Surah Hud 11:69-83 - Quran Translation Commentary

69. And our messengers came to Ibrahim with good news.⁹⁶ They said: Peace be on you. He answered: Peace !⁹⁷ Then he hastened to bring them a roasted calf.⁹⁸

70. But when he saw their hands did not reach towards it, he considered them strangers and felt a fear of them.⁹⁹ They said: Fear not, we have been sent to the people of Loot (Lot).¹⁰⁰

71. And his (Ibrahim’s) wife was standing there, and she laughed. Then We gave her glad tidings of Is’haq, and after Is’haq of Yaqub. ¹⁰¹

72. She said: “Alas ! ¹⁰² Shall I bear a child when I am an old woman, and this my husband is an old man? Indeed this is a strange thing!”¹⁰³

73. They said: “Do you wonder at the command of Allah? The mercy of Allah and His blessings be upon you. O people of the house! Verily He is Worthy of Praise, Glorious.¹⁰⁴

74. When the anxiety departed from Ibrahim and the glad tidings reached him, he argued with Us on behalf of the people of Loot (lot).¹⁰⁵

75. Verily Ibrahim was forbearing, compassionate, Turner towards Allah.¹⁰⁶

76. O Ibrahim! Leave this alone. Verily your Lord’s command has already gone forth, and surely there will come to them a punishment which cannot be repelled.

77. And When Our messengers came to Loot,¹⁰⁷ he felt anxious and straitened on their account, and said: This is a woeful day.¹⁰⁸

78. And his people came to him-running towards him - and before that they were practising evil acts¹⁰⁹ he said: “O my people! Here are my daughters. They are purer for you. So fear Allah, and do not degrade me concerning my guests.¹¹⁰ Is there not a single healthy-minded man among you?”

79. They said: “Surely you know that we have no concern with your daughters,¹¹¹ and surely you know what we want.”¹¹²

80. He said: “Would that I had strength to resist you, or could get some strong support! ”¹¹³

81. They (the messengers) said; “O Loot! We are messengers from your Lord;¹¹⁴ they will by no means reach you.¹¹⁵ So travel with your family in a part of the night, and let not one of you look behind,¹¹⁶But your wife. Verily, she will suffer what they will suffer ¹¹⁷.Their appointed time is morning. Is not the morning near?¹¹⁸

82. So when our command came We turned the township upside down, and rained down on them brimstones of baked clay, one after another,¹¹⁹

83. Marked (as tokens) from your Lord.¹²⁰ And they are not far from the evil doers.¹²¹

Commentary

96. These were angels that had gone to Prophet Ibrahim. This event took place at the time when he had migrated from his native place and had settled in Palestine.

97. Salam (Peace) means may Allah keep you safe and secure. This praying phrase is part of angelic etiquette and prophetic culture, and therefore Islam has given it currency as an item of etiquette to be observed by Muslims, whenever two Muslims may meet each other. This is not a formal salute but an actual prayer to God, as also an expression of good will for one’s brother.

98. Since the angels were in human form Prophet Ibrahim thought them to be strangers and his guests who had come to him from their travels. Therefore, he immediately turned to arrange to feed them and hastened to get a calf roasted for them. This event proves that Prophet Ibrahim was a generous and a willing host and also teaches us to see that we also make arrangements to feed our guest without any delay, because during travels people do not get regular food. It also shows that cow has been a lawful (halal) food in the Shariah of Allah from the ancient times. The Shariah of Prophet Ibrahim is the most ancient shariah in which cow’s flesh was lawful for men to eat. That is why he offered roasted calf to his guests.

99. When Prophet Ibrahim saw that they are not partaking of the food offered by him, he “suspected that they were not humans and probably they were angels who might have come to subject him to some test, which could prove to be trying time for him.

100. That is: We have been sent to subject the people of Loot (Prophet Lot) to a test, so that they might be caught red-handed and exposed to the punishment for which Allah has already, taken a decision.

101. The wife of Prophet Ibrahim was standing nearby to serve the guests. When she heard that they were angels and were giving glad tidings to her husband about the birth of sons to him, she could not help suppressing her laughter, because the promise of a child-birth in the old age was something strange. It may be noted that this event of giving the good news has been narrated in brief in this verse. In Surah Zariyat it is stated that the angels gave the glad tidings of a son’s birth to Prophet Ibrahim. On which his wife expressed astonishment and said that she was old and barren. The laughing referred to in this ayah pertains to this glad tiding which was given to Prophet Ibrahim and when she laughed she was further promised that not only a son but a grand-son would also be born to them.

