فَٱنتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ وَإِنَّهُمَا لَبِإِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ 79
Translations
So We took retribution from them, and indeed, both [cities] are on a clear highway.
Transliteration
Faintaqamnā minhum wa-innahumā la-bi-imāmin mubīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah took vengeance upon the people of Lot (the inhabitants of Sodom) for their transgression and rejection of His message, and indeed both the path of guidance and the path of destruction were made clear to them. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah affirms that Allah's punishment was just because the signs and warnings were unmistakably evident to them. The phrase 'wa-innahumā la-bi-imāmin mubīn' (and indeed both are in a clear path) refers to both the right path shown by Prophet Lot and the destructive path they chose, making their choice and subsequent punishment entirely deserved.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-Hijr's discussion of various destroyed nations who rejected their prophets. The context specifically addresses the people of Lot (Qawm Lut) and comes after the mention of the Companions of the Rocky Tract (Ashab al-Hijr). The surah emphasizes divine justice in punishing those who reject clear signs, a recurring Meccan theme addressing the Quraysh's rejection of Muhammad's message.
Related Hadiths
Sunan Ibn Majah and Tirmidhi report that the Prophet ﷺ mentioned the destruction of the people of Lot as an example of Allah's punishment for those who persist in grave sins despite clear warnings. The hadith in Sunan Abu Dawud emphasizes that Allah's punishment comes only after clear transmission of the message.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Allah's punishment is always preceded by clear guidance and unmistakable signs, ensuring that His justice is beyond reproach—a reminder for believers that ignorance cannot be an excuse when truth is made manifest, and that we remain accountable for rejecting clear moral guidance.
Related Ayahs
إِلَيْهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا ۖ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقًّا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ يَبْدَؤُا۟ ٱلْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥ لِيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَهُمْ شَرَابٌ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍ وَعَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْفُرُونَ
To Him is your return all together. [It is] the promise of Allāh [which is] truth. Indeed, He begins the [process of] creation and then repeats it that He may reward those who have believed and done righteous deeds, in justice. But those who disbelieved will have a drink of scalding water and a painful punishment for what they used to deny.
يَوْمَ يَجْمَعُكُمْ لِيَوْمِ ٱلْجَمْعِ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ يَوْمُ ٱلتَّغَابُنِ ۗ وَمَن يُؤْمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ وَيَعْمَلْ صَـٰلِحًا يُكَفِّرْ عَنْهُ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِۦ وَيُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
The Day He will assemble you for the Day of Assembly - that is the Day of Deprivation. And whoever believes in Allāh and does righteousness - He will remove from him his misdeeds and admit him to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment.
وَوُضِعَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ فَتَرَى ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَـٰوَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هَـٰذَا ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّآ أَحْصَىٰهَا ۚ وَوَجَدُوا۟ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ حَاضِرًا ۗ وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا
And the record [of deeds] will be placed [open], and you will see the criminals fearful of that within it, and they will say, "Oh, woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has enumerated it?" And they will find what they did present [before them]. And your Lord does injustice to no one.
كَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَكُنتُمْ أَمْوَٰتًا فَأَحْيَـٰكُمْ ۖ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
How can you disbelieve in Allāh when you were lifeless and He brought you to life; then He will cause you to die, then He will bring you [back] to life, and then to Him you will be returned.