْنَا
عَالِيَهَا
سَافِلَهَا
وَأَمْطَرْنَا
عَلَيْهِمْ
حِجَارَةً مِّن
سِجِّيلٍ ﴿٧٤﴾
15: 74. And We turned (the Cities) upside down, and rained down on them brimstones hard as baked clay.
C1997. Cf. 11:82 and notes, in which the word Sijjil and its origin are explained.
إِنَّ
فِي ذَلِكَ
لآيَاتٍ
لِّلْمُتَوَسِّمِينَ ﴿٧٥﴾
15: 75. Behold! in this are Signs for those who by tokens do understand.
وَإِنَّهَا
لَبِسَبِيلٍ
مُّقيمٍ ﴿٧٦﴾
15: 76. And the (cities were) right on the highroad.
C1998. The Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were utterly destroyed, and even their precise position cannot be identified. But the brimstone plain of the tract still exists, right on the highway between Arabia and Syria.
To the traveler in the neighbourhood of the Dead Sea the whole locality presents a scene of dismal desolation which truly suggests the awful punishment for unspeakable crimes.
إِنَّ
فِي ذَلِكَ
لآيَةً لِّلْمُؤمِنِينَ ﴿٧٧﴾
15: 77. Behold! in this is a Sign for those who believe!
C1999. Verse 75 refers to all who have the intelligence to grasp the Signs of Allah.
Verses 76-77 specially refer to those who use the Arabia-Syria highroad. The desolation is specially brought home to them,
Other versions:
15: 58 [al-Hijr, Mecca 54] [Angels talking to Abraham]
Asad They answered: “ We are sent to people lost in sin
Yusuf Ali They said: "We have been sent to a people (deep) in sin.
Pickthall They said: We have been sent unto a guilty folk.
Transliteration Qa_lu_ inna_ ursilna_ ila_ qaaumim mujrimin(a),
[ Asad ntoe 41: I.e., to the people of Sodom (see also 7:80-84 and 11:77-83)]
15: 59
Asad Barring Lot’s household, all of whom, behold, we shall save
Yusuf Ali "Excepting the adherents of Lut: them we are certainly (charged) to save (from harm) all
Pickthall (All) save the family of Lot. Them we shall deliver everyone,
Transliteration Illa_ a_la lu_t(in), inna_ lamunajju_hum ajma'in(a),
15: 60
Asad Excepting only his wife, ‘We have ordained [of whom God says], behold, she should be among those who stay behind!”
Yusuf Ali "Except his wife who we have ascertained will be among those who will lag behind."
Pickthall Except his wife, of whom We had decreed that she should be of those who stay behind.
Transliteration Illa-mra'atahu_ qaddarna_ innaha_ laminal ga_birin(a).
15: 61
Yusuf Ali At length when the messengers arrived among the adherents of Lut
Pickthall And when the messengers came unto the family of Lot,
Yuksel
Transliteration Falamma_ ja_'a a_la lu_tinil mursalin(a),
15: 62
Asad He said: “Behold, you are people unknown [here]!”
Yusuf Ali He said: "Ye appear to be uncommon folk."
Pickthall He said: Lo! ye are folk unknown (to me).
Transliteration Qa_la innakum qaumum munkaru_n(a).
15: 63
Asad They answered: “Nay, but we have come unto thee with [announcement of ] something that they have always been wont to call in question,
Yusuf Ali They said: "Yea we have come to thee to accomplish that of which they doubt.
Pickthall They said: Nay, but we bring thee that concerning which they keep disputing,
Transliteration Qa_la_ bal ji'na_ka bima_ ka_nu_ fihi yamtaru_n(a).
[ Asad note 44]
15: 64
Asad And we are bringing you the certainty [for its fulfillment ] L for , behold, we are speaking the truth indeed.
Yusuf Ali "We have brought to thee that which is inevitably due and assuredly we tell the truth.
Pickthall And bring thee the Truth, and lo! we are truth tellers.
Transliteration Wa a_taina_ka bil haqqi wa inna_ lasa_diqu_n(a).
15: 65
Asad Go, then, with your household while it is yet night, with yourself following them in the rear; and let none of you look back, but proceed wither you are bedden.”
Yusuf Ali "Then travel by night with thy household when a portion of the night (yet remains) and do thou bring up the rear: let no one amongst you look back but pass on whither ye are ordered."
Pickthall So travel with thy household in a portion of the night, and follow thou their backs. Let none of you turn round, but go whither ye are commanded.
