وَلَمَّا جَآءَتْ رُسُلُنَا لُوطًا سِىٓءَ بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ بِهِمْ ذَرْعًا وَقَالَ هَـٰذَا يَوْمٌ عَصِيبٌ 77
Translations
And when Our messengers, [the angels], came to Lot, he was anguished for them and felt for them great discomfort and said, "This is a trying day."
Transliteration
Wa-lammā jāʾat rusulunā Lūṭan sīʾa bihim wa-ḍāqa bihim dharʿan wa-qāla hādhā yawm ʿaṣīb
Tafsir (Explanation)
When the angels arrived at the house of Prophet Lot (Lut), he became greatly distressed and felt constrained by their presence, fearing for their safety from the evil people of Sodom. He exclaimed that this was a difficult and calamitous day, referring to the impending destruction that would befall his people. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, Lot's distress stemmed from his deep concern for his guests and his knowledge of the depravity and hostility of his community toward strangers.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Prophet Lot in Surah Hud, which recounts the story of Lot's mission to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. The context is the arrival of the angels (disguised as young men) to warn Lot of the impending punishment for his people's grave sins. This narrative serves as a reminder of divine justice and the consequences of rejecting righteous messengers.
Related Hadiths
The story of Lot and Sodom is referenced in various hadiths regarding the severity of homosexual acts. See Sunan Ibn Majah and Sunan At-Tirmidhi regarding the people of Lot and the punishment that befell them as a warning to believers.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us about the compassion and burden carried by those who call others to righteousness, and reminds us that concern for the welfare of guests and vulnerable people is a noble quality. It also illustrates that difficult trials and calamitous days come as consequences of persistent rebellion against divine guidance.