سُوْرَةُ الْحِجْرِ
Surah Al-Hijr (15) — Ayah 67
وَجَآءَ أَهْلُ ٱلْمَدِينَةِ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ ﴿67﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And the inhabitants of the city came rejoicing (at the news of the young men’s arrival).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَجَآءَ
wajāa
And came
أَهْلُ
ahlu
(the) people
ٱلْمَدِينَةِ
l-madīnati
(of) the city
يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ
yastabshirūna
rejoicing
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah67) ➊ The translation of {وَ جَآءَ اَهْلُ الْمَدِيْنَةِ : ’’ الْمَدِيْنَةِ ‘‘} is “this city” due to the definite article alif-lam indicating a specific reference. The commentators have named it “Sodom.” In many languages, those who commit the act of the people of Lot are called “Sodomites,” so the word “Luti” used in Arabic or Urdu for this is not appropriate. In this, there is a kind of disrespect to Lot (peace be upon him). The scholars say that even living among the wicked brings infamy, no matter how pious one is. Now, because Lot (peace be upon him) was the prophet of this wretched nation, such an evil act is attributed to his blessed name.
➋ { يَسْتَبْشِرُوْنَ: ’’ بَشَرَ ‘‘} (ض، س), {’’ أَبْشَرَ ‘‘}, and {’’ اِسْتَبْشَرَ ‘‘} all mean to be happy; only due to the addition of letters does the meaning increase, so it is translated as “were very happy,” meaning that upon hearing the news of very handsome boys coming to Lot’s (peace be upon him) house, they came running in extreme joy and excitement. (See Hud: 78) This shows how devoid of modesty and shame they had become and how low they had fallen. Note that in {’’ وَ جَآءَ اَهْلُ الْمَدِيْنَةِ ‘‘}, the “waw” is not for sequence, but only to connect different parts of the incident, because if the revelation had already come and Lot (peace be upon him) had known that the guests were angels, then there would have been no need for him to be distressed, to plead with his people, or to offer his (i.e., the nation’s) daughters. This also makes it clear that the prophets (peace be upon them) do not possess knowledge of the unseen; they only know what is conveyed to them through revelation. In Surah Hud (77 to 81), observe the depiction of Lot’s (peace be upon him) distress and the angels comforting him.
➋ { يَسْتَبْشِرُوْنَ: ’’ بَشَرَ ‘‘} (ض، س), {’’ أَبْشَرَ ‘‘}, and {’’ اِسْتَبْشَرَ ‘‘} all mean to be happy; only due to the addition of letters does the meaning increase, so it is translated as “were very happy,” meaning that upon hearing the news of very handsome boys coming to Lot’s (peace be upon him) house, they came running in extreme joy and excitement. (See Hud: 78) This shows how devoid of modesty and shame they had become and how low they had fallen. Note that in {’’ وَ جَآءَ اَهْلُ الْمَدِيْنَةِ ‘‘}, the “waw” is not for sequence, but only to connect different parts of the incident, because if the revelation had already come and Lot (peace be upon him) had known that the guests were angels, then there would have been no need for him to be distressed, to plead with his people, or to offer his (i.e., the nation’s) daughters. This also makes it clear that the prophets (peace be upon them) do not possess knowledge of the unseen; they only know what is conveyed to them through revelation. In Surah Hud (77 to 81), observe the depiction of Lot’s (peace be upon him) distress and the angels comforting him.