Yuksel "So let your family leave during the last moments of the night, and you follow just behind them, and do not let any of you look back, and go to where you are commanded."
Transliteration Fa asri bi ahlika bi qit'im minal laili wa-ttabi' adba_rahum wa la_ yaltafit minkum ahaduw wa-mdu_ haisu tu'maru_n(a).
15: 66
Yusuf Ali And We made known this decree to him that the last remnants of those (sinners) should be cut off by the morning.
Pickthall And We made plain the case to him, that the root of them (who did wrong) was to be cut at early morn.
Yuksel 15:66 We conveyed him the decree, that the remnants of these people will be cut off in the morning.
Transliteration Wa qadaina_ ilaihi za_likal amra anna da_bira ha_'ula_'i maqtu_'um musbihin(a).
15: 67
Asad And the people of the city came [unto Lut], rejoicing at the glad tiding.
Yusuf Ali The inhabitants of the City came in (mad) joy (at news of the young men).
Pickthall And the people of the city came, rejoicing at the news (of new arrivals).
Yuksel 15:67 The people of the city came seeking good news.
Transliteration Wa ja_'a ahlul madinati yastabsyiru_n(a).
15: 68
Yusuf Ali Lut said: "These are my guests: disgrace me not:
Pickthall He said: Lo! they are my guests. Affront me not!
Yuksel 15:68 He said, "These are my guests, so do not embarrass me!"
Transliteration Qa_la inna ha_'ula_'i daifi fala_ tafdahu_n(i),
15: 69
Yusuf Ali "But fear Allah and shame me not."
Pickthall And keep your duty to Allah, and shame me not!
Yuksel 15:69 "Be aware of God, and do not disgrace me!"
Transliteration Wa-ttaqulla_ha wa la_ tukhzu_n(i).
15: 70
Asad They answered: “Have we not forbidden you to any kind of people?”
Yusuf Ali They said: "Did we not forbid thee (to speak) for all and sundry?"
Pickthall They said: Have we not forbidden you from (entertaining) anyone?
Yuksel 15:70 They said, "Did we not forbid you from outsiders?"
Transliteration Qa_lu_ awalam nanhaka 'anil 'a_lamin(a).
15: 71
Asad [Lot] said: “[take instead] these daughters of mine. If you must do!”
Yusuf Ali He said: "There are my daughters (to marry). If ye must act (so)."
Pickthall He said: Here are my daughters, if ye must be doing (so).
Yuksel 15:71 He said, "Here are my daughters if you are going to act."*
Transliteration Qa_la ha_'ula_'i bana_ti in kuntum fa_'ilin(a).
15: 72
Asad “As you live, behold, in their delirium [of lust] they are but blindly stumbling to and fro!”
Yusuf Ali Verily by thy life (O Prophet) in their wild intoxication they wander in distraction to and fro.
Pickthall By thy life (O Muhammad) they moved blindly in the frenzy of approaching death.
Yuksel 15:72 By your life, they are in their drunkenness, blundering.
.
Transliteration La'amruka innahum lafi sakratihim ya'mahu_n(a).
15: 73
Yusuf Ali But the (mighty) Blast overtook them before morning
Pickthall Then the (Awful) Cry overtook them at the sunrise.
Yuksel 15:73 So the scream took them at sunrise.
Transliteration Fa akhazathumus saihatu musyriqin(a),
15: 74
Yusuf Ali And We turned (the Cities) upside down and rained down on them brimstones hard as baked clay.
Pickthall And We utterly confounded them, and We rained upon them stones of heated clay.
Yuksel 15:74 Thus We turned it upside down, and rained upon them with fiery projectiles.
Transliteration Fa ja'alna_ 'a_liyaha_ sa_filaha_ wa amtarna_ 'alaihim hija_ratam min sijjil(in).
15: 75
Asad Verily, in all these there are messages indeed for those who can read the signs:
Yusuf Ali Behold! in this are Signs for those who by tokens do understand.
Pickthall Lo! therein verily are portents for those who read the signs.
Yuksel 15:75 In this are signs for those who distinguish.
Transliteration Inna fi za_lika la a_ya_til lil mutawassimin(a),
15: 76
Asad for, behold, those [towns] stood by a road that still exists.
Yusuf Ali And the (cities were) right on the highroad.
Pickthall And lo! it is upon a road still uneffaced.
Yuksel 15:76 It is on an established path.
Transliteration Wa innaha_ labisabilim muqim(in).
