Surah Hud (11) — Ayah 81

(Ayah 81) ➊ {قَالُوْا يٰلُوْطُ اِنَّا رُسُلُ رَبِّكَ … :} When the wicked people of the nation did not desist, but instead climbed over the walls or broke down the door and entered, Allah Almighty blinded all of them and they fled from there. There is an indication of this in Surah Qamar, where it is said: «{ وَ لَقَدْ رَاوَدُوْهُ عَنْ ضَيْفِهٖ فَطَمَسْنَاۤ اَعْيُنَهُمْ فَذُوْقُوْا عَذَابِيْ وَ نُذُرِ }» [ القمر : ۳۷ ] "And indeed, they attempted to seduce him concerning his guests, so We blinded their eyes. So taste My punishment and My warning." The meaning of the verse is that when the angels saw that Lut (peace be upon him) had become completely helpless and was deeply grieved because he could not stop the evildoers of his people, they revealed themselves and said, "We are angels sent by your Lord." They further reassured him that these people would never be able to reach him.

➋ {فَاَسْرِ بِاَهْلِكَ بِقِطْعٍ مِّنَ الَّيْلِ …:} That is, leave here with your family during a part of the night, and none of you should look back. The command to leave only with the family was given because, except for them, no one else had become Muslim. See Surah Adh-Dhariyat (35, 36).

➌ {اِلَّا امْرَاَتَكَ :} There can be two interpretations of this: one is that it is an exception from {’’ فَاَسْرِ بِاَهْلِكَ ‘‘}, meaning, leave with your family except for your wife. The second is that none of you should look back, but your wife will look back, and because of her disbelief and sympathy for her people, when she sees the punishment upon them, she will cry out, so the same punishment will befall her as will befall them. The first meaning is closer. (And Allah knows best.) Naturally, a person wishes for the swift destruction of his enemy; the angels informed him that the punishment would come upon them in the morning. In response to Lut (peace be upon him)'s request for more haste, they said: «{ اَلَيْسَ الصُّبْحُ بِقَرِيْبٍ }» "Is not the morning near?" Perhaps the morning was appointed because it is a time of rest and people are somewhat awake. Punishment at a time of rest is more painful, and for those who witness it, it is more instructive. (Al-Alusi) On {’’ اَلَيْسَ الصُّبْحُ بِقَرِيْبٍ ‘‘}, Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: "Our Prophet (peace be upon him) conquered Makkah in the morning; perhaps this is an indication of that." (Muwaddih)

81. 1 When the angels witnessed the helplessness of Hazrat Lut ؑ and the rebellion of his people, they said, O Lut! There is no need to worry, not only can they not reach us, now they cannot reach you either. Now, in a part of the night, except for your wife, take your family and leave from here! As soon as morning comes, this town will be destroyed.

The angels said, "O Lot! We are messengers [91] from your Lord. They will not be able to harm you. So set out with your family [92] during a part of the night, and let none of you look back, except your wife; what will befall them will befall her. The appointed time for their punishment is the morning. Is the morning not near?"

[91]
The Blinding of the Miscreants:

Upon hearing such words of helplessness from the tongue of Sayyiduna Lut ؑ, the angels could not remain silent and said, "Do not be so distressed; we are not boys but the messenger angels sent by your Lord, and do not worry, these people will not be able to harm you, let alone us." Some commentators write that after saying this, Sayyiduna Jibreel ؑ seated Lut ؑ in a separate place and merely extended his arm a little towards those accursed ones, and all of them became blind; they could not see anything. They began to say to each other, "Run away from here. These guests of Lut ؑ seem to be great magicians." And when they started to flee, they kept falling over one another.

[92]
The Instruction for Sayyiduna Lut and the Believers to Leave, and the Wife Staying Behind:

When these people left the house of Sayyiduna Lut ؑ, the angels informed Lut ؑ of Allah Almighty's plan, saying, "Leave here with your family during the night, for punishment is to descend upon them in the morning, and there is little time left until morning, so try to leave as quickly as possible. And see, your wife will not go with you, for she too is equally involved in this crime, and do not look back, lest anyone think to see how the punishment befalls them, and thus also be caught up in the punishment."