فَمَا وَجَدْنَا فِيهَا غَيْرَ بَيْتٍ مِّنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ 36
Translations
And We found not within them other than a [single] house of Muslims.
Transliteration
Fa-mā wajadnā fīhā ghayra baytin min al-muslimīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the story of Lot (Lut) and his people, where Allah's messengers searched the city for believers and found only one household of Muslims—Lot's family (except his wife who disbelieved). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this demonstrates the severe spiritual corruption of Lot's people and the isolation of the believers in a deeply immoral society. The ayah emphasizes that despite the prevalence of evil, Allah always preserves at least a remnant of believers who maintain their faith.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Adh-Dhariyat (Meccan chapter 51), which discusses various signs of Allah's power and includes the story of Lot's people as a warning to the Meccans about rejecting the Prophet Muhammad. The broader context addresses divine punishment for those who reject Allah's messages, and the preservation of the righteous.
Related Hadiths
The story connects to Surah Al-A'raf 80-84 where the Quran narrates Lot's mission. A related hadith in Sahih Muslim discusses the rarity of believers in corrupted societies and Allah's protection of the faithful remnant.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that believers should not despair when surrounded by widespread immorality or when few share their faith; Allah always preserves a household of believers and will ultimately vindicate them. It also serves as a stark warning about societal moral decay and the importance of maintaining one's faith even when isolated.