The name of Prophet Ibrahim’s wife was Sarah, and till this event she had no child. This event has been narrated in Bible, Book of Genesis. Chapter 18, but with some flourishes.

102. This is a lady’s mode of expression of astonishment. It is not to be taken too literally.

103. It is mentioned in the Bible that at that time the age of Prophet Ibrahim was one hundred years and that of Sarah ninety years (Genesis 17:17). Sarah had uttered these words as an expression of astonishment so that the angels might give more clarification and the matter may become more clear. This was not uttered by her as a mark of doubt.

104. The first thing the angels said to remove the wonder of Sarah was that no command of Allah should cause astonishment. Secondly they said that she was of the household of a prophet on whom there were special blessings of Allah. If, therefore, He by His special mercy decides to bless her with a son, she should consider it as a special grace from the Lord, the third thing that they said was that Allah is Full of Glory and Most Gracious, and every act of His Shows His Glory and Greatness.

Inferentially it is also learnt that wife is also included in the ‘people of the house’ (Ahl-e-bait). In spite of this very clear sense of the words’ Ahle- bait’, there is a sect among Muslims who does not include the holy wives of the Prophet (Sallal Lahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) among his people of the house. It is obvious that it is an open deviation from the accepted meaning and sense of the word’ Ahl-i-bait’.

105. This argument was with a view to making Allah accept his point of view, but it was a compassionate appeal. After hearing of the impending punishment for the people of Loot, Prophet Ibrahim felt anxious because Prophet Loot was amidst his people and might be affected by this. In Surah Ankabut, this statement of Prophet Ibrahim has been recorded (ayah 32): “Verily Loot is present therein.” Secondly he was thinking that some might have accepted the divine faith and after further efforts more people were likely to embrace it, if more time is given by God. Since Prophet Ibrahim did not know the actual position, he went on arguing with the angels. It reflects on Prophet Ibrahim’s compassionate proclivities and humane considerations. As stated in ayah No.76, the angels informed him that it was useless to argue on this point, as Allah had already decided to punish the people of Loot. It is obvious that Allah decides to punish a people only when there are no chances of any more from among them accepting the divine faith.

This argument between Prophet Ibrahim and the angels has been narrated in detail in the Bible.(Genesis, Chapter 18).

106. Since Prophet Ibrahim had these qualities, he gave proof of his compassion for the people of Loot and appealed very earnestly to Allah to repel this punishment.

And his people came to him-running towards him-and before that they were practising evil acts he said: “O my people! Here are my daughters. They are purer for you. So fear Allah, and do not degrade me concerning my guests. Is there not a single healthy-minded man among you?” (Al-Quran)

107. The chronicle of Loot occurs in Surah A’raf. ayat Nos. 80 to 84. On this occasion their explanatory notes Nos. 127 to 133 should be kept in view.

108. That is When the angels arrived, from Prophet Ibrahim to the place of Prophet Loot, the latter became very anxious and felt distressed. The fact is that the angels went there in the form of two beautiful young lads, so that the people of Loot might be tested for their horrendous weakness, homo-sexuality, the bane of that community. For this reason, they did not disclose their identity even, to Prophet Loot, who thought them to be travelers. He felt great concern for his guests, as he was afraid that his wicked people might abduct them for fulfilling their wicked desires. Being a Prophet he would have become glad to serve his guests, but knowing the wicked and heinous People he was very anxious for his guests.

109. That is: They were addicted to the evil practice of homo-sexuality. On hearing the news of the arrival of the two young good-looking lads at Prophet Loot’s house, they rushed there to abduct them with evil intention.

110. The situation in which Prophet Loot uttered these words was such that it means that he referred to the daughters of the community as his own daughters, in the same way in which an elderly person fondly refers to daughters of others as his own daughters. It is obvious that on such occasions the literal meaning is not taken. Therefore, it is not correct to think that Prophet Loot had offered his own daughters to the mob. First of all, as has been stated in the Bible, he had only two daughters, and Quran uses the word in plural ‘Banat’ (more than two) instead of the word ‘Bintain’ (two daughters). Secondly, when a mob of many people rushed to his house, then how could his two or three daughters suffice to be given in marriage to the people. Marriages to these daughters therefore was not possible. Thirdly, were all these men unmarried that Prophet Loot offered them his daughters in marriage? The fact is that these men had forsaken their wives and were addicted to the heinous practice of homo sexuality. Accordingly, in Surah Shu’ra it is stated:

“What! Of all creatures do you come to the males, and leave the wives your Lord created for you?” (Ash Shu’ara-165-166)

Therefore, Prophet Loot referred to the wives of these people in kindness and fondness as his daughters, and admonished them that when there is a natural and pure way of satisfying their desires, why should they go the wrong way.

