Surah Hud (11) — Ayah 80

(Ayah 80){قَالَ لَوْ اَنَّ لِيْ بِكُمْ قُوَّةً …:} Lut (peace be upon him) was, in a way, a stranger among this people. Allah Almighty appointed him for the reformation of the people of Sodom. For this reason, he expressed the wish that if only I had the strength to confront you, or I could take refuge in some strong support, meaning if my family were here, I would deal with you. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ يَرْحَمُ اللّٰهُ لُوْطًا لَقَدْ كَانَ يَأْوِيْ إِلٰی رُكْنٍ شَدِيْدٍ ] [ بخاری، أحادیث الأنبیاء، باب قولہ عزو جل : « و نبئھم عن ضیف إبراہیم » : ۳۳۷۲ ] "May Allah have mercy on Lut; indeed, he had a very strong support." That is, he had the support of Allah Almighty, which is the strongest, and at that time he also had strong support in the form of angels, even though he did not know it. Hafiz Ibn Hazm (may Allah have mercy on him) said in {’’ اَلْفِصَلُ فِي الْمِلَلِ‘‘} that in the statement of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), there is nothing that diminishes the status of Lut (peace be upon him), because seeking or desiring means is not contrary to reliance on Allah Almighty. Lut (peace be upon him) certainly considered Allah Almighty as his support, but at that time, if companions were available, he wished to immediately block the way of this wicked people with the strength of his arm. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) himself said to many people and tribes, "Who will help me and give me shelter so that I may convey the message of my Lord?" Eventually, the Ansar of Madinah responded to his call and protected and defended him as they would their own lives, wealth, and children, and Allah Almighty said: «{ يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا كُوْنُوْۤا اَنْصَارَ اللّٰهِ كَمَا قَالَ عِيْسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ لِلْحَوَارِيّٖنَ مَنْ اَنْصَارِيْۤ اِلَى اللّٰهِ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّوْنَ نَحْنُ اَنْصَارُ اللّٰهِ }» [ الصف : ۱۴ ] "O you who have believed! Be helpers of Allah, just as Isa son of Maryam said to the disciples, 'Who are my helpers towards Allah?' The disciples said, 'We are the helpers of Allah.'" Therefore, striving and wishing for worldly means to be available is permissible, rather, it is recommended. It is also narrated from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ فَمَا بَعَثَ اللّٰهُ بَعْدَهُ مِنْ نَبِيٍّ اِلَّا فِيْ ثَرْوَةٍ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ ] [ السلسلۃ الصحیحۃ : 152/4، ح : ۱۶۱۷ ] "Then after Lut (peace be upon him), whichever prophet Allah sent, He sent him from among the many people of his nation."

80. 1. By "strength" is meant the strength of one's own arm and resources, or the strength of offspring, and by "mighty support" (شديد) is meant family, tribe, or any such strong support. That is, in a state of utter helplessness, he is wishing that if only he had some strength himself or the protection and help of a family or tribe, then today, because of his guests, he would not have faced this humiliation and disgrace; he would have dealt with these wicked people and protected his guests. The wish of Prophet Lut (عليه السلام) is not contrary to trust in Allah. Rather, it is according to apparent means. And the correct meaning and concept of trust in Allah is also this: that first all apparent means and resources should be utilized, and then trust should be placed in Allah. It is a very wrong concept of trust to sit idle and say that our reliance is on Allah. Therefore, whatever Prophet Lut (عليه السلام) said, he said it absolutely rightly in terms of apparent means. From this, it is known that just as Allah's messenger is not the knower of the unseen, likewise he is not all-powerful, as people nowadays have invented this belief. If the Prophet had been endowed with authority in the world, then surely Prophet Lut (عليه السلام) would not have expressed his helplessness and this wish in the words he did.

Lot said, "If only I had the strength to resist you, or could take refuge in some strong support [90]."

[90]
The Helplessness of Sayyiduna Lut (Lot) ؑ:

Sayyiduna Lut ؑ was a stranger in the region of Sodom. He was the nephew of Sayyiduna Ibrahim ؑ. First, he migrated from Iraq to Palestine, and then when he was granted prophethood, Sayyiduna Ibrahim ؑ sent him to Sodom for the purpose of preaching. He had no family or tribe there. Even his wife was a disbeliever and a member of that nation, and she maintained collusion with those homosexual ruffians. Whenever a guest came to the house, she would secretly or through gestures inform them. She was the one who informed those people about the arrival of these angels as well. Such was the state of Sayyiduna Lut’s ؑ helplessness that even his wife at home was his opponent. In this state of helplessness, these words came from his tongue regarding those ruffians: “If only I had the strength to resist you or could take refuge in some strong support,” meaning, if I too had a strong tribe or clan here, perhaps I would not be so helpless and compelled. The commentators say that after Sayyiduna Lut ؑ, all the prophets who were sent had large groups and tribes with them.