وَقَضَيْنَآ إِلَيْهِ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْأَمْرَ أَنَّ دَابِرَ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ مَقْطُوعٌ مُّصْبِحِينَ 66
Translations
And We conveyed to him [the decree] of that matter: that those [sinners] would be eliminated by early morning.
Transliteration
Wa qadayna ilayhi dhalikal-amra anna dhabira haulai maqtu'un musbihin
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commanded Lut (peace be upon him) that the roots/lineage of the people of Sodom would be cut off by morning, meaning their complete destruction was decreed. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah emphasizes Allah's decisive command to Lut regarding the inevitable annihilation of the transgressive people, with 'dahabir' (roots) referring to their total elimination—not a single one would remain. The phrase 'musbihin' (in the morning) indicates the swift and certain execution of this divine decree.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Prophet Lut in Surah Al-Hijr, which recounts the destruction of the people of Sodom for their rejection of faith and shameful deeds. The context shows Allah's reassurance to Lut that his people's doom is sealed, occurring after Lut warned them to abandon their evil practices. This narrative serves as a warning to the Meccan disbelievers about the consequences of rejecting divine guidance.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, Surah Al-Hijr's account of Lut's people relates to the general hadith principle found in Sahih Muslim: 'The Messenger of Allah said: Every people has a fixed term, and when their term comes, they cannot delay it nor advance it by even an hour.' This reflects the certainty of divine punishment mentioned in 15:66.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that divine justice is absolute and inescapable—those who persistently reject faith and commit grave transgressions face certain reckoning in Allah's appointed time. For modern readers, it serves as a profound reminder that no amount of worldly power or numbers can protect the wicked from Allah's decree, encouraging steadfastness in faith and righteousness.
Related Ayahs
لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَأَنزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ ٱلنَّاسُ بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۖ وَأَنزَلْنَا ٱلْحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأْسٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُۥ وَرُسُلَهُۥ بِٱلْغَيْبِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ
We have already sent Our messengers with clear evidences and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance that the people may maintain [their affairs] in justice. And We sent down iron, wherein is great military might and benefits for the people, and so that Allāh may make evident those who support Him and His messengers unseen. Indeed, Allāh is Powerful and Exalted in Might.
فَهَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا ٱلسَّاعَةَ أَن تَأْتِيَهُم بَغْتَةً ۖ فَقَدْ جَآءَ أَشْرَاطُهَا ۚ فَأَنَّىٰ لَهُمْ إِذَا جَآءَتْهُمْ ذِكْرَىٰهُمْ
Then do they await except that the Hour should come upon them unexpectedly? But already there have come [some of] its indications. Then how [i.e., what good] to them, when it has come, will be their remembrance?
فَأَنجَيْنَـٰهُ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنَّا وَقَطَعْنَا دَابِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا ۖ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ مُؤْمِنِينَ
So We saved him and those with him by mercy from Us. And We eliminated those who denied Our signs, and they were not [at all] believers.
وَمَن يَكْسِبْ إِثْمًا فَإِنَّمَا يَكْسِبُهُۥ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِۦ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
And whoever earns [i.e., commits] a sin only earns it against himself. And Allāh is ever Knowing and Wise.