فَجَعَلْنَا عَـٰلِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةً مِّن سِجِّيلٍ 74
Translations
And We made the highest part [of the city] its lowest and rained upon them stones of hard clay.
Transliteration
Faja'alnā 'āliyahā sāfilahā wa-amtarnā 'alayhim hijāratam min sijjīl
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah's punishment upon the people of Lot by overturning their cities (raising what was high to low) and raining stones of baked clay upon them. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a complete destruction of the city of Sodom, with the inversion symbolizing the total reversal of their corrupt society, while the stones represent a humiliating and decisive punishment for their rejection of Lot's message and their abominable deeds.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Hijr's narrative about Lot and the destruction of his people, revealed in Mecca. It provides historical context within the broader Quranic theme of how Allah punished previous nations that rejected their prophets, serving as a warning to the Meccan disbelievers of the consequences of rejecting Muhammad's message.
Related Hadiths
The destruction of the people of Lot is referenced in various hadiths discussing the signs of the Day of Judgment and past nations. See Jami' at-Tirmidhi and Sunan Ibn Majah where the Prophet (ﷺ) mentions the greatest sins, with the people of Lot's transgression being among the most severe.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that moral transgressions and rejection of divine guidance invite severe punishment from Allah, and serves as a powerful warning that no society, regardless of its power or numbers, is immune to divine retribution when it persists in grave sins and rejects the message of truth.
Related Ayahs
ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۖ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ
Then I seized the ones who disbelieved, and how [terrible] was My reproach.
وَلَقَدْ رَٰوَدُوهُ عَن ضَيْفِهِۦ فَطَمَسْنَآ أَعْيُنَهُمْ فَذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ
And they had demanded from him his guests, but We obliterated their eyes, [saying], "Taste My punishment and warning."
فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَخَذَهُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمِ ٱلظُّلَّةِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ
And they denied him, so the punishment of the day of the black cloud seized them. Indeed, it was the punishment of a terrible day.
قَالَ قَدْ وَقَعَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ رِجْسٌ وَغَضَبٌ ۖ أَتُجَـٰدِلُونَنِى فِىٓ أَسْمَآءٍ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَـٰنٍ ۚ فَٱنتَظِرُوٓا۟ إِنِّى مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْمُنتَظِرِينَ
[Hūd] said, "Already have defilement and anger fallen upon you from your Lord. Do you dispute with me concerning [mere] names you have named them, you and your fathers, for which Allāh has not sent down any authority? Then wait; indeed, I am with you among those who wait."