[ Asad note 55 : The existence of that road, which led from northern Hijaz to Syria, skirting the Dead Sea – to the north-east of which Sodom and Gomorrah were situated – has received starting confirmation through aerial photographs recently published by the American School of Oriental Research [New Haven, Ct.]. These photographs clearly show the ancient road as a dark streak winding northwards, more or less parallel with the eastern shores of the Dead Sea.]
15: 77
Yusuf Ali Behold! in this is a Sign for those who believe!
Pickthall Lo! therein is indeed a portent for believers.
Yuksel 15:77 In that is a sign for those who acknowledge
Transliteration Inna fi za_lika la a_yatal lil mu'minin(a).
22.
Sura al-Hajj
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَإِن
يُكَذِّبُوكَ
فَقَدْ كَذَّبَتْ
قَبْلَهُمْ
...
22: 42. If they treat thy (mission) as false, so did the Peoples before them (with their Prophets),
C2820. It is nothing new if the Prophet of Allah is accused of imposture. This was done in all ages; e.g.,
- Noah (7:64);
- Hud the prophet of the 'Ad people (7:66);
- Salih the prophet of the Thamud (7:76);
- Abraham ( 21:55);
- Lut (7:82);
- Shu'aib the prophet of the Madyan people (7:85)
- and also of the Companions of the Wood ( 15:78).
The case of Moses is mentioned apart, as his people survived to the time of our Prophet and survive to the present, and they frequently rebelled against Moses (2:49-61).
... قَوْمُ نُوحٍ وَعَادٌ وَثَمُودُ ﴿٤٢﴾
the People of Noah, and 'Ad, and Thamud;
وَقَوْمُ
إِبْرَاهِيمَ
وَقَوْمُ لُوطٍ
﴿٤٣﴾
22: 43. Those of Abraham and Lut;
وَأَصْحَابُ
مَدْيَنَ...
22: 44. And the Companions of the Madyan people:
C2821. Were they the same as the Companions of the Wood?
See n. 2000 to 15:78.
...وَكُذِّبَ مُوسَى...
and Moses was rejected (in the same way).
...فَأَمْلَيْتُ لِلْكَافِرِينَ ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهُمْ...
But I granted respite to the Unbelievers and (only) after that did I punish them:
...فَكَيْفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ ﴿٤٤﴾
but how (terrible) was My rejection (of them)!
C2822. My Wrath on them, and the complete reversal of their fortune in consequence.
Asad’s Version:
22:42
AND IF THEY [who are bent on denying the truth] give thee the lie, [O Muhammad,
remember that, long] before their time, the people of Noah and [the tribes of] Ad and Thamud gave the lie [to their prophets],
(22:43) as did the people of Abraham, and the people of Lot,
(22:44) and the dwellers of Madyan; and [so, too,] Moses was given the lie [by Pharaoh] . 60 And [in every case] I gave rein, for a while, to the deniers of the truth: but then I took them to task - and how awesome was My denial [of them]!
25.Surah Al Furqan
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلَقَدْ
أَتَوْا عَلَى
الْقَرْيَةِ
الَّتِي أُمْطِرَتْ
مَطَرَ السَّوْءِ...
25: 40. And the (Unbelievers) must indeed have passed by the town on which was rained a shower of evil:
C3095. This refers to Lut's story and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the wicked cities of the plain near the Dead Sea, by a shower of brimstone. The site lies on the highway between Arabia and Syria.
... أَفَلَمْ يَكُونُوا يَرَوْنَهَا...
did they not then see it (with their own eyes)?
... بَلْ كَانُوا لَا يَرْجُونَ نُشُورًا ﴿٤٠﴾
But they fear not the Resurrection.
Asad’s Version:
25:40 [al-Furqan, Mecca 42] Asad
And they [who now deny Our messages] must surely have come across that town which was rained upon by a rain of evil: 35 have they, then, never beheld it [with their mind's eye]? But nay, they would not believe in resurrection! 36
[[ Asad’s notes: -
35 A reference to Sodom and its destruction by a rain of "stone-hard blows of chastisement pre- ordained" (see 1 1 :82 and the corresponding note 114). The phrase "they have come across may be understood in either of two ways: (a) in its literal sense of "chancing upon" or "passing by", in which case it applies to the Prophet's contemporaries and opponents, the pagan Meccans, whose customary caravan route to Syria passed close by the Dead Sea and the probable site of Sodom and Gomorrah; or (b) in the tropical sense of "becoming aware [of something] " through reading or hearsay - in which case it may be taken to refer to people of all times, and to the fact that the story of Sodom and Gomorrah is part and parcel of mankind's moral heritage. ]]
26. Surah ash-Shuaraa, Mecca 47]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
كَذَّبَتْ
قَوْمُ
لُوطٍ الْمُرْسَلِينَ
﴿١٦٠﴾
26: 160. The people of Lut rejected the messengers.
