Allah, the Exalted, informs of what happened after the fright of Ibrahim left
him and he felt no more fear of the angels when they refused to eat. After this,
they gave him the glad tidings of the birth of a son and the destruction of the
people of Lut. When they told him of this, he spoke to them as Sa`id bin Jubayr
narrated concerning this verse. Sa`id said: When Jibril and the other angels who
were with him came to Ibrahim, they said,
[إِنَّا مُهْلِكُو
أَهْلِ هَـذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ]
(Verily, we are going to destroy the people of this town.) Ibrahim said to
them, "Will you destroy a town that has three hundred believers in it'' They
said, "No.'' He then said, "Will you destroy a town that has two hundred
believers in it'' They said, "No.'' He said, "Will you destroy a town that has
forty believers in it'' They said, "No.'' He then said, "Thirty'' They still
replied, "No.'' This continued until he said, "Five'' They said, "No.'' Then he
said, "What do you think if there is one Muslim man in the town, would you
destroy it'' They said, "No.'' With this, Ibrahim said,
[إِنَّ فِيهَا لُوطاً
قَالُواْ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن فِيهَا لَنُنَجِّيَنَّهُ وَأَهْلَهُ إِلاَّ
امْرَأَتَهُ]
(But there is Lut in it. They said: "We know better who is there. We will
verily, save him and his family except his wife.'') Therefore, Ibrahim remained
silent and his soul was at rest. Concerning Allah's statement,
[إِنَّ إِبْرَهِيمَ
لَحَلِيمٌ أَوَّاهٌ مُّنِيبٌ ]
(Verily, Ibrahim was, without doubt, forbearing, used to invoke Alllah with
humility, and was repentant (to Allah).) [11:75] This is a commendation for
Ibrahim because of these beautiful characteristics. Then Allah says,
[يإِبْرَهِيمُ
أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَـذَآ إِنَّهُ قَدْ جَآءَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ]
(O Ibrahim! Forsake this. Indeed, the commandment of your Lord has gone
forth.) This means the decree was settled concerning them and the Word was
already given that they should be destroyed. The evil torment was coming to
them, that cannot be averted from wicked people.
[وَلَمَّا جَآءَتْ
رُسُلُنَا لُوطاً سِىءَ بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ بِهِمْ ذَرْعًا وَقَالَ هَـذَا يَوْمٌ
عَصِيبٌ - وَجَآءَهُ قَوْمُهُ يُهْرَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَمِن قَبْلُ كَانُواْ
يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ قَالَ يقَوْمِ هَـؤُلاءِ بَنَاتِى هُنَّ أَطْهَرُ لَكُمْ
فَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ وَلاَ تُخْزُونِ فِى ضَيْفِى أَلَيْسَ مِنْكُمْ رَجُلٌ
رَّشِيدٌ - قَالُواْ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا لَنَا فِى بَنَاتِكَ مِنْ حَقٍّ وَإِنَّكَ
لَتَعْلَمُ مَا نُرِيدُ ]
(77. And when Our messengers came to Lut, he was grieved on account of them
and was concerned for them. He said: "This is a distressful day.'') (78. And his
people came rushing towards him, and since aforetime they used to commit crimes,
he said: "O my people! Here are my daughters, they are purer for you. So have
Taqwa of Allah and disgrace me not with regard to my guests! Is there not among
you a single right-minded man'') (79. They said: "Surely, you know that we have
no need of your daughters, and indeed you know well what we want!'')
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