This explanation of ‘Here are my daughters’ is quoted from Saeed bin Jubair, who writes:

“That is: On account of his position as a prophet, the women of the community were Loot’s daughters.”

(Tafseer Tabri. Vol. II. Page 51).

And Mujahid, etc. also have opined likewise. Besides, ‘Ibn Jarir Tabri and Imam Razi. wellknown commentators, have also taken it to mean women of the community, And the statement of Prophet Loot: “They are purer for you. so fear Allah” does not allow any chance of being taken to mean that he offered the women for satisfying the carnal desires of the men illegally.

111. That is: We have no concern with the women whom you call your daughters. This reply gives an idea of what kind of men they were and how shameless they were. Their saying “Surely you know” is a further proof that the meaning of what Prophet Loot had said was concerning the common women, and not pertaining to his daughters, otherwise the people of his community would not have said that surely you know. These words show that this fact was known to Prophet Loot that men of his community were not interested in women.

112. That is: The point that they wanted to have illegal sex with men.

113. These pathetic words show how restive and anxious was he to save the honour of his guests and in what great difficulty the evildoers of his community had placed him. The words that came out from his lips on the occasion meant that had he sufficient strength he would have stopped their aggression and evil intention, or else if he had a powerful support he would have sought that refuge to save the honour of his guests.

In a hadith the Prophet is reported to have said these words concerning this pathetic concern of Prophet Loot: “May Allah forgive Loot.

He was in the refuge of a strong supporter.” (Bukhari, Kitabul Anbiya).

That is: There was no material support for Loot, but his biggest support was God, and God provided such a support to him that his enemies could not harm him or his guests a bit.

114. When the matters came to a head, and the people of the community admitted unashamedly to their criminal intention, these messengers disclosed their real identity and informed Prophet Loot that they were angels and were sent by God to accomplish a special mission.

115. That is: They will not overpower you.

116. That is: Get away in the darkness of the night in such a way that the people might not see you, and in this migration you should directly head towards your destination. Nobody should try to come back to collect whatever property he might leave behind, nor should anyone stay for a while to see what happens to the citizens. None should try to turn round or look back. In the Bible it is stated:

“do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley: flee to the hills, lest you be consumed.” (Gen 19:17)

117. That is: Your wife will be smitten with punishment. The wife of Prophet Loot was with him for the sake of appearances, but in reality her sympathies were with the infidels. That is why she also became liable for punishment. The example of Prophet Nooh’s son has gone before. The second example is given of Prophet Loot’s wife, which shows that Allah’s justice is impartial: whoever will disbelieve will receive punishment, the person may either be a prophet’s son or a prophet’s wife.

118. The purpose was to comfort Prophet Loot that the morning’s sun will bring a message of destruction for his-scoundrel community, and also to direct him to leave the township before morning with his people, as it was destined to be uprooted.

119. It shows that the punishment came in the form of an earthquake, which razed the buildings and turned the earth upside down. Moreover with the activation of a volcano a rain of brimstones, like hard baked clay, fell on the township, possibly with the flowing burning lava. The Bible states:

Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven: and he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But Lot’s wife behind him looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD: and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and beheld and lo, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace. (Gen 19:24 + 28)

Prophet Loot’s community was guilty of shamelessness, in addition to their disbelief, and accordingly it was punished in an appropriate manner, that is the community was stoned to death.

120. That is: They were special kinds of stones and they were specially selected for the purpose of destroying the evil-doers.

121. That is: The region where this punishment was unleashed is not far from Makkah’s polytheists. The townships of Siddom and Amurah were on the banks of Dead Sea and it is on the way to Syria. Therefore, it is hinted that this place which provides a lesson is near to these wrong-doers. It also gives a hint that this kind of punishment can also visit them.

Although after the conveying of the divine message by the prophets the punishment that visits their communities for their persistence in disbelief is of the nature of decisive punishment, and through such a punishment the falsehood is destroyed and Truth is made to triumph. But so far as the question of punishing the rebellious and evil-acting nations is concerned, the law of punishing them is enforced in different ways. Its recent example is the catastrophe of 1985 in Mexico where by the activation of a volcano about twenty thousand people were suddenly destroyed and all the glitter and sophistication of the modern civilization stood gaping. The scenes of this destruction were shown on T.V. but where are the eyes to read a lesson from them!