إِنَّا مُنزِلُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَهْلِ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْقَرْيَةِ رِجْزًا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْسُقُونَ 34
Translations
Indeed, we will bring down on the people of this city punishment from the sky because they have been defiantly disobedient."
Transliteration
Inna munzilun 'ala ahli hadhihi al-qaryati rijzan mina al-sama'i bima kanu yafsuqun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah announces to Lut (Lot) that He will send down a punishment from the sky upon the people of Sodom due to their persistent disobedience and transgression (fisq). This verse follows the context where Lut's people rejected his message and continued in their immoral practices, particularly homosexual conduct. The punishment mentioned here refers to the rain of baked clay stones (hijārah min sidīl) that Allah sent upon them, as referenced in other surahs (Al-Fil 105:4, Al-Maun 4:5), and classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this destruction came as a direct consequence of their rebellion against Allah's guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Prophet Lut and the people of Sodom in Surah Al-Ankabut (the 29th Meccan surah). The broader context depicts Lut warning his people against their shameful practices, their mockery of his message, and Allah's subsequent decision to destroy them. This narrative appears multiple times throughout the Quran as a clear historical example of divine punishment for those who persistently reject Allah's messengers.
Related Hadiths
The theme of punishment for moral corruption is reinforced in the hadith recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah where the Prophet (peace be upon him) warned that immoral acts bring punishment upon entire communities. Additionally, Surah Al-A'raf 7:80-84 provides complementary hadith-supporting context on Lut's message and his people's destruction.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that persistent disobedience and moral corruption invite Allah's punishment, both individually and collectively, emphasizing that rejecting divine guidance through the messengers has severe consequences. It calls Muslims to uphold moral standards and heed the warnings of Allah's message, recognizing that no community is exempt from accountability when they abandon righteous conduct.