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.
Related Ayahs
وَقُل لِّلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ٱعْمَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِكُمْ إِنَّا عَـٰمِلُونَ
And say to those who do not believe, "Work according to your position; indeed, we are working.
قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَعْجَبِينَ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ رَحْمَتُ ٱللَّهِ وَبَرَكَـٰتُهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ ٱلْبَيْتِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ حَمِيدٌ مَّجِيدٌ
They said, "Are you amazed at the decree of Allāh? May the mercy of Allāh and His blessings be upon you, people of the house. Indeed, He is Praiseworthy and Honorable."
وَلَوْ شَآءَ رَبُّكَ لَجَعَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ أُمَّةً وَٰحِدَةً ۖ وَلَا يَزَالُونَ مُخْتَلِفِينَ
And if your Lord had willed, He could have made mankind one community; but they will not cease to differ,
قَالَ سَـَٔاوِىٓ إِلَىٰ جَبَلٍ يَعْصِمُنِى مِنَ ٱلْمَآءِ ۚ قَالَ لَا عَاصِمَ ٱلْيَوْمَ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ ۚ وَحَالَ بَيْنَهُمَا ٱلْمَوْجُ فَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُغْرَقِينَ
[But] he said, "I will take refuge on a mountain to protect me from the water." [Noah] said, "There is no protector today from the decree of Allāh, except for whom He gives mercy." And the waves came between them, and he was among the drowned.