قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّآ أُرْسِلْنَآ إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍ مُّجْرِمِينَ 32
Translations
They said, "Indeed, we have been sent to a people of criminals
Transliteration
Qaalū innā ursilnā ilā qawmin mujrimīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The angels sent to the people of Lot announce their mission, stating they have been dispatched to a community of criminals. Ibn Kathir explains that this statement establishes the purpose of their arrival—to destroy those who persisted in heinous sins and rejected Allah's signs. This declaration underscores the divine justice in sending punishment to those who knowingly transgress Allah's boundaries.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the narrative of Lot's people (Lut) and the angels' visit. Surah Adh-Dhariyat discusses various groups and their fates; this particular passage contextualizes the angels' mission within the broader theme of divine punishment for those who commit grave sins and reject divine guidance. The context reflects the Meccan period's emphasis on accountability and the certainty of Allah's judgment.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (Hadith 3365): The Prophet ﷺ warned against imitating the practices of the people of Lot, emphasizing that such acts bring divine punishment. Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah contains narrations about the destruction of communities due to widespread immorality, directly related to the fate described in this ayah's context.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that divine punishment comes to those who persistently transgress moral boundaries and reject guidance, serving as a stark warning against moral corruption and as assurance that Allah's justice is certain and unavoidable for those who knowingly commit grave sins.