The Poets (Al-Shu‘ara’)
Verses 160-166 GROUP_961 26.160-166
160
كَذَّبَتْ قَوْمُ لُوطٍ الْمُرْسَلِينَ
Then the people of Lot rejected the messengers.
161
إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ أَخُوهُمْ لُوطٌ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ
When their brother Lot said to them, ‘Will you not fear God?
162
إِنِّي لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ
I am a trustworthy messenger to you:
163
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ
so fear God and obey me.
164
وَمَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
I ask of you no recompense for this; my reward is only with the Lord of the Universe.
165
أَتَأْتُونَ الذُّكْرَانَ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ
Do you, of all people, approach males,
166
وَتَذَرُونَ مَا خَلَقَ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُم بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ عَادُونَ
and leave your wives whom your Lord has created for you? You are a people who transgress all bounds.’
No class discussions published for this verse group yet.
Commentary
(a) The community in which Lot appeared, had crossed all limits in debauchery. Not being content with their wives, they had started indulging in homosexuality. Lot taught them God-worship and piety and attempted to dissuade them from indulging in evil deeds. Lot appeared in the community as a preacher whose personality was entirely free of falsehood and he never indulged in loose talk. Also, he completely abstained from raising matters of material interest. These events were enough to establish that Lot was fully serious about whatever he was saying. But as he spoke out against the behaviour of the community, they became his enemies. For Lot’s words to carry any weight, it was necessary for the people to fear God. But the people of his community had become completely devoid of this very virtue. Then, how could they pay attention to the prophet’s teachings?