C3209. The story of Lut (Lot) will be found in 7:80-84: see n. 1049.
Here the point is that the people of the Cities of the Plain were shamelessly addicted to vice against nature, and Lut's warning only exasperated them, until they were destroyed by a shower of brimstone.
إِذْ
قَالَ لَهُمْ
أَخُوهُمْ لُوطٌ
أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ
﴿١٦١﴾
26: 161. Behold, their brother Lut said to them:
"Will ye not fear (Allah)?
إِنِّي
لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ
أَمِينٌ ﴿١٦٢﴾
26: 162. "I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust.
فَاتَّقُوا
اللَّهَ
وَأَطِيعُونِ
﴿١٦٣﴾
26: 163. "So fear Allah and obey me.
وَمَا
أَسْأَلُكُمْ
عَلَيْهِ مِنْ
أَجْرٍ...
26: 164. "No reward do I ask of you for it:
...إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿١٦٤﴾
my reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds.
أَتَأْتُونَ
الذُّكْرَانَ
مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ
﴿١٦٥﴾
26: 165. "Of all the creatures in the world, will ye approach males.
وَتَذَرُونَ
مَا خَلَقَ
لَكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ
مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُم...
26: 166. "And leave those whom Allah has created for you to be your mates?
...بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ عَادُونَ ﴿١٦٦﴾
Nay, ye are a people transgressing (all limits)!"
قَالُوا
لَئِن لَّمْ
تَنتَهِ يَا
لُوطُ لَتَكُونَنَّ
مِنَ الْمُخْرَجِينَ
ِ﴿١٦٧﴾
26: 167. They said: "If thou desist not, O Lut! thou wilt assuredly be cast out!"
C3210. Their threat to cast him out has a grim significance in what actually happened. They were destroyed where they were, and he was glad to escape the dreadful Punishment according to the warning he had received.
قَالَ
إِنِّي لِعَمَلِكُم
مِّنَ الْقَالِينَ
﴿١٦٨﴾
26: 168. He said:
"I do detest your doings."
رَبِّ
نَجِّنِي وَأَهْلِي
مِمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ
﴿١٦٩﴾
26: 169. "O my Lord!
deliver me and my family from such things as they do!"
فَنَجَّيْنَاهُ
وَأَهْلَهُ
أَجْمَعِينَ
﴿١٧٠﴾
26: 170. So We delivered him and his family -- all
إِلَّا
عَجُوزًا فِي
الْغَابِرِينَ
﴿١٧١﴾
26: 171. Except an old woman who lingered behind.
C3212. This was Lut's wife, who lingered behind and was among those who perished, See n. 1051 to 7:83.
ثُمَّ
دَمَّرْنَا
الْآخَرِينَ
﴿١٧٢﴾
26: 172. But the rest We destroyed utterly.
وَأَمْطَرْنَا
عَلَيْهِم
مَّطَرًا...
26: 173. We rained down on them a shower (of brimstone):
C3213. See n. 1052 to 7:84.
...فَسَاء مَطَرُ الْمُنذَرِينَ ﴿١٧٣﴾
and evil was the shower on those who were admonished (but heeded not)!
إِنَّ
فِي
ذَلِكَ
لَآيَةً...
26: 174. Verily in this is a Sign:
...وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١٧٤﴾
but most of them do not believe.
وَإِنَّ
رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ
الْعَزِيزُ
الرَّحِيمُ
﴿١٧٥﴾
26: 175. And verily thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful.
Asad’s Version:
26:160 [AND] the people of Lot 70 gave the lie to [one of God's] message-bearers
(26:161) when their brother Lot said unto them: "Will you not be conscious of God?
(26:162) Behold, I am an apostle [sent by Him] to you, [and therefore] worthy of your trust:
(26:163) be, then, conscious of God, and pay heed unto me!
26:164 "And no reward whatever do I ask df you for it: my reward rests with none but the Sustainer of all the worlds.
(26:165) "Must you, of all people, [lustfully] approach men,
(26:166) keeping yourselves aloof from all the [lawful] spouses whom your Sustainer has created for you? Nay, but you are people who transgress all bounds of what is right!"
26:167 Said they: "Indeed, if thou desist not, O Lot, thou wilt most certainly be expelled [from this town ship]!"
