فَلَمَّا جَآءَ ءَالَ لُوطٍ ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ 61
Translations
And when the messengers came to the family of Lot,
Transliteration
Falammā jāʾa āla Lūṭ al-mursalūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
When the messengers (angels) came to the family of Lot, they arrived in the form of young men to test the people of Lot and deliver the final warning before punishment. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah marks the turning point where the angels reveal their true purpose to Lot's household, having first been tested by the inhabitants of the city who attempted to harm them. The arrival signals both mercy for the believers and imminent judgment for the transgressors.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Lot (Lūṭ) in Surah Al-Hijr, which recounts the story of the angels' visit to warn Lot's people of their impending destruction due to their rejection of guidance and practice of abomination. This passage follows the description of Abraham's hospitality to the angels and contrasts it with the wickedness of Lot's community, illustrating divine mercy toward the righteous and justice toward the corrupt.
Related Hadiths
The story of Lot's people is referenced in various hadiths regarding Allah's punishment of those who commit immoral acts. Related to this theme is the hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah where the Prophet ﷺ warned against the actions of the people of Lot, emphasizing their grave transgression.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that Allah sends clear warnings through His messengers before punishment, giving people opportunity to repent and reform. It teaches us that rejecting divine guidance, no matter how clearly presented, leads to inevitable consequences, while those who believe and follow the messengers find protection and salvation.