فَأَنجَيْنَـٰهُ وَأَهْلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَهُۥ قَدَّرْنَـٰهَا مِنَ ٱلْغَـٰبِرِينَ 57
Translations
So We saved him and his family, except for his wife; We destined her to be of those who remained behind.
Transliteration
Fa-anjaynahoo wa-ahlahoo illa imra'atahoo qaddarnaha mina al-ghabi-reen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the salvation of Lot (Lut) and his believing family members from the destruction of Sodom, with the exception of his wife who was among those destined to be destroyed due to her disbelief and rejection of the message. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the phrase 'We had decreed for her to be among those who remained behind' indicates that Allah's pre-ordainment (qadar) had already determined her fate, and she was not among the believers despite being the wife of a messenger. The ayah emphasizes both divine mercy toward the believers and divine justice in punishing the deniers.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Naml (The Ant), a Meccan surah that narrates stories of various prophets and their peoples. The context here is the story of Prophet Lot and his community, illustrating the consequences of rejecting divine guidance. The narrative emphasizes that kinship and family ties do not protect one from punishment if they reject faith, a recurring theme in the Quran meant to strengthen the believers during the early Meccan period.
Related Hadiths
In Sahih Bukhari, there is mention of the story of Lot's wife among the examples of disbelieving wives. Additionally, the Prophet (peace be upon him) used the examples of Lot's wife and Noah's wife as cautionary tales, as mentioned in At-Tirmidhi, highlighting that righteous deeds and family relationships cannot substitute for faith itself.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that faith is an individual matter between each person and Allah—no one can guarantee salvation through familial relationships alone, and each person bears responsibility for their own choices regarding belief. It is a profound reminder that proximity to righteous people or prophets does not automatically confer protection from accountability; rather, genuine belief and submission to Allah's will are essential for salvation.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ ٱلَّذِى عِندَهُۥ عِلْمٌ مِّنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ أَنَا۠ ءَاتِيكَ بِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَن يَرْتَدَّ إِلَيْكَ طَرْفُكَ ۚ فَلَمَّا رَءَاهُ مُسْتَقِرًّا عِندَهُۥ قَالَ هَـٰذَا مِن فَضْلِ رَبِّى لِيَبْلُوَنِىٓ ءَأَشْكُرُ أَمْ أَكْفُرُ ۖ وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبِّى غَنِىٌّ كَرِيمٌ
Said one who had knowledge from the Scripture, "I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you." And when [Solomon] saw it placed before him, he said, "This is from the favor of my Lord to test me whether I will be grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is grateful - his gratitude is only for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever is ungrateful - then indeed, my Lord is Free of need and Generous."
فَٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ مَكْرِهِمْ أَنَّا دَمَّرْنَـٰهُمْ وَقَوْمَهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
Then look how was the outcome of their plan - that We destroyed them and their people, all.
إِنِّى وَجَدتُّ ٱمْرَأَةً تَمْلِكُهُمْ وَأُوتِيَتْ مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَلَهَا عَرْشٌ عَظِيمٌ
Indeed, I found [there] a woman ruling them, and she has been given of all things, and she has a great throne.
فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكًا مِّن قَوْلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِىٓ أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَىَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَـٰلِحًا تَرْضَىٰهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِى بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِى عِبَادِكَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
So [Solomon] smiled, amused at her speech, and said, "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to do righteousness of which You approve. And admit me by Your mercy into [the ranks of] Your righteous servants."