(26:168) [Lot] exclaimed: "Behold, I am one of those who utterly abhor your doings!"
70 Lhe story of Lot and the sinful people among whom he lived is narrated in greater detail in 11:69-83.
26:169 [And then he prayed:] "O my Sustainer! Save me and my household from all that they are doing!"
(26:70) Thereupon We saved him and all his household –
(26:171) all but an old
woman, who was among those that stayed behind; 71
(26:172) and then We utterly destroyed the others,
(26: 173) and rained down upon them a rain [of destruction]: 72 and dire is such rain upon all who let themselves be warned [to no avail]! 75
26:174 In this [story], behold, there is a message [unto men], even though most of them will not believe [in it].
(26:175) But, verily, thy Sustainer - He alone - is almighty, a dispenser of grace!
27. Surah An-Naml (The Ants)
Mecca Period 48
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلُوطًا
...
27: 54. We also sent Lut (as a messenger):
C3289. The story of Lut is referred to elsewhere. The passages to which reference may be made here are: 26:160-175, and 7:80-84.
But the point emphasised here is that the crime of the Cities of the Plain was against their own nature, and they saw its enormity, and yet they indulged in it. Can degradation go further?
His wife was not apparently a Believer. Her previous sympathy with the sinful people "destined her" (verse 57 below) to a miserable end, as she lagged behind and shared in the destruction of her kinsfolk.
... إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ أَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ وَأَنتُمْ تُبْصِرُونَ ﴿٥٤﴾
behold, he said to his people,
"Do ye do what is shameful though ye see (its iniquity)?
أَئِنَّكُمْ
لَتَأْتُونَ
الرِّجَالَ
شَهْوَةً مِّن
دُونِ النِّسَاء...
27: 55. "Would ye really approach men in your lusts rather than women?
...بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُونَ ﴿٥٥﴾
Nay, ye are a people (grossly) ignorant!"
C3290. The ignorance referred to here is the spiritual Ignorance, the Ignorance of how grossness and sins that bring shame on their own physical and moral nature are doomed to destroy them: it is their own loss.
That they knew the iniquity of their sins has already been stated in the last verse. That knowledge makes their spiritual Ignorance all the more culpable, just as a man consciously deceiving people by half-truths is a greater liar than a man who tells lies inadvertently.
فَمَا
كَانَ جَوَابَ
قَوْمِهِ إِلَّا
أَن قَالُوا...
27: 56. But his people gave no other answer but this: they said,
...أَخْرِجُوا آلَ لُوطٍ مِّن قَرْيَتِكُمْ...
"Drive out the followers of Lut from your city:
...إِنَّهُمْ أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ ﴿٥٦﴾
these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!"
C3291. Cf. 7:82-84.
Instead of being ashamed on account of the consciousness of their own guilt, they attack the pure ones with their sarcasms, as if not they but the pure ones were in the wrong in trying to set them on the right way.
فَأَنجَيْنَاهُ
وَأَهْلَهُ
إِلَّا امْرَأَتَهُ
قَدَّرْنَاهَا
مِنَ الْغَابِرِينَ
﴿٥٧﴾
27: 57. But We saved him and his family, except his wife:
her We destined to be of those who lagged behind.
وَأَمْطَرْنَا
عَلَيْهِم
مَّطَرًا...
27: 58. And We rained down on them a shower (of brimstone):
...فَسَاء مَطَرُ الْمُنذَرِينَ ﴿٥٨﴾
and evil was the shower on those who were admonished (but heeded not)!
قُلِ
الْحَمْدُ
لِلَّهِ وَسَلَامٌ
عَلَى عِبَادِهِ
الَّذِينَ
اصْطَفَى...
27: 59. Say:
Praise be to Allah, and Peace on His servants whom He has chosen (for his Message).
C3292. Allah's revelation having been described as Light, Guidance, and Mercy, we ought all to be grateful to Allah for vouchsafing His revelation.
We ought also to appreciate the services of Allah's Messengers, who are chosen to deliver Ms Message: we ought to send salutations of Peace on them, instead of plotting, as the wicked do, for their removal or persecution, or banishment or death. For these Prophets of Allah undergo every kind of hardship and forego every kind of advantage or pleasure in life for serving mankind.
And Allah is truth and goodness, and all our fancies of false worship are falsehoods and evils. Shall we prefer falsehood and evil to truth and goodness? (R).
...آللَّهُ خَيْرٌ أَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ ﴿٥٩﴾
(Who) is better? --
Allah or the false gods they associate with Him?
أَمَّنْ
خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ
وَالْأَرْضَ...
