فَلَمَّا رَءَآ أَيْدِيَهُمْ لَا تَصِلُ إِلَيْهِ نَكِرَهُمْ وَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً ۚ قَالُوا۟ لَا تَخَفْ إِنَّآ أُرْسِلْنَآ إِلَىٰ قَوْمِ لُوطٍ 70
Translations
But when he saw their hands not reaching for it, he distrusted them and felt from them apprehension. They said, "Fear not. We have been sent to the people of Lot."
Transliteration
Falamma raa aidiyahum la tasilu ilayhi nakirahum wa awjasa minhum khifah. Qalu la takhaf inna ursilna ila qawmi Lut.
Tafsir (Explanation)
When Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) saw that the angels' hands were not reaching toward the food he had prepared, he became suspicious of them and felt fear. The angels immediately reassured him, saying 'Do not fear; we have been sent to the people of Lot.' According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, Ibrahim's recognition that they did not eat—a characteristic of humans—alerted him to their supernatural nature, which initially caused him anxiety until they revealed their divine mission.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Ibrahim's encounter with the angels who came to give him glad tidings of Isaac and to inform him of their mission to destroy the people of Lot. The surah contextualizes this event within Ibrahim's life and his interactions with his Lord, demonstrating divine communication and purpose.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3371) narrates that Ibrahim prepared a roasted calf for his guests and was troubled when they did not eat, which corresponds to this moment of recognition and initial fear mentioned in the ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
When facing the unknown or unusual, believers should remain cautious but open to divine guidance; reassurance from Allah comes to those who recognize His signs. This teaches us that initial confusion or fear can be transformed through understanding of Allah's purpose and wisdom.
Related Ayahs
فَٱسْتَقِمْ كَمَآ أُمِرْتَ وَمَن تَابَ مَعَكَ وَلَا تَطْغَوْا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
So remain on a right course as you have been commanded, [you] and those who have turned back with you [to Allāh], and do not transgress. Indeed, He is Seeing of what you do.
وَكُلًّا نَّقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلرُّسُلِ مَا نُثَبِّتُ بِهِۦ فُؤَادَكَ ۚ وَجَآءَكَ فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْحَقُّ وَمَوْعِظَةٌ وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And each [story] We relate to you from the news of the messengers is that by which We make firm your heart. And there has come to you, in this, the truth and an instruction and a reminder for the believers.
وَلَمَّا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا شُعَيْبًا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنَّا وَأَخَذَتِ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ٱلصَّيْحَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ فِى دِيَـٰرِهِمْ جَـٰثِمِينَ
And when Our command came, We saved Shuʿayb and those who believed with him, by mercy from Us. And the shriek seized those who had wronged, and they became within their homes [corpses] fallen prone
مُّسَوَّمَةً عِندَ رَبِّكَ ۖ وَمَا هِىَ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ بِبَعِيدٍ
Marked from your Lord. And it [i.e., Allāh's punishment] is not from the wrongdoers [very] far.