Surah 29:31
Show Full Scripture Context (29:31-35) — 5 Verses
وَلَمَّا جَآءَتۡ رُسُلُنَآ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ بِٱلۡبُشۡرَىٰ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا مُهۡلِكُوٓاْ أَهۡلِ هَٰذِهِ ٱلۡقَرۡيَةِۖ إِنَّ أَهۡلَهَا كَانُواْ ظَٰلِمِينَ
When Our messengers brought Abraham the good news, they said, ‘Surely we are going to destroy the people of this town, (for) its people are evildoers.’
قَالَ إِنَّ فِيهَا لُوطٗاۚ قَالُواْ نَحۡنُ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن فِيهَاۖ لَنُنَجِّيَنَّهُۥ وَأَهۡلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱمۡرَأَتَهُۥ كَانَتۡ مِنَ ٱلۡغَٰبِرِينَ
He said, ‘Surely Lot is in it.’ They said, ‘We know who is in it. We shall indeed rescue him and his family, except his wife. She will be one of those who stay behind.’
وَلَمَّآ أَن جَآءَتۡ رُسُلُنَا لُوطٗا سِيٓءَ بِهِمۡ وَضَاقَ بِهِمۡ ذَرۡعٗاۖ وَقَالُواْ لَا تَخَفۡ وَلَا تَحۡزَنۡ إِنَّا مُنَجُّوكَ وَأَهۡلَكَ إِلَّا ٱمۡرَأَتَكَ كَانَتۡ مِنَ ٱلۡغَٰبِرِينَ
When Our messengers came to Lot, he became distressed about them, and felt powerless (to protect) them, but they said, ‘Do not fear and do not sorrow. Surely we are going to rescue you and your family, except your wife. She will be one of those who stay behind.
إِنَّا مُنزِلُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِ هَٰذِهِ ٱلۡقَرۡيَةِ رِجۡزٗا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَفۡسُقُونَ
Surely We are going to send down wrath from the sky on the people of this town, because they have acted wickedly.’
وَلَقَد تَّرَكۡنَا مِنۡهَآ ءَايَةَۢ بَيِّنَةٗ لِّقَوۡمٖ يَعۡقِلُونَ
Certainly We have left some of it as a clear sign for a people who understand.
Allah's torment upon us if you are one of the truthful.”
This is indicative of their disbelief, scornful attitude and stubbornness. So Allah's Prophet asked for help against them, and said:
"he was grieved because of them, and felt straitened on their account."
means, he was worried since if he had them as guests then he was afraid for them and what his people might do to them, but if he did not host them, he was still afraid of what might happen to them. At that point he did not know who they were.
Jibril, peace be upon him, uprooted their town from the depths of the earth, lifted it up to the sky, then threw it upside down upon them. Allah rained upon them:
{stones of Sijjil, in a well-arranged manner one after another. Marked from your Lord; and they are not ever far from the evil doers.} (11:82-83)
Allah turned the place where they had lived into a putrid, stinking lake, which will remain as a lesson to mankind until the Day of Resurrection, and they will be among those who are most severely punished on the Day of Resurrection. Allah says:
{And indeed We have left thereof an evident Ayah} i.e., a clear sign,
{for a folk who understand.} This is like the Ayah,
{Verily, you pass by them in the morning And at night; will you not then reflect?} (37:137-138)