27: 60. Or, who has created the heaven and the earth,
C3293. The order, beauty, and grandeur of the Universe are appealed to. They show unity of design and purpose.
How can unjust, ignorant, foolish, heedless, false men think of a multiplicity of gods, or of any god, besides the One True God?
...وَأَنزَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ السَّمَاء مَاء...
and who sends you down rain from the sky?
...فَأَنبَتْنَا بِهِ حَدَائِقَ ذَاتَ بَهْجَةٍ...
Yea, with it We cause to grow well-planted orchards full of beauty and delight:
...مَّا كَانَ لَكُمْ أَن تُنبِتُوا شَجَرَهَا...
it is not in your power to cause the growth of the trees in them.
C3294. To make a single seed germinate and grow into a tree is beyond man's power. When it comes to a great well-laid-out garden of beauty and delight, no one would think it grew up of itself without a Gardener's consummate art.
And the orchard is more than the trees in it: there is design and beauty in their arrangement: proper spaces have to be left between them for the growth of their roots, for the aeration of the soil beneath them, and for the penetration of air and sunlight between their branches.
How can any one then think of the wonderful Universe as a whole, without thinking of the far higher Unity of Design, the evidence of the One True Allah? (R).
...أَإِلَهٌ مَّعَ اللَّهِ ...
(Can there be another) god besides Allah?
...بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ يَعْدِلُونَ ﴿٦٠﴾
Nay, they are a people who swerve from justice.
أَمَّن
جَعَلَ الْأَرْضَ
قَرَارًا...
27: 61. Or, who has made the earth firm to live in;
...وَجَعَلَ خِلَالَهَا أَنْهَارًا وَجَعَلَ لَهَا رَوَاسِيَ ...
made rivers in its midst; set thereon mountains immovable;
C3295. Cf. 16:15 and notes 2038 and 2039.
The terra firma, the flowing water, and the cycle of water circulation-sea, vapour, clouds, rain, rivers, and sea again,-all one and yet all distinct, with a sort of wonderful barrier between salt water and fresh water: can man see all this and yet be ignorant of Allah?
... وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ حَاجِزًا...
and made a separating bar between the two bodies of flowing water?
C3296. Cf. 25:53 and n. 3111 and n. 3112.
...أَإِلَهٌ مَّعَ اللَّهِ...
(Can there be another) god besides Allah?
...بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٦١﴾
Nay, most of them know not.
أَمَّن
يُجِيبُ الْمُضْطَرَّ
إِذَا دَعَاهُ...
27: 62. Or, who listens to the (soul) distressed when it calls on Him,
...وَيَكْشِفُ السُّوءَ ...
and who relieves its suffering,
C3297. Besides the evidence of external nature, there is the still more intimate evidence in man's inner conscience and heart.
Allah listens to man's cry of agony and relieves his suffering, and He has given him superiority over other creation on this earth, through his mind and soul. Is man then going to run after inferior beings and forget Allah?
... وَيَجْعَلُكُمْ خُلَفَاء الْأَرْضِ...
and makes you (mankind) inheritors of the earth?
...أَإِلَهٌ مَّعَ اللَّهِ...
(Can there be another) god besides Allah?
...قَلِيلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٦٢﴾
Little it is that ye heed!
Asad’s Version:
27:54 AND [thus, too, did We save] Lot, when he said unto his people: 4 ' "Would you commit this abomination with your eyes open [to its being against all nature 50 ]?
(27:55) Must you really approach men with lust instead of women? Nay, but you are people without any awareness [of right and wrong] ! "
[[ Asad’s notes -
45 See surah 7, note 95.
46 Sc., "who has tied every human being's destiny (ta'ir) to his neck": see 17:13 and the corresponding note 17.
47 Or "nine clans", since, in the above context, the term raht, is liable to either of these two interpretations, The "city" referred to is evidently the region known as Al-Hijr, in northern Hijaz (cf surah 7, notes 56 and 59). - In contrast with the preceding story of the Queen of Sheba's eager way to faith, the stories of the tribe of Thamud and (inverses 54-58) of Lot's people are meant to call attention to the hostility which a call to righteousness so often evokes in people who are strong but vain, or, alternatively, weak and addicted to senseless passions.
48 Lit., "by God". As is evident from 7:73 if. and from the above allusion, the Thamlid did have a vague notion of God, but their erstwhile faith had been overlaid by their excessive arrogance and thus deprived of all spiritual value.
