Tarikh (al-Tabari) 139

The story of Abraham the Friend (peace and blessings be upon him)

ذَلِكَ أَنَّ لُوطًا عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ لَمَّا دَعَاهُمْ إِلَى عِبَادَةِ اللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَنَهَاهُمْ عَنْ تَعَاطِي مَا ذَكَرَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ مِنَ الْفَوَاحِشِ، فَلَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا لَهُ وَلَمْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِهِ، حَتَّى وَلَا رَجُلٌ وَاحِدٌ مِنْهُمْ، وَلَمْ يَتْرُكُوا مَا عَنْهُ نُهُوا، بَلِ اسْتَمَرُّوا عَلَى حَالِهِمْ، وَلِمَ يَرْعَوُوا عَنْ غَيِّهِمْ وَضَلَالِهِمْ، وَهَمُّوا بِإِخْرَاجِ رَسُولِهِمْ مِنْ بَيْنِ ظَهْرَانَيْهِمْ، وَمَا كَانَ حَاصِلُ جَوَابِهِمْ عَنْ خِطَابِهِمْ، إِذْ كَانُوا لَا يَعْقِلُونَ: إِلَّا أَنْ قَالُوا أَخْرِجُوا آلَ لُوطٍ مِنْ قَرْيَتِكُمْ إِنَّهُمْ أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ فَجَعَلُوا غَايَةَ الْمَدْحِ ذَمًّا يَقْتَضِي الْإِخْرَاجَ، وَمَا حَمَلَهُمْ عَلَى مَقَالَتِهِمْ هَذِهِ إِلَّا الْعِنَادُ وَاللَّجَاجُ، فَطَهَّرَهُ اللَّهُ وَأَهْلَهُ إِلَّا امْرَأَتَهُ، وَأَخْرَجَهُمْ مِنْهَا أَحْسَنَ إِخْرَاجٍ، وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِي مَحَلَّتِهِمْ خَالِدِينَ لَكِنْ بَعْدَ مَا صَيَّرَهَا عَلَيْهِمْ بَحْرَةً مُنْتِنَةً ذَاتَ أَمْوَاجٍ، لَكِنَّهَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِي الْحَقِيقَةِ نَارٌ تَأَجَّجُ وَحَرٌّ يَتَوَهَّجُ، وَمَاؤُهَا مِلْحٌ أُجَاجٌ، وَمَا كَانَ هَذَا جَوَابَهُمْ إِلَّا لَمَّا نَهَاهُمْ عَنِ الطَّامَّةِ الْعُظْمَى وَالْفَاحِشَةِ الْكُبْرَى الَّتِي لَمْ يَسْبِقْهُمْ إِلَيْهَا أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا؛ وَلِهَذَا صَارُوا مَثُلَةً فِيهَا، وَعِبْرَةً لِمَنْ عَلَيْهَا، فَسَأَلَ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى أَنْ يَنْصُرَهُ عَلَيْهِمْ فَأَخَذَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَخَذًا وَبِيلًا، وَقَالُوا لَهُ فِيمَا قَالُوا: ائْتِنَا بِعَذَابِ اللَّهِ إِنْ كُنْتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ. فَطَلَبُوا مِنْهُ وُقُوعَ مَا حَذَّرَهُمْ عَنْهُ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ الْأَلِيمِ، وَحُلُولِ الْبَأْسِ الْعَظِيمِ فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ دَعَا عَلَيْهِمْ نَبِيُّهُمُ الْكَرِيمُ فَسَأَلَ مِنْ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَإِلَهِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ أَنْ يَنْصُرَهُ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْمُفْسِدِينَ فَغَارَ اللَّهُ لِغَيْرَتِهِ، وَغَضِبَ لِغَضْبَتِهِ، وَاسْتَجَابَ لِدَعْوَتِهِ، وَأَجَابَهُ إِلَى طِلْبَتِهِ، وَبَعَثَ رُسُلَهُ الْكِرَامَ، وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ الْعِظَامَ فَمَرُّوا عَلَى الْخَلِيلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَبَشَّرُوهُ بِالْغُلَامِ الْعَلِيمِ، وَأَخْبَرُوهُ بِمَا جَاءُوا لَهُ مِنَ الْأَمْرِ الْجَسِيمِ، وَالْخَطْبِ الْعَمِيمِ قَالَ فَمَا خَطْبُكُمْ أَيُّهَا الْمُرْسَلُونَ قَالُوا إِنَّا أُرْسِلْنَا إِلَى قَوْمٍ مُجْرِمِينَ لِنُرْسِلَ عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةً مِنْ طِينٍ مُسَوَّمَةً عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُسْرِفِينَ. وَقَالَ: وَلَمَّا جَاءَتْ رُسُلُنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ بِالْبُشْرَى قَالُوا إِنَّا مُهْلِكُو أَهْلِ هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ إِنَّ أَهْلَهَا كَانُوا ظَالِمِينَ قَالَ إِنَّ فِيهَا لُوطًا قَالُوا نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ فِيهَا لَنُنَجِّيَنَّهُ وَأَهْلَهُ إِلَّا امْرَأَتَهُ كَانَتْ مِنَ الْغَابِرِينَ. وَقَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: فَلَمَّا ذَهَبَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الرَّوْعُ وَجَاءَتْهُ الْبُشْرَى يُجَادِلُنَا فِي قَوْمِ لُوطٍ. وَذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَرْجُو أَنْ يُنِيبُوا وَيُسْلِمُوا وَيُقْلِعُوا وَيَرْجِعُوا؛ وَلِهَذَا قَالَ تَعَالَى: إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَحَلِيمٌ أَوَّاهٌ مُنِيبٌ يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَذَا إِنَّهُ قَدْ جَاءَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ وَإِنَّهُمْ آتِيهِمْ عَذَابٌ غَيْرُ مَرْدُودٍ. أَيْ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَذَا، وَتَكَلَّمْ فِي غَيْرِهِ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ حُتِمَ أَمْرُهُمْ، وَوَجَبَ عَذَابُهُمْ وَتَدْمِيرُهُمْ وَهَلَاكُهُمْ. إِنَّهُ قَدْ جَاءَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ. أَيْ قَدْ أَمَرَ بِهِ مَنْ لَا يُرَدُّ أَمْرُهُ، وَلَا يُرَدُّ بِأْسُهُ، وَلَا مُعَقِّبَ لِحُكْمِهِ وَإِنَّهُمْ آتِيهِمْ عَذَابٌ غَيْرُ مَرْدُودٍ. وَذَكَرَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ جُبَيْرٍ، وَالسُّدِّيُّ، وَقَتَادَةُ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ أَنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ جَعَلَ يَقُولُ: أَتُهْلِكُونَ قَرْيَةً فِيهَا ثَلَاثُمِائَةِ مُؤْمِنٍ ؟ قَالُوا: لَا. قَالَ: فَمِائَتَا مُؤْمِنٍ ؟ قَالُوا: لَا. قَالَ: فَأَرْبَعُونَ مُؤْمِنًا قَالُوا: لَا. قَالَ: فَأَرْبَعَةَ عَشَرَ مُؤْمِنًا ؟ قَالُوا: لَا. قَالَ ابْنُ إِسْحَاقَ إِلَى أَنْ قَالَ: أَفَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ كَانَ فِيهَا مُؤْمِنٌ وَاحِدٌ ؟ قَالُوا: لَا. قَالَ إِنَّ فِيهَا لُوطًا قَالُوا نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ فِيهَا. الْآيَةَ. وَعِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: يَا رَبِّ أَتُهْلِكُهُمْ وَفِيهِمْ خَمْسُونَ رَجُلًا صَالِحًا ؟ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ: لَا أُهْلِكُهُمْ وَفِيهِمْ خَمْسُونَ صَالِحًا. ثُمَّ تَنَازَلَ إِلَى عَشَرَةٍ، فَقَالَ اللَّهُ: لَا أُهْلِكُهُمْ وَفِيهِمْ عَشَرَةٌ صَالِحُونَ. قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: وَلَمَّا جَاءَتْ رُسُلُنَا لُوطًا سِيءَ بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ بِهِمْ ذَرْعًا وَقَالَ هَذَا يَوْمٌ عَصِيبٌ. قَالَ الْمُفَسِّرُونَ: لَمَّا فَصَلَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ مِنْ عِنْدِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَهُمْ؛ جِبْرِيلُ، وَمِيكَائِيلُ، وَإِسْرَافِيلُ، أَقْبَلُوا حَتَّى أَتَوْا أَرْضَ سَدُومَ فِي صُورَةِ شُبَّانٍ حِسَانٍ اخْتِبَارًا مِنَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى لِقَوْمِ لُوطٍ، وَإِقَامَةً لِلْحُجَّةِ عَلَيْهِمْ، فَاسْتَضَافُوا لُوطًا عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، وَذَلِكَ عِنْدَ غُرُوبِ الشَّمْسِ فَخَشِيَ إِنْ لَمْ يُضِفْهُمْ أَنْ يُضِيفَهُمْ غَيْرُهُ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الْفَاسِقِينَ، وَحَسِبَهُمْ بَشَرًا مِنَ النَّاسِ وَ سِيءَ بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ بِهِمْ ذَرْعًا وَقَالَ هَذَا يَوْمٌ عَصِيبٌ. قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ، وَمُجَاهِدٌ، وَقَتَادَةُ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ: شَدِيدٌ بَلَاؤُهُ، وَذَلِكَ لِمَا يَعْلَمُ مِنْ مُدَافَعَتِهِ اللَّيْلَةَ عَنْهُمْ، كَمَا كَانَ يَصْنَعُ بِغَيْرِهِمْ مَعَهُمْ، وَكَانُوا قَدِ اشْتَرَطُوا عَلَيْهِ أَنْ لَا يُضِيفَ أَحَدًا، وَلَكِنْ رَأَى مَنْ لَا يُمْكِنُ الْمَحِيدُ عَنْهُ. وَذَكَرَ قَتَادَةُ أَنَّهُمْ وَرَدُوا عَلَيْهِ، وَهُوَ فِي أَرْضٍ لَهُ يَعْمَلُ فِيهَا، فَتَضَيَّفُوهُ فَاسْتَحْيَى مِنْهُمْ وَانْطَلَقَ أَمَامَهُمْ، وَجَعَلَ يُعَرِّضُ لَهُمْ فِي الْكَلَامِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَنْصَرِفُونَ عَنْ هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ، وَيَنْزِلُونَ فِي غَيْرِهَا، فَقَالَ لَهُمْ فِيمَا قَالَ: وَاللَّهِ يَا هَؤُلَاءِ مَا أَعْلَمُ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ أَهْلَ بَلَدٍ أَخْبَثَ مِنْ هَؤُلَاءِ، ثُمَّ مَشَى قَلِيلًا، ثُمَّ أَعَادَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَتَّى كَرَّرَهُ أَرْبَعَ مَرَّاتٍ قَالَ: وَكَانُوا قَدْ أُمِرُوا أَنْ لَا يُهْلِكُوهُمْ حَتَّى يَشْهَدَ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبِيُّهُمْ بِذَلِكَ. وَقَالَ السُّدِّيُّ: خَرَجَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ مِنْ عِنْدِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ نَحْوَ قَوْمِ لُوطٍ فَأَتَوْهَا نِصْفَ النَّهَارِ، فَلَمَّا بَلَغُوا نَهْرَ سَدُومَ لَقُوا ابْنَةَ لُوطٍ تَسْتَقِي مِنَ الْمَاءِ لِأَهْلِهَا، وَكَانَتْ لَهُ ابْنَتَانِ اسْمُ الْكُبْرَى أَرِيثَا، وَالصُّغْرَى دَغُوْثَا فَقَالُوا لَهَا: يَا جَارِيَةُ هَلْ مِنْ مَنْزِلٍ ؟ فَقَالَتْ لَهُمْ: مَكَانَكُمْ، لَا تَدْخُلُوا حَتَّى آتِيَكُمْ. فَرِقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ قَوْمِهَا، فَأَتَتْ أَبَاهَا فَقَالَتْ: يَا أَبَتَاهُ أَرَادَكَ فِتْيَانٌ عَلَى بَابِ الْمَدِينَةِ، مَا رَأَيْتُ وُجُوهَ قَوْمٍ قَطُّ هِيَ أَحْسَنَ مِنْهُمْ، لَا يَأْخُذُهُمْ قَوْمُكَ فَيَفْضَحُوهُمْ. وَقَدْ كَانَ قَوْمُهُ نَهَوْهُ أَنْ يُضِيفَ رَجُلًا، فَجَاءَ بِهِمْ، فَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا أَهْلُ الْبَيْتِ، فَخَرَجَتِ امْرَأَتُهُ فَأَخْبَرَتْ قَوْمَهَا فَقَالَتْ: إِنَّ فِي بَيْتِ لُوطٍ رِجَالًا مَا رَأَيْتُ مِثْلَ وُجُوهِهِمْ قَطُّ. فَجَاءَهُ قَوْمُهُ يُهْرَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ. وَقَوْلُهُ: وَمِنْ قَبْلُ كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ. أَيْ هَذَا مَعَ مَا سَلَفَ لَهُمْ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ الْعَظِيمَةِ الْكَبِيرَةِ الْكَثِيرَةِ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ هَؤُلَاءِ بَنَاتِي هُنَّ أَطْهَرُ لَكُمْ. يُرْشِدُهُمْ إِلَى غِشْيَانِ نِسَائِهِمْ، وَهُنَّ بَنَاتُهُ شَرْعًا؛ لِأَنَّ النَّبِيَّ لِلْأُمَّةِ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْوَالِدِ، كَمَا وَرَدَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ، وَكَمَا قَالَ تَعَالَى: النَّبِيُّ أَوْلَى بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَأَزْوَاجُهُ أُمَّهَاتُهُمْ [ الْأَحْزَابِ: 6 ]. وَفِي قِرَاءَةِ بَعْضِ الصَّحَابَةِ وَالسَّلَفِ: " وَهُوَ أَبٌ لَهُمْ ". وَهَذَا كَقَوْلِهِ: أَتَأْتُونَ الذُّكْرَانَ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ وَتَذَرُونَ مَا خَلَقَ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ قَوْمٌ عَادُونَ [ الشُّعَرَاءِ: 165 - 166 ]. وَهَذَا هُوَ الَّذِي نَصَّ عَلَيْهِ مُجَاهِدٌ، وَسَعِيدُ بْنُ جُبَيْرٍ، وَالرَّبِيعُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ، وَقَتَادَةُ، وَالسُّدِّيُّ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، وَهُوَ الصَّوَابُ. وَالْقَوْلُ الْآخَرُ خَطَأٌ مَأْخُوذٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ. وَقَدْ تَصَحَّفَ عَلَيْهِمْ، كَمَا أَخْطَئُوا فِي قَوْلِهِمْ: إِنَّ الْمَلَائِكَةَ كَانُوا اثْنَيْنِ، وَإِنَّهُمْ تَعَشَّوْا عِنْدَهُ، وَقَدْ خَبَّطَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ فِي هَذِهِ الْقِصَّةِ تَخْبِيطًا عَظِيمًا. وَقَوْلُهُ: فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُخْزُونِ فِي ضَيْفِي أَلَيْسَ مِنْكُمْ رَجُلٌ رَشِيدٌ نَهْيٌ لَهُمْ عَنْ تَعَاطِي مَا لَا يَلِيقُ مِنَ الْفَاحِشَةِ، وَشَهَادَةٌ عَلَيْهِمْ بِأَنَّهُ لَيْسَ فِيهِمْ رَجُلٌ لَهُ مُسْكَةٌ، وَلَا فِيهِ خَيْرٌ، بَلِ الْجَمِيعُ سُفَهَاءُ فَجَرَةٌ أَقْوِيَاءُ كَفَرَةٌ أَعْتِيَاءُ. وَكَانَ هَذَا مِنْ جُمْلَةِ مَا أَرَادَ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَنْ يَسْمَعُوا مِنْهُ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَسْأَلُوهُ عَنْهُ فَقَالَ قَوْمُهُ عَلَيْهِمْ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ الْحَمِيدِ الْمَجِيدِ مُجِيبِينَ لِنَبِيِّهِمْ فِيمَا أَمَرَهُمْ بِهِ مِنَ الْأَمْرِ السَّدِيدِ:لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا لَنَا فِي بَنَاتِكَ مِنْ حَقٍّ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَعْلَمُ مَا نُرِيدُ. يَقُولُونَ: عَلَيْهِمْ لِعَائِنُ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ يَا لُوطُ إِنَّهُ لَا أَرَبَ لَنَا فِي نِسَائِنَا، وَإِنَّكَ لَتَعْلَمُ مُرَادَنَا، وَغَرَضَنَا، وَاجَهُوا بِهَذَا الْكَلَامِ الْقَبِيحِ رَسُولَهُمُ الْكَرِيمَ، وَلَمْ يَخَافُوا سَطْوَةَ الْعَظِيمِ ذِي الْعَذَابِ الْأَلِيمِ؛ وَلِهَذَا قَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: لَوْ أَنَّ لِي بِكُمْ قُوَّةً أَوْ آوِي إِلَى رُكْنٍ شَدِيدٍ. وَدَّ أَنْ لَوْ كَانَ لَهُ بِهِمْ قُوَّةٌ أَوْ لَهُ مَنَعَةٌ، وَعَشِيرَةٌ يَنْصُرُونَهُ عَلَيْهِمْ لِيُحِلَّ بِهِمْ مَا يَسْتَحِقُّونَهُ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ عَلَى هَذَا الْخِطَابِ، وعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ مَرْفُوعًا نَحْنُ أَحَقُّ بِالشَّكِّ مِنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَيَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ لُوطًا لَقَدْ كَانَ يَأْوِي إِلَى رُكْنٍ شَدِيدٍ، وَلَوْ لَبِثْتُ فِي السِّجْنِ مَا لَبِثَ يُوسُفُ لَأَجَبْتُ الدَّاعِيَ. وعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ: رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى لُوطٍ لَقَدْ كَانَ يَأْوِي إِلَى رُكْنٍ شَدِيدٍ. يَعْنِي اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَمَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ بَعْدَهُ مِنْ نَبِيٍّ إِلَّا فِي ثَرْوَةٍ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: وَجَاءَ أَهْلُ الْمَدِينَةِ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ قَالَ إِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ ضَيْفِي فَلَا تَفْضَحُونِ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُخْزُونِ قَالُوا أَوَلَمْ نَنْهَكَ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ قَالَ هَؤُلَاءِ بَنَاتِي إِنْ كُنْتُمْ فَاعِلِينَ. فَأَمَرَهُمْ بِقُرْبَانِ نِسَائِهِمْ، وَحَذَّرَهُمُ الِاسْتِمْرَارَ عَلَى طَرِيقَتِهِمْ وَسَيِّئَاتِهِمْ، هَذَا وَهُمْ فِي ذَلِكَ لَا يَنْتَهُونَ وَلَا يَرْعَوُونَ، بَلْ كُلَّمَا نَهَاهُمْ يُبَالِغُونَ فِي تَحْصِيلِ هَؤُلَاءِ الضِّيفَانِ وَيَحْرِصُونَ، وَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوا مَا حَمَّ بِهِ الْقَدَرُ مِمَّا هُمْ إِلَيْهِ صَائِرُونَ، وَصَبِيحَةَ لَيْلَتِهِمْ مُنْتَقِلُونَ؛ وَلِهَذَا قَالَ تَعَالَى مُقْسِمًا بِحَيَاةِ نَبِيِّهِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ وَسَلَامُهُ عَلَيْهِ: لَعَمْرُكَ إِنَّهُمْ لَفِي سَكْرَتِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: وَلَقَدْ أَنْذَرَهُمْ بَطْشَتَنَا فَتَمَارَوْا بِالنُّذُرِ وَلَقَدْ رَاوَدُوهُ عَنْ ضَيْفِهِ فَطَمَسْنَا أَعْيُنَهُمْ فَذُوقُوا عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ وَلَقَدْ صَبَّحَهُمْ بُكْرَةً عَذَابٌ مُسْتَقِرٌّ. منع لوط قومه من دخول بيته ذَكَرَ الْمُفَسِّرُونَ وَغَيْرُهُمْ أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ لُوطًا عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ جَعَلَ يُمَانِعُ قَوْمَهُ الدُّخُولَ وَيُدَافِعُهُمْ، وَالْبَابُ مُغْلَقٌ، وَهُمْ يَرُومُونَ فَتْحَهُ وَوُلُوجَهُ وَهُوَ يَعِظُهُمْ وَيَنْهَاهُمْ مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْبَابِ، فَلَمَّا ضَاقَ الْأَمْرُ، وَعَسُرَ الْحَالُ قَالَ مَا قَالَ: لَوْ أَنَّ لِي بِكُمْ قُوَّةً أَوْ آوِي إِلَى رُكْنٍ شَدِيدٍ. لَأَحْلَلْتُ بِكُمُ النَّكَالَ قَالَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ: يَا لُوطُ إِنَّا رُسُلُ رَبِّكَ لَنْ يَصِلُوا إِلَيْكَ. وَذَكَرُوا أَنَّ جِبْرِيلَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ خَرَجَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَضَرَبَ وُجُوهَهُمْ خَفْقَةً بِطَرَفِ جَنَاحِهِ فَطُمِسَتْ أَعْيُنُهُمْ حَتَّى قِيلَ: إِنَّهَا غَارَتْ بِالْكُلِّيَّةِ، وَلَمْ يَبْقَ لَهَا مَحَلٌّ، وَلَا عَيْنٌ، وَلَا أَثَرٌ فَرَجَعُوا يَتَجَسَّسُونَ مَعَ الْحِيطَانِ، وَيَتَوَعَّدُونَ رَسُولَ الرَّحْمَنِ وَيَقُولُونَ: إِذَا كَانَ الْغَدُ كَانَ لَنَا وَلَهُ شَأنٌ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: وَلَقَدْ رَاوَدُوهُ عَنْ ضَيْفِهِ فَطَمَ?ْنَا أَعْيُنَهُمْ فَذُوقُوا عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ وَلَقَدْ صَبَّحَهُمْ بُكْرَةً عَذَابٌ مُسْتَقِرٌّ. فَذَلِكَ أَنَّ الْمَلَائِكَةَ تَقَدَّمَتْ إِلَى لُوطٍ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَامُ آمِرِينَ لَهُ بِأَنْ يَسْرِيَ هُوَ وَأَهْلُهُ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ وَلَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنْكُمْ أَحَدٌ يَعْنِي عِنْدَ سَمَاعِ صَوْتِ الْعَذَابِ إِذَا حَلَّ بِقَوْمِهِ. وَأَمَرُوهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ سَيْرُهُ فِي آخِرِهِمْ كَالسَّاقَةِ لَهُمْ. وَقَوْلُهُ: إِلَّا امْرَأَتَكَ عَلَى قِرَاءَةِ النَّصْبِ يَحْتَمِلُ أَنْ يَكُونَ مُسْتَثْنًى مِنْ قَوْلِهِ: فَأَسْرِ بِأَهْلِكَ كَأَنَّهُ يَقُولُ: إِلَّا امْرَأَتَكَ فَلَا تَسْرِ بِهَا. وَيَحْتَمِلُ أَنْ يَكُونَ مِنْ قَوْلِهِ: وَلَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنْكُمْ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا امْرَأَتَكَ أَيْ فَإِنَّهَا سَتَلْتَفِتُ فَيُصِيبُهَا مَا أَصَابَهُمْ، وَيُقَوِّي هَذَا الِاحْتِمَالَ قِرَاءَةُ الرَّفْعِ، وَلَكِنَّ الْأَوَّلَ أَظْهَرُ فِي الْمَعْنَى، وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ. قَالَ السُّهَيْلِيُّ: وَاسْمُ امْرَأَةِ لُوطٍ وَالِهَةُ، وَاسْمُ امْرَأَةِ نُوحٍ وَالِغَةُ. وَقَالُوا لَهُ مُبَشِّرِينَ بِهَلَاكِ هَؤُلَاءِ الْبُغَاةِ الْعُتَاةِ الْمَلْعُونِينَ النُّظَرَاءِ وَالْأَشْبَاهِ الَّذِينَ جَعَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ سَلَفًا لِكُلِّ خَائِنٍ مُرِيبٍ: إِنَّ مَوْعِدَهُمُ الصُّبْحُ أَلَيْسَ الصُّبْحُ بِقَرِيبٍ. فَلَمَّا خَرَجَ لُوطٌ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ بِأَهْلِهِ، وَهُمُ ابْنَتَاهُ، وَلَمْ يَتْبَعْهُ مِنْهُمْ رَجُلٌ وَاحِدٌ، وَيُقَالُ: إِنَّ امْرَأَتَهُ خَرَجَتْ مَعَهُ فَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ. فَلَمَّا خَلَصُوا مِنْ بِلَادِهِمْ وَطَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَكَانَ عِنْدَ شُرُوقِهَا جَاءَهُمْ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يُرَدُّ، وَمِنَ الْبَأْسِ الشَّدِيدِ مَا لَا يُمْكِنُ أَنْ يُصَدَّ، وَعِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ أَنَّ الْمَلَائِكَةَ أَمَرُوهُ أَنْ يَصْعَدَ إِلَى رَأْسِ الْجَبَلِ الَّذِي هُنَاكَ فَاسْتَبْعَدَهُ، وَسَأَلَ مِنْهُمْ أَنْ يَذْهَبَ إِلَى قَرْيَةٍ قَرِيبَةٍ مِنْهُمْ، فَقَالُوا: اذْهَبْ فَإِنَّا نَنْتَظِرُكَ حَتَّى تَصِيرَ إِلَيْهَا وَتَسْتَقِرَّ فِيهَا ثُمَّ نُحِلَّ بِهِمُ الْعَذَابَ فَذَكَرُوا أَنَّهُ ذَهَبَ إِلَى قَرْيَةِ صُغَرَ الَّتِي يَقُولُ النَّاسُ: غَوْرُ زُغَرَ. فَلَمَّا أَشْرَقَتِ الشَّمْسُ نَزَلَ بِهِمُ الْعَذَابُ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: فَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَمْرُنَا جَعَلْنَا عَالِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهَا حِجَارَةً مِنْ سِجِّيلٍ مَنْضُودٍ مُسَوَّمَةً عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ وَمَا هِيَ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ بِبَعِيدٍ. قَالُوا: اقْتَلَعَهُنَّ جِبْرِيلُ بِطَرَفِ جَنَاحِهِ مِنْ قَرَارِهِنَّ، وَكُنَّ سَبْعَ مُدُنٍ بِمَنْ فِيهِنَّ مِنَ الْأُمَمِ يُقَالُ: إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا أَرْبَعَمِائَةِ أَلْفِ نَسَمَةٍ. وَقِيلَ: أَرْبَعَةُ آلَافِ أَلْفِ نَسَمَةٍ. وَمَا مَعَهُمْ مِنَ الْحَيَوَانَاتِ، وَمَا يَتْبَعُ تِلْكَ الْمُدُنَ مِنَ الْأَرَاضِي وَالْأَمَاكِنِ وَالْمُعْتَمَلَاتِ، فَرَفَعَ الْجَمِيعَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ بِهِنَّ عَنَانَ السَّمَاءِ حَتَّى سَمِعَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَصْوَاتَ دِيَكَتِهِمْ وَنُبَاحَ كِلَابِهِمْ، ثُمَّ قَلَبَهَا عَلَيْهِمْ فَجَعَلَ عَالِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا. قَالَ مُجَاهِدٌ: فَكَانَ أَوَّلَ مَا سَقَطَ مِنْهَا شُرُفَاتُهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةً مِنْ سِجِّيلٍ. وَالسِّجِّيلُ فَارِسِيٌّ مُعَرَّبٌ، وَهُوَ الشَّدِيدُ الصُّلْبُ الْقَوِيُّ مَنْضُودٍ أَيْ يَتْبَعُ بَعْضُهَا بَعْضًا فِي نُزُولِهَا عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مُسَوَّمَةً أَيْ مُعَلَّمَةً مَكْتُوبٌ عَلَى كُلِّ حَجْرٍ اسْمُ صَاحِبِهِ الَّذِي يَهْبِطُ عَلَيْهِ فَيَدْمَغُهُ، كَمَا قَالَ: مُسَوَّمَةً عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُسْرِفِينَ. وَكَمَا قَالَ تَعَالَى: وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ مَطَرًا فَسَاءَ مَطَرُ الْمُنْذَرِينَ. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: وَالْمُؤْتَفِكَةَ أَهْوَى فَغَشَّاهَا مَا غَشَّى [ النَّجْمِ: 53 - 54 ]. يَعْنِي قَلَبَهَا فَأَهْوَى بِهَا مُنَكَّسَةً عَالِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا، وَغَشَّاهَا بِمَطَرٍ مِنْ حِجَارَةٍ مِنْ سِجِّيلٍ مُتَتَابِعَةٍ مُسَوَّمَةٍ مَرْقُومٍ عَلَى كُلِّ حَجَرٍ اسْمُ صَاحِبِهِ الَّذِي سَقَطَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْحَاضِرِينَ مِنْهُمْ فِي بَلَدِهِمْ وَالْغَائِبِينَ عَنْهَا مِنَ الْمُسَافِرِينَ وَالنَّازِحِينَ وَالشَّاذِّينَ مِنْهَا. مصير امرأة لوط وَيُقَالُ: إِنَّ امْرَأَةَ لُوطٍ مَكَثَتْ مَعَ قَوْمِهَا، وَيُقَالُ: إِنَّهَا خَرَجَتْ مَعَ زَوْجِهَا وَبِنْتَيْهَا، وَلَكِنَّهَا لَمَّا سَمِعَتِ الصَّيْحَةَ وَسُقُوطَ الْبَلْدَةِ، وَالْتَفَتَتْ إِلَى قَوْمِهَا وَخَالَفَتْ أَمْرَ رَبِّهَا قَدِيمًا وَحَدِيثًا، وَقَالَتْ: وَاقَوْمَاهْ. فَسَقَطَ عَلَيْهَا حَجْرٌ فَدَمَغَهَا، وَأَلْحَقَهَا بِقَوْمِهَا إِذْ كَانَتْ عَلَى دِينِهِمْ، وَكَانَتْ عَيْنًا لَهُمْ عَلَى مَنْ يَكُونُ عِنْدَ لُوطٍ مِنَ الضِّيفَانِ، كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالَى: ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا اِمْرَأَةَ نُوحٍ وَامْرَأَةَ لُوطٍ كَانَتَا تَحْتَ عَبْدَيْنِ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا صَالِحَيْنِ فَخَانَتَاهُمَا فَلَمْ يُغْنِيَا عَنْهُمَا مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا وَقِيلَ ادْخُلَا النَّارَ مَعَ الدَّاخِلِينَ [ التَّحْرِيمِ: 10 ]. أَيْ خَانَتَاهُمَا فِي الدِّينِ فَلَمْ تَتْبَعَاهُمَا فِيهِ، وَلَيْسَ الْمُرَادُ أَنَّهُمَا كَانَتَا عَلَى فَاحِشَةٍ حَاشَا وَكَلَّا، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُقَدِّرُ عَلَى نَبِيٍّ أَنْ تَبْغِيَ امْرَأَتُهُ ، كَمَا قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ وَغَيْرُهُ مِنْ أَئِمَّةِ السَّلَفِ وَالْخَلَفِ: مَا بَغَتِ امْرَأَةُ نَبِيٍّ قَطُّ. وَمَنْ قَالَ خِلَافَ هَذَا فَقَدَ أَخْطَأَ خَطَأً كَبِيرًا. قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فِي قِصَّةِ الْإِفْكِ لَمَّا أَنْزَلَ بَرَاءَةَ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَائِشَةَ بِنْتِ الصِّدِّيقِ زَوْجِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ حِينَ قَالَ لَهَا أَهْلُ الْإِفْكِ مَا قَالُوا فَعَاتَبَ اللَّهُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَأَنَّبَ وَزَجَرَ، وَوَعَظَ وَحَذَّرَ. وَقَالَ فِيمَا قَالَ: إِذْ تَلَقَّوْنَهُ بِأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَتَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَاهِكُمْ مَا لَيْسَ لَكُمْ بِهِ عِلْمٌ وَتَحْسَبُونَهُ هَيِّنًا وَهُوَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَظِيمٌ وَلَوْلَا إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ قُلْتُمْ مَا يَكُونُ لَنَا أَنْ نَتَكَلَّمَ بِهَذَا سُبْحَانَكَ هَذَا بُهْتَانٌ عَظِيمٌ [ النُّورِ: 15 - 16 ]. أَيْ سُبْحَانَكَ أَنْ تَكُونَ زَوْجَةُ نَبِيِّكَ بِهَذِهِ الْمَثَابَةِ، عقوبة اللائط وَقَوْلُهُ هَاهُنَا: وَمَا هِيَ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ بِبَعِيدٍ. أَيْ وَمَا هَذِهِ الْعُقُوبَةُ بِبَعِيدَةٍ مِمَّنْ أَشْبَهَهُمْ فِي فِعْلِهِمْ؛ وَلِهَذَا ذَهَبَ مَنْ ذَهَبَ مِنَ الْعُلَمَاءِ إِلَى أَنَّ اللَّائِطَ يُرْجَمُ سَوَاءٌ كَانَ مُحْصَنًا أَوْ لَا، نَصَّ عَلَيْهِ الشَّافِعِيُّ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ، وَطَائِفَةٌ كَثِيرَةٌ مِنَ الْأَئِمَّةِ، وَاحْتَجُّوا أَيْضًا بِمَا رَوَاهُ الْإِمَامُ أَحْمَدُ، وَأَهْلُ السُّنَنِ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ: مَنْ وَجَدْتُمُوهُ يَعْمَلُ عَمَلَ قَوْمِ لُوطٍ فَاقْتُلُوا الْفَاعِلَ وَالْمَفْعُولَ بِهِ. وَذَهَبَ أَبُو حَنِيفَةَ إِلَى أَنَّ اللَّائِطَ يُلْقَى مِنْ شَاهِقٍ، وَيُتْبَعُ بِالْحِجَارَةِ، كَمَا فُعِلَ بِقَوْمِ لُوطٍ لِقَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى: وَمَا هِيَ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ بِبَعِيدٍ. وَجَعَلَ اللَّهُ مَكَانَ تِلْكَ الْبِلَادِ بَحْرَةً مُنْتِنَةً لَا يُنْتَفَعُ بِمَائِهَا، وَلَا بِمَا حَوْلَهَا مِنَ الْأَرَاضِي الْمُتَاخِمَةِ لِفِنَائِهَا لِرَدَاءَتِهَا وَدَنَاءَتِهَا، فَصَارَتْ عِبْرَةً وَمَثُلَةً، وَعِظَةً وَآيَةً عَلَى قُدْرَةِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى وَعَظَمَتِهِ وَعِزَّتِهِ فِي انْتِقَامِهِ مِمَّنْ خَالَفَ أَمْرَهُ وَكَذَّبَ رُسُلَهُ، وَاتَّبَعْ هَوَاهُ وَعَصَى مَوْلَاهُ، وَدَلِيلًا عَلَى رَحْمَتِهِ بِعِبَادِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي إِنْجَائِهِ إِيَّاهُمْ مِنَ الْمُهْلِكَاتِ، وَإِخْرَاجِهِ إِيَّاهُمْ مِنَ النُّورِ إِلَى الظُّلُمَاتِ، كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالَى: إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَةً وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ [ الشُّعَرَاءِ: 8 - 9 ]. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّيْحَةُ مُشْرِقِينَ فَجَعَلْنَا عَالِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةً مِنْ سِجِّيلٍ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِلْمُتَوَسِّمِينَ وَإِنَّهَا لَبِسَبِيلٍ مُقِيمٍ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَةً لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ [ الْحِجْرِ: 73 - 77 ]. أَيْ مَنْ نَظَرَ بِعَيْنِ الْفِرَاسَةِ وَالتَّوَسُّمِ فِيهِمْ كَيْفَ غَيَّرَ اللَّهُ تِلْكَ الْبِلَادَ وَأَهْلَهَا ؟ وَكَيْفَ جَعَلَهَا بَعْدَ مَا كَانَتْ آهِلَةً عَامِرَةً هَالِكَةً غَامِرَةً ؟ كَمَا رَوَى التِّرْمِذِيُّ، وَغَيْرُهُ مَرْفُوعًا اتَّقَوْا فِرَاسَةَ الْمُؤْمِنِ فَإِنَّهُ يَنْظُرُ بِنُورِ اللَّهِ. ثُمَّ قَرَأَ: إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِلْمُتَوَسِّمِينَ. وَقَوْلُهُ: وَإِنَّهَا لَبِسَبِيلٍ مُقِيمٍ أَيْ لَبِطَرِيقٍ مَهْيَعٍ مَسْلُوكٍ إِلَى الْآنَ، كَمَا قَالَ: وَإِنَّكُمْ لَتَمُرُّونَ عَلَيْهِمْ مُصْبِحِينَ وَبِاللَّيْلِ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ [ الصَّافَّاتِ: 137 - 138 ]. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: وَلَقَدْ تَرَكْنَا مِنْهَا آيَةً بَيِّنَةً لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ [ الْعَنْكَبُوتِ: 35 ]. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: فَأَخْرَجْنَا مَنْ كَانَ فِيهَا مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَمَا وَجَدْنَا فِيهَا غَيْرَ بَيْتٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَتَرَكْنَا فِيهَا آيَةً لِلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ الْعَذَابَ الْأَلِيمَ [ الذَّارِيَاتِ: 35 - 37 ]. أَيْ تَرَكْنَاهَا عِبْرَةً وَعِظَةً لِمَنْ خَافَ عَذَابَ الْآخِرَةِ وَخَشِيَ الرَّحْمَنَ بِالْغَيْبِ، وَخَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَى فَانْزَجَرَ عَنْ مَحَارِمِ اللَّهِ، وَتَرَكَ مَعَاصِيَهُ وَخَافَ أَنْ يُشَابِهَ قَوْمَ لُوطٍ، وَمَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ، وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ مِنْ كُلِّ وَجْهٍ فَمِنْ بَعْضِ الْوُجُوهِ؛ كَمَا قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ. فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُونُوا قَوْمَ لُوطٍ بِعَيْنِهِمْ فَمَا قَوْمُ لُوطٍ مِنْكُمْ بِبَعِيدِ فَالْعَاقِلُ اللَّبِيبُ الْخَائِفُ مِنْ رَبِّهِ الْفَاهِمُ يَمْتَثِلُ مَا أَمَرَهُ اللَّهُ بِهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، وَيَقْبَلُ مَا أَرْشَدَهُ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ مِنْ إِتْيَانِ مَا خُلِقَ لَهُ مِنَ الزَّوْجَاتِ الْحَلَالِ، وَالْجَوَارِي مِنَ السَّرَارِيِّ ذَوَاتِ الْجَمَالِ، وَإِيَّاهُ أَنْ يَتَّبِعَ كُلَّ شَيْطَانٍ مَرِيدٍ فَيَحِقَّ عَلَيْهِ الْوَعِيدُ، وَيَدْخُلَ فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى: وَمَا هِيَ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ بِبَعِيدٍ [ هُودٍ: 83 ].

Translation

✧ That is because when Lot ﷺ called them to worship God alone with no partner, and forbade them from engaging in the abominations that God mentioned about them, they did not respond to him nor believe in him, not even a single man among them, and they did not abandon what they had been forbidden, but rather persisted in their state, and did not desist from their error and misguidance. They resolved to expel their messenger from among themselves, and the sum of their response to his address—since they had no understanding—was only that they said: “Expel the family of Lot from your town; they are people who keep themselves pure” (Q 27:56). They turned the utmost praise into a condemnation that necessitated expulsion. Nothing drove them to this statement but obstinacy and stubborn contention. So God purified him and his family, except his wife, and brought them out of it in the best manner, and left them in their dwelling place forever—but after He had turned it upon them into a stinking sea with waves, though in reality it is for them a blazing fire and glowing heat, and its water is salt and bitter. And this was their only response when he forbade them the great calamity and the major abomination that no one among the people of the world had preceded them in. For this reason they became an example in it, and a lesson for those upon it. So he asked God, exalted be He, to grant him victory over them, and God seized them with a grievous seizure. They said to him, among other things: “Bring us God’s punishment if you are truthful” (Q 29:29). Thus they asked him to bring about the painful punishment he had warned them of, and the descent of the great affliction. At that point their noble prophet called down against them, and asked the Lord of the worlds and God of the messengers to grant him victory over the corrupt people. So God became jealous for his jealousy, and angry for his anger, and answered his supplication, and responded to his request. He sent His noble messengers and His mighty angels. They passed by the Friend, Abraham, and gave him glad tidings of a knowledgeable son, and informed him of the weighty matter and great affair they had come for. He said: “What is your errand, O messengers?” They said: “We have been sent to a sinful people, to send upon them stones of clay, marked in your Lord’s presence for the transgressors” (Q 51:31–34). And He said: “And when Our messengers came to Abraham with the good tidings, they said: ‘We are destroying the people of this town; its people are wrongdoers.’ He said: ‘Lot is in it.’ They said: ‘We know better who is in it. We will surely save him and his family, except his wife; she is to be among those who remain behind’” (Q 29:31–32). And God, exalted be He, said: “So when the fright left Abraham and the good tidings reached him, he began to plead with Us for the people of Lot” (Q 11:74). That is because he hoped they would repent, submit, desist, and return. For this reason He, exalted be He, said: “Indeed Abraham was forbearing, given to sighs, and penitent. O Abraham, turn away from this; indeed your Lord’s command has come, and indeed there is coming to them a punishment that cannot be repelled” (Q 11:75–76). Meaning: turn away from this and speak of something else, for their matter has been decreed, and their punishment, destruction, and ruin have become due. “Indeed your Lord’s command has come”: meaning He who cannot have His command repelled, nor His might turned back, nor any reviewer of His judgment, has commanded it; “and indeed there is coming to them a punishment that cannot be repelled.” Saʿīd b. Jubayr, al-Suddī, Qatādah, and Muḥammad b. Isḥāq mentioned that Abraham ﷺ kept saying: “Will you destroy a town in which there are three hundred believers?” They said: “No.” He said: “Two hundred believers?” They said: “No.” He said: “Forty believers?” They said: “No.” He said: “Fourteen believers?” They said: “No.” Ibn Isḥāq said, until he said: “What if there is one believer in it?” They said: “No.” He said: “Lot is in it.” They said: “We know better who is in it” (Q 29:32), to the end of the verse. According to the People of the Book, he said: “My Lord, will You destroy them while there are fifty righteous men among them?” God said: “I will not destroy them while there are fifty righteous among them.” Then he went down to ten, and God said: “I will not destroy them while there are ten righteous among them.” God, exalted be He, said: “And when Our messengers came to Lot, he was distressed on their account and felt constrained by them, and said: ‘This is a distressful day’” (Q 11:77). The commentators said: When the angels departed from Abraham—they were Gabriel, Michael, and Isrāfīl—they set out until they reached the land of Sodom in the form of handsome young men, as a test from God, exalted be He, for the people of Lot, and to establish the proof against them. They asked Lot ﷺ for hospitality, and that was at sunset. He feared that if he did not host them, someone else among the wicked people would host them. He thought they were human beings, and “he was distressed on their account and felt constrained by them, and said: ‘This is a distressful day.’” Ibn ʿAbbās, Mujāhid, Qatādah, and Muḥammad b. Isḥāq said: its affliction would be severe, because he knew he would have to fend them off that night, as he used to do with others in their presence. They had made him promise not to host anyone, but he saw those whom he could not turn away. Qatādah mentioned that they came to him while he was working in a field of his, and they asked for his hospitality. He felt shy before them and went ahead of them, making hints in his speech, hoping they might leave this town and settle elsewhere. He said to them, among other things: “By God, O these people, I know of no people on the face of the earth more wicked than these.” Then he walked a little, then repeated that to them until he had said it four times. He said: They had been commanded not to destroy them until their prophet testified against them to that effect. Al-Suddī said: The angels set out from Abraham toward the people of Lot, and reached it at midday. When they came to the river of Sodom, they met Lot’s daughter drawing water for her family. He had two daughters; the elder was named Arīthā and the younger Daghuwthā. They said to her: “O girl, is there a place to stay?” She said to them: “Stay where you are; do not enter until I come back to you.” She feared for them from her people, and went to her father and said: “O father, some young men at the gate of the city are looking for you. I have never seen faces of any people more handsome than theirs. Do not let your people take them and disgrace them.” His people had forbidden him to host any man. So he brought them in, and no one knew but the household. But his wife went out and informed her people, saying: “In Lot’s house there are men whose like I have never seen in faces.” So his people came rushing toward him. And His statement: “And before that they used to commit evil deeds” (Q 27:54), meaning this, along with their previous great, many, huge sins. He said: “O my people, these are my daughters; they are purer for you” (Q 11:78). He was guiding them to have relations with their women—they are his daughters in the legal sense, because a prophet is to the community like a father, as reported in the hadith, and as He, exalted be He, said: “The Prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves, and his wives are their mothers” (Q 33:6). In the reading of some of the Companions and the Salaf: “and he is a father to them.” This is like His statement: “Do you approach males among the worlds, and leave what your Lord has created for you of your wives? Rather you are a transgressing people” (Q 26:165–166). This is what Mujāhid, Saʿīd b. Jubayr, al-Rabīʿ b. Anas, Qatādah, al-Suddī, and Muḥammad b. Isḥāq explicitly stated, and it is correct. The other view is erroneous, taken from the People of the Book, and it has been corrupted in their transmission, just as they erred in saying that the angels were two, and that they dined with him. The People of the Book have made a great muddle in this story. And His statement: “So fear God and do not disgrace me concerning my guests. Is there not among you a right-minded man?” (Q 11:78) is a prohibition against engaging in the unseemly abomination, and a testimony against them that there is no man among them with any restraint or any good in him; rather all of them are foolish, wicked, strong, disbelieving, and rebellious. This was part of what the angels wanted to hear from him before they asked him about it. His people—may the curse of God the Praiseworthy, the Glorious be upon them—answering their prophet in what he commanded them of sound advice, said: “You have certainly known that we have no right concerning your daughters, and you know what we want” (Q 11:79). They say—may God’s curse be upon them—“You have known, O Lot, that we have no desire for our women, and you know our intention and our aim.” They faced their noble messenger with this foul speech, and did not fear the assault of the Mighty One of painful punishment. For this reason he ﷺ said: “If only I had strength against you, or could take refuge in a strong support” (Q 11:80). He wished that he had power over them, or a protective force and kinsmen to help him against them, so that he might inflict upon them the punishment they deserved for this address. From Abū Hurayrah, in a report traced to the Prophet: “We are more entitled to doubt than Abraham, and may God have mercy on Lot; he did indeed seek refuge in a strong support. If I had remained in prison as long as Joseph did, I would have answered the caller.” And from Abū Hurayrah that the Messenger of God ﷺ said: “God’s mercy be upon Lot; he did indeed seek refuge in a strong support—meaning God, mighty and glorious be He. After him, God sent no prophet except among a numerous group of his people.” And He, exalted be He, said: “And the people of the city came rejoicing. He said: ‘These are my guests, so do not disgrace me. Fear God and do not shame me.’ They said: ‘Did we not forbid you from all people?’ He said: ‘These are my daughters, if you must act’” (Q 15:67–71). He ordered them to approach their women and warned them against persisting in their way and their evil deeds, while they were in that state neither desisting nor turning back. Rather, every time he forbade them, they became more intent and eager to obtain these guests, not knowing what destiny had in store for them, and that by the morning of their night they would be removed. For this reason He, exalted be He, said, swearing by the life of His prophet Muḥammad (upon him be the blessings and peace of God): “By your life, they were indeed in their intoxication wandering blindly” (Q 15:72). And He, exalted be He, said: “And We had warned them of Our assault, but they disputed the warnings. And they sought to seduce him from his guests, so We blinded their eyes: ‘Taste My punishment and My warnings.’ And indeed there came upon them at dawn an abiding punishment” (Q 54:36–38). Lot’s preventing his people from entering his house The commentators and others mentioned that God’s prophet Lot ﷺ kept resisting his people’s entry and fending them off while the door was locked, and they were trying to open it and get in, while he admonished them and forbade them from behind the door. When the matter became difficult and the situation severe, he said what he said: “If only I had strength against you, or could take refuge in a strong support” (Q 11:80), then I would inflict exemplary punishment upon you. The angels said: “O Lot, we are messengers of your Lord; they will never reach you” (Q 11:81). They mentioned that Gabriel ﷺ went out to them and struck their faces with the edge of his wing, and their eyes were obliterated—it is said they completely disappeared, leaving no socket, eye, or trace. They went back groping along the walls, threatening the messenger of the Most Merciful, saying: “When tomorrow comes, we will have a matter with him.” God, exalted be He, said: “And they sought to seduce him from his guests, so We blinded their eyes: ‘Taste My punishment and My warnings.’ And indeed there came upon them at dawn an abiding punishment” (Q 54:37–38). That is because the angels had earlier instructed Lot (peace be upon them), commanding him to travel by night with his family at the end of the night, and “let no one among you turn around” (Q 11:81)—meaning when he hears the sound of the punishment when it descends upon his people. They commanded him to be at the rear of them, like a rearguard. And His statement: “except your wife” (Q 11:81)—in the reading with the accusative, it may be an exception from His statement “travel by night with your family,” as if He says: except your wife, so do not take her with you. It may also be an exception from “let no one among you turn around except your wife,” meaning she will turn around, and what befalls them will befall her. This possibility is strengthened by the reading with the nominative, but the first is more apparent in meaning, and God knows best. Al-Suhaylī said: The name of Lot’s wife was Wālilah, and the name of Noah’s wife was Wālighah. They said to him, giving him glad tidings of the destruction of these rebellious, insolent, accursed sinners—those equals and counterparts whom God made a precedent for every treacherous, doubt-causing person: “Indeed their appointed time is the morning. Is not the morning near?” (Q 11:81). So when Lot ﷺ went out with his family—his two daughters—and not a single man among them followed him. It is said that his wife went out with him, but God knows best. When they had left their land and the sun rose, at its rising there came upon them from God’s command what cannot be repelled, and of severe affliction what cannot be averted. According to the People of the Book, the angels commanded him to go up to the top of the mountain there, but he found that too far, and asked them to let him go to a nearby village. They said: “Go, for we will wait for you until you reach it and settle there, then we will bring the punishment upon them.” They mentioned that he went to the small village that people call Ghawr Zughar. When the sun rose, the punishment descended upon them. God, exalted be He, said: “So when Our command came, We made its high parts its low parts, and rained upon it stones of baked clay, in layers, marked in your Lord’s presence. And it is not far from the wrongdoers” (Q 11:82–83). They said: Gabriel uprooted them with the edge of his wing from their foundations. They were seven cities with their peoples—it is said they were four hundred thousand souls, and it is also said four thousand thousand souls—along with their animals and the lands, places, and cultivated fields belonging to those cities. He raised all of it until it reached the sky’s canopy, until the angels heard the crowing of their roosters and the barking of their dogs. Then he turned it over upon them, making its high parts its low parts. Mujāhid said: The first thing to fall from it was its balconies. “And We rained upon them stones of baked clay.” Sijjīl is a Persian word arabized, meaning the severe, hard, strong; “in layers,” meaning one following another in their descent upon them from the sky; “marked,” meaning each stone had written on it the name of its owner upon whom it would fall, crushing his head, as He said: “marked in your Lord’s presence for the transgressors” (Q 51:34), and as He, exalted be He, said: “And We rained upon them a rain, and evil was the rain upon those who had been warned” (Q 26:173). And He, exalted be He, said: “And the overthrown cities He cast down, so there covered them what covered” (Q 53:53–54), meaning He turned them over and cast them down upside