Al-Hijr 15:57
The Rocky Tract · Juz 14 · Page 265
قَالَ فَمَا خَطۡبُكُمۡ أَيُّهَا ٱلۡمُرۡسَلُونَ ٥٧
[Abraham] said, "Then what is your business [here], O messengers?"
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Tazkirul Quran
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Commentary on 15:57–60
Abraham was living in Palestine along the coast of the Dead Sea. His nephew, Lot, lived nearby. He preached the word of God to the people settled in this area, but they were not willing to reform themselves. Their arrogance went on increasing, so much so that God decided that they should be destroyed. These angels had come to carry out God’s will. Probably nobody, except for a few family members of Lot, had embraced the Faith at his instance. It is very difficult for those who are not members of the missionary’s household to accept him, because, for them, so many psychological impediments come in the way. However, for his own blood relations, such impediments do not exist. So, they rally the more easily to his cause. This is what happened in the case of Lot. Probably, only his daughters embraced the Faith in response to his call. The special relationship which children have with their father inclines them to listen to his call. These girls were therefore saved along with Lot. But, his wife could not become a believer from the bottom of her heart. So she was killed along with other guilty persons. In the Law of God, no concession is given to anybody.
Page 265
15:52
إِذۡ دَخَلُواْ عَلَيۡهِ فَقَالُواْ سَلَٰمٗا قَالَ إِنَّا مِنكُمۡ وَجِلُونَ ٥٢
When they entered upon him and said, "Peace." [Abraham] said, "Indeed, we are fearful [i.e., apprehensive] of you."
15:53
قَالُواْ لَا تَوۡجَلۡ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَٰمٍ عَلِيمٖ ٥٣
[The angels] said, "Fear not. Indeed, we give you good tidings of a learned boy."
15:54
قَالَ أَبَشَّرۡتُمُونِي عَلَىٰٓ أَن مَّسَّنِيَ ٱلۡكِبَرُ فَبِمَ تُبَشِّرُونَ ٥٤
He said, "Have you given me good tidings although old age has come upon me? Then of what [wonder] do you inform?"
15:55
قَالُواْ بَشَّرۡنَٰكَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ فَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ ٱلۡقَٰنِطِينَ ٥٥
They said, "We have given you good tidings in truth, so do not be of the despairing."
15:56
قَالَ وَمَن يَقۡنَطُ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ رَبِّهِۦٓ إِلَّا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ ٥٦
He said, "And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord except for those astray?"
15:57
قَالَ فَمَا خَطۡبُكُمۡ أَيُّهَا ٱلۡمُرۡسَلُونَ ٥٧
[Abraham] said, "Then what is your business [here], O messengers?"
15:58
قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّآ أُرۡسِلۡنَآ إِلَىٰ قَوۡمٖ مُّجۡرِمِينَ ٥٨
They said, "Indeed, we have been sent to a people of criminals,
15:59
إِلَّآ ءَالَ لُوطٍ إِنَّا لَمُنَجُّوهُمۡ أَجۡمَعِينَ ٥٩
Except the family of Lot; indeed, we will save them all
15:60
إِلَّا ٱمۡرَأَتَهُۥ قَدَّرۡنَآ إِنَّهَا لَمِنَ ٱلۡغَٰبِرِينَ ٦٠
Except his wife." We [i.e., Allāh] decreed that she is of those who remain behind.1
1 translator’s note
- For having collaborated with the evildoers. ↩
15:61
فَلَمَّا جَآءَ ءَالَ لُوطٍ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلُونَ ٦١
And when the messengers came to the family of Lot,
15:62
قَالَ إِنَّكُمۡ قَوۡمٞ مُّنكَرُونَ ٦٢
He said, "Indeed, you are people unknown."
15:63
قَالُواْ بَلۡ جِئۡنَٰكَ بِمَا كَانُواْ فِيهِ يَمۡتَرُونَ ٦٣
They said, "But we have come to you with that about which they were disputing,
15:64
وَأَتَيۡنَٰكَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَإِنَّا لَصَٰدِقُونَ ٦٤
And we have come to you with truth, and indeed, we are truthful.
15:65
فَأَسۡرِ بِأَهۡلِكَ بِقِطۡعٖ مِّنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَٱتَّبِعۡ أَدۡبَٰرَهُمۡ وَلَا يَلۡتَفِتۡ مِنكُمۡ أَحَدٞ وَٱمۡضُواْ حَيۡثُ تُؤۡمَرُونَ ٦٥
So set out with your family during a portion of the night and follow behind them and let not anyone among you look back and continue on to where you are commanded."
15:66
وَقَضَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡهِ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡأَمۡرَ أَنَّ دَابِرَ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ مَقۡطُوعٞ مُّصۡبِحِينَ ٦٦
And We conveyed to him [the decree] of that matter: that those [sinners] would be eliminated by early morning.
15:67
وَجَآءَ أَهۡلُ ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ يَسۡتَبۡشِرُونَ ٦٧
And the people of the city came rejoicing.1
1 translator’s note
- At the news of Lot's visitors. ↩
15:68
قَالَ إِنَّ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ ضَيۡفِي فَلَا تَفۡضَحُونِ ٦٨
[Lot] said, "Indeed, these are my guests, so do not shame me.
15:69
وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُخۡزُونِ ٦٩
And fear Allāh and do not disgrace me."
15:70
قَالُوٓاْ أَوَلَمۡ نَنۡهَكَ عَنِ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٧٠
They said, "Have we not forbidden you from [protecting] people?"