49 The story of Lot and the perverted people of Sodom is mentioned in several places, particularly in 7:80-84, 11:69-83 and 26:160-173.
50 Thus Zamakhshari and Razi, stressing the principle that a revolt against the God- willed nature of heterosexuality is a revolt against God Himself. ]]
27:56 But his people's only answer was this : "Expel [Lot and) Lot's followers from your township! Verily, they are folk who make themselves out to be pure !" 51
(27:57) Thereupon We saved him and his household - all but his wife, whom We willed to be among those that stayed behind 52 –
(27:58) the while We rained a rain [of destruction] upon the others: and dire is such
rain upon all who let themselves be warned [to no avail] ! 53
27:59 SAY: "All praise is due to God, and peace be upon those servants of His whom He chose [to be His message-bearers]!" Is not God far better than anything to which men [falsely] ascribe a share in His divinity? 54
27:60 Nay - who is it that has created the heavens and the earth, and sends down for you [life-giving] water from the skies? For it is by this means that We cause gardens of shining beauty to grow - [whereas] it is not in your power to cause [even one single of] its trees to grow! Could there be any divine power besides God? Nay, they [who think so] are people who swerve [from the path of reason] !
27:61 Nay - who is it that has made the earth a fitting abode 55 [for living things], and has caused running waters [to flow] in its midst, and has set upon it mountains firm, and has placed a barrier between the two great bodies of water? 54 Could there be any divine power besides God? Nay, most of those [who think so] do not know
[what they are saying] !
27:62 Nay - who is it that responds to the distressed when he calls out to Him, and who removes the ill [that caused the distress], and has made you inherit the earth? 57
Could there be any divine power besides God? How seldom do you keep this in mind!
29. Surah Al-'Ankabut (The Spider)
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلُوطًا
إِذْ قَالَ
لِقَوْمِهِ...
29: 28. And (remember) Lut; behold, he said to his people:
...إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُم بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّنَ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٢٨﴾
"Ye do commit lewdness, such as no people in Creation (ever) committed before you.
C3449. Cf. 7:80.
A discreet reference is made to their unspeakable crimes, which were against the laws of all nature.
أَئِنَّكُمْ
لَتَأْتُونَ
الرِّجَالَ
وَتَقْطَعُونَ
السَّبِيلَ
...
29: 29. "Do ye indeed approach men, and cut off the highway? --
C3450. They infested highways and committed their horrible crimes not only secretly, but openly and publicly, even in their assemblies.
Some Commentators understand "cutting off the highway" to refer to highway robberies: this is possible, and it is also possible that the crimes in their assemblies may have been injustice, rowdiness, etc. But the context seems to refer to their own special horrible crime, and the point here seems to be that they were not ashamed of it and that they practiced it publicly. Degradation could go no further.
... وَتَأْتُونَ فِي نَادِيكُمُ الْمُنكَرَ...
And practice wickedness (even) in your councils?"
...فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِ إِلَّا أَن قَالُوا...
But his people gave no answer but this: they said:
...ائْتِنَا بِعَذَابِ اللَّهِ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ ﴿٢٩﴾
"Bring us the Wrath of Allah if thou tellest the truth."
C3451. This is another instance of their effrontery, in addition to that mentioned in 7:82: the two supplement each other.
Here the point emphasised is that they did not believe in Allah or His Punishment, and dared Allah's Prophet Lut to bring about the Punishment if he could. And it did come and destroy them.
قَالَ
رَبِّ انصُرْنِي
عَلَى الْقَوْمِ
الْمُفْسِدِينَ
﴿٣٠﴾
29: 30. He said: "O my Lord! Help Thou me against people who do mischief!"
وَلَمَّا
جَاءتْ رُسُلُنَا
إِبْرَاهِيمَ
بِالْبُشْرَى
...
29: 31. When Our Messengers came to Abraham with the good news,
C3452. See 11:69-76.
The angels, who were coming on the mission to destroy the people who were polluting the earth with their crimes, called on their way on Abraham to give the good news of the birth of a son to him in his old age.
When they told him their destination, he feared for his nephew who he knew was there. They reassured him and then came on to Lut.
... قَالُوا إِنَّا مُهْلِكُو أَهْلِ هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ...
they said: "We are indeed going to destroy the people of this township:
C3453. By translating "township" I imply the two neighbouring populations of Sodom and Gomorrah, who had already gone too far in their crime, their shamelessness, and their defiance, to profit by any mercy from Allah.
...إِنَّ أَهْلَهَا كَانُوا ظَالِمِينَ ﴿٣١﴾
for truly they are (addicted to) crime."