down, high parts low, and covered them with a rain of stones of baked clay, successive, marked, each stone inscribed with the name of its owner upon whom it fell—those present in their town and those absent from it among travelers, emigrants, and those who had left it. The fate of Lot’s wife It is said that Lot’s wife remained with her people, and it is also said that she went out with her husband and daughters, but when she heard the blast and the fall of the city, she turned back toward her people and disobeyed the command of her Lord, old and new, and said: “O my people!” A stone fell upon her and crushed her head, joining her to her people, since she was of their religion and was a spy for them on whoever came to Lot of guests, as He, exalted be He, said: “God has struck an example for those who disbelieve: the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot. They were under two of Our righteous servants, but they betrayed them, and they availed them nothing against God, and it was said: ‘Enter the Fire with those who enter’” (Q 66:10). That is, they betrayed them in religion and did not follow them in it. The meaning is not that they were guilty of immorality—far be it, and no indeed—for God does not decree for a prophet that his wife should commit adultery, as Ibn ʿAbbās and other imams of the Salaf and the later generations said: The wife of a prophet never committed adultery. Whoever says otherwise has erred greatly. God, exalted be He, said in the story of the slander, when He revealed the innocence of the Mother of the Believers, ʿĀʾishah bt. al-Ṣiddīq, wife of the Messenger of God ﷺ, when the people of the slander said what they said, God reproached the believers, rebuked, admonished, and warned. He said, among other things: “When you received it with your tongues and said with your mouths that of which you had no knowledge, and thought it light, while it was with God tremendous. And why, when you heard it, did you not say: ‘It is not for us to speak of this. Glory be to You; this is a great slander’” (Q 24:15–16). That is, glory be to You that the wife of Your prophet should be in such a position. The punishment of the one who commits sodomy And His statement here: “And it is not far from the wrongdoers” (Q 11:83), meaning this punishment is not far from those who resemble them in their deed. For this reason, some scholars held that the one who commits sodomy is to be stoned, whether he is married or not. This was explicitly stated by al-Shāfiʿī, Aḥmad b. Ḥanbal, and a large group of imams. They also cited as evidence what Imam Aḥmad and the authors of the Sunan narrated from Ibn ʿAbbās that the Messenger of God ﷺ said: “Whomever you find doing the deed of Lot’s people, kill the doer and the one to whom it is done.” Abū Ḥanīfah held that the sodomite is thrown from a height and then pelted with stones, as was done to the people of Lot, because of His statement, exalted be He: “And it is not far from the wrongdoers.” And God made in place of those lands a stinking sea, whose water is of no benefit, nor the surrounding lands adjacent to its area, because of their rottenness and baseness. It became a lesson, an example, an admonition, and a sign of God’s power, exalted be He, and His might and glory in His vengeance upon those who opposed His command, denied His messengers, followed their desires, and disobeyed their Lord; and a proof of His mercy to His believing servants in saving them from destruction and bringing them out of darkness into light, as He, exalted be He, said: “Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not believers. And indeed your Lord is the Mighty, the Merciful” (Q 26:8–9). And He, exalted be He, said: “So the blast seized them at sunrise. And We made its high parts its low parts, and rained upon them stones of baked clay. Indeed in that are signs for those who discern. And indeed it is on a permanent road. Indeed in that is a sign for the believers” (Q 15:73–77). Meaning, whoever looks with the eye of insight and discernment at them, how God changed those lands and their people, and how He made them after being inhabited and thriving, ruined and desolate. As al-Tirmidhī and others narrated in a report traced to the Prophet: “Beware the insight of the believer, for he sees by the light of God.” Then he recited: “Indeed in that are signs for those who discern” (Q 15:75). And His statement: “And indeed it is on a permanent road” (Q 15:76), meaning a clear, well-trodden path until now, as He said: “And indeed you pass by them in the morning and at night; do you not understand?” (Q 37:137–138). And He, exalted be He, said: “And We have left from it a clear sign for people who understand” (Q 29:35). And He, exalted be He, said: “So We brought out whoever was in it of the believers, and We found in it only one house of those who had submitted. And We left in it a sign for those who fear the painful punishment” (Q 51:35–37). That is, We left it as a lesson and admonition for those who fear the punishment of the Hereafter, who fear the Most Merciful in the unseen, who fear the standing before their Lord, and who forbid the soul from desire and refrain from God’s prohibitions, abandon His acts of disobedience, and fear resembling the people of Lot. Whoever resembles a people is one of them, even if not in every respect, then in some respects; as some have said. If you are not the people of Lot themselves, then the people of Lot are not far from you. So the intelligent, discerning person who fears his Lord and understands should obey what God, mighty and glorious be He, commanded him, and accept what the Messenger of God guided him to, namely, resorting to what was created for him of lawful wives and beautiful slave women from among the concubines. Let him beware of following every rebellious devil, so that the threat may be fulfilled against him, and he may enter into His statement, exalted be He: “And it is not far from the wrongdoers” (Q 11:83).

Grades by grader

No grade is recorded for this wording.