The Poets (Al-Shu‘ara’)
Verses 167-175 GROUP_962 26.167-175
167
قَالُوا لَئِن لَّمْ تَنتَهِ يَا لُوطُ لَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُخْرَجِينَ
They said, ‘If you do not desist, Lot, you will surely be banished.’
168
قَالَ إِنِّي لِعَمَلِكُم مِّنَ الْقَالِينَ
He said, ‘I am one of those who abhors your ways.
169
رَبِّ نَجِّنِي وَأَهْلِي مِمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ
My Lord, save me and my family from their evil doings.’
170
فَنَجَّيْنَاهُ وَأَهْلَهُ أَجْمَعِينَ
We saved him and all of his family,
171
إِلَّا عَجُوزًا فِي الْغَابِرِينَ
except for an old woman who stayed behind,
172
ثُمَّ دَمَّرْنَا الْآخَرِينَ
then We totally destroyed the rest,
173
وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِم مَّطَرًا فَسَاء مَطَرُ الْمُنذَرِينَ
and We poured a rain [of destruction] down upon them—and how evil was the rain which fell on those who were forewarned.
174
إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَةً وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
Surely in this there is a sign: but most of them would not believe:
175
وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ
your Lord is the Mighty One, the Merciful.
Commentary
(a) The area to the south and east of the Dead Sea now appears to be deserted. But, from 2300 to 1900 B.C., it was a very flourishing area, inhabited by the people of Lot. In spite of his continuous preaching, they did not reform themselves. On the contrary, they were out to kill him. Then they were destroyed by a severe earthquake. One part of this area is buried in the Dead Sea, while the other part exists only in the shape of ruins. This event happened four thousand years ago. Lot’s wife could not rise above the traditions of her community. In spite of being the prophet’s wife, she remained loyal to her community’s religion. As a result, when God’s punishment was administered, she was killed along with the common unbelievers.