قَالَ
إِنَّ فِيهَا
لُوطًا...
29: 32. He said: "But there is Lut there."
...قَالُوا نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن فِيهَا...
They said:
"Well do we know who is there:
...لَنُنَجِّيَنَّهُ وَأَهْلَهُ إِلَّا امْرَأَتَهُ كَانَتْ مِنَ الْغَابِرِينَ ﴿٣٢﴾
we will certainly save him and his following, except his wife:
she is of those who lag behind!"
C3454. She was not loyal to her husband.
Tradition says that she belonged to the wicked people, and was not prepared to leave them. She had no faith in the mission either of her husband or of the angels who had come as his guests.
وَلَمَّا
أَن جَاءتْ
رُسُلُنَا
لُوطًا سِيءَ
بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ
بِهِمْ ذَرْعًا...
29: 33. And when Our Messengers came to Lut, he was grieved on their account, and felt himself powerless (to protect) them:
C3455. This part of the story may be read in greater detail in 11:77-83.
...وَقَالُوا لَا تَخَفْ وَلَا تَحْزَنْ...
but they said
"Fear thou not, nor grieve:
...إِنَّا مُنَجُّوكَ وَأَهْلَكَ إِلَّا امْرَأَتَكَ كَانَتْ مِنَ الْغَابِرِينَ ﴿٣٣﴾
we are (here) to save thee and thy following, except thy wife:
she is of those who lag behind."
إِنَّا
مُنزِلُونَ
عَلَى أَهْلِ
هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ
رِجْزًا مِّنَ
السَّمَاء...
29: 34. "For we are going to bring down on the people of this township a Punishment from heaven,
C3456. The Punishment was a rain of brimstone, which completely overwhelmed the Cities, with possibly an earthquake and a volcanic eruption (see 11:82).
...بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ ﴿٣٤﴾
because they have been wickedly rebellious."
Asad’s Version:
29:28 AND LOT, [too, was inspired by Us] when he said unto his people: "Verily, you commit abominations such as none in all the world has ever committed before you!
(29:29)[Asad] Must you indeed approach men [with lust] and thus cut across the way [of nature]? 24 and must you commit these shameful deeds in your [open] assemblies?"
But his people's only answer was. "Bring down upon us God's chastisement, if thou art a man of truth!"
[[ Asad’s note –
24 This particular interpretation of the phrase taqa'un as-sabil is advanced by Baghawi and (on the authority of Al-Hasan) by Zamakhshari; Razi adopts it exclusively and without reservation. ]]
17 Lit., "the answer of his people was nothing but that they said" - thus connecting with the passage ending with verse 18.
18 See note 64 on 21:69.
19 Lit., "solely out of love".
20 Thus Razi. explaining this idol- worship as a result of a mere blind imitation (taqlid) of attitudes inherited from past generations.
21 For an explanation of the concept of hijrah and of my above rendering of the term muhajir, see surah 2, note 203, and surah 4, note 124. In the present instance this term is obviously used in both its physical and spiritual senses, analogous to the earlier allusion (in 19:48-49) to Abraham's "withdrawal" (i'tizal) from his evil, native environment and to his physical migration to Harran (in northern Mesopotamia), and thence to Syria and Palestine. The story of Lot (Lut) is mentioned in the Quran several times, and particularly in 1 1 :69-83.
22 I.e., in addition to Ishmael (Isma'il), who had been born some years earlier (cf. 21 :72).
23 Among, other things, by making him "a leader of men" (2:124).
without reservation. ]]
29:30 [And] he prayed: "O my Sustainer! Succour Thou me against these people who spread corruption!"
(29:31) And so, when Our [heavenly] messengers came to Abraham with the glad tiding [of the birth of Isaac], 25 they [also] said, "Behold, we are about to destroy the people of that land, 26 for its people are truly evildoers!"
29:32 [And when Abraham] exclaimed, "But Lot lives there!" - they answered: "We know fully well who is there; most certainly we shall save him and his household - all but his wife: she will indeed be among those that stay behind." 27
(29:33) And when Our messengers came unto Lot, he was sorely grieved on their account, seeing that it was beyond his power to shield them; 28 but they said: "Fear not, and grieve not! Behold, we shall save thee and thy household - all but thy wife: she will indeed be among those that stay behind.
(29:34) Verily, we shall bring down upon the people of this land a horror from heaven in requital of all their iniquitous doings! "
29:35 And [so it happened; and] thereof, indeed, We have left a clear sign for people who use their reason. 2 '