Tafseer Ibn Kathir of ADZ DZAARIYAAT [31]

31. (Ibrahim) said: ”Then for what purpose you have come, O messengers'' 32. They said: ”We have been sent to a people who are criminals.'' 33. ”To send down upon them stones of clay.'' 34. ”Marked by your Lord for transgressors.'' 35. So We brought out from therein the believers. 36. But We found not there any household of the Muslims except one. 37. And We have left there a sign for those who fear the painful torment. Allah the Exalted said about Ibrahim, peace be upon him,

(Then when the fear had gone away from (Ibrahim), and the glad tidings had reached him, he began to plead with Us for the people of Lut. Verily, Ibrahim was, without doubt forbearing, used to invoke Allah with humility, and was repentant. ”O Ibrahim! Forsake this. Indeed, the commandment of your Lord has gone forth. Verily, there will come a torment for them which cannot be turned back.'')(11:74-76) Allah said here,

((Ibrahim) said: ”Then for what purpose you have come, O messengers'') meaning, `what is the mission that you were sent with,'

(They said: ”We have been sent to a people who are criminals.'') in reference to the people of Lut,

(To send down upon them stones of baked clay, marked), or written,

(by your Lord for transgressors.) recorded with Allah to their names; each stone has the name of its companion. Allah said in Surat Al-`Ankabut,

((Ibrahim) said: ”But there is Lut in it.'' They said: ”We know better who is there. We will verily save him and his family except his wife: she will be of those who remain behind.'')(29:32), and said here,

(So We brought out from therein the believers.) they are: Lut and his family, except his wife,

(But We found not there any household of the Muslims except one.) Allah the Exalted said,

(And We have left there a sign for those who fear the painful torment.) meaning, `We left a proof of the punishment, torment and stones made of Sijjil (baked clay) that We sent on them; We made their dwelling place a putrid, evil, dead sea. This should provide a lesson for the believers,'

(for those who fear the painful torment.)