15:77 Al-Hijr (The Rock)

{ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَةً لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ } وفي هذه القصة من العبر: عنايته تعالى بخليله إبراهيم، فإن لوطا عليه السلام من أتباعه، وممن آمن به فكأنه تلميذ له، فحين أراد الله إهلاك قوم لوط حين استحقوا ذلك، أمر رسله أن يمروا على إبراهيم عليه السلام كي يبشروه بالولد ويخبروه بما بعثوا له، حتى إنه جادلهم عليه السلام في إهلاكهم حتى أقنعوه، فطابت نفسه. وكذلك لوط عليه السلام، لما كانوا أهل وطنه، فربما أخذته الرقة عليهم والرأفة بهم قدَّر الله من الأسباب ما به يشتد غيظه وحنقه عليهم، حتى استبطأ إهلاكهم لما قيل له: { إن موعدهم الصبح أليس الصبح بقريب } ومنها: أن الله تعالى إذا أراد أن يهلك قرية [ازداد] شرهم وطغيانهم، فإذا انتهى أوقع بهم من العقوبات ما يستحقونه.

وقوله " إن في ذلك لآية للمؤمنين " أي إن الذي صنعنا بقوم لوط من الهلاك والدمار وإنجائنا لوطا وأهله لدلالة واضحة جلية للمؤمنين بالله ورسله.

The Destruction of the People of Lut

Allah said;

فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّيْحَةُ

(So the Sayhah overtook them) This is the piercing sound that came to them when the sun rose, which was accompanied by the city being flipped upside down, and stones of baked clay (As-Sijjil) raining down upon them. The discussion of As-Sijjil in Surah Hud is a sufficient explanation. Allah said:

إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لآيَـتٍ لِلْمُتَوَسِّمِينَ

(Surely, in this are signs for those who see.) meaning that the traces of the destruction of that city are easily visible to any one who ponder about it, whether they look at it with physical eyesight or mental and spiritual insight, as Mujahid said concerning the phrase,

لِلْمُتَوَسِّمِينَ

(those who see) he said, "those who have insight and discernment." It was reported from Ibn `Abbas and Ad-Dahhak that it referred to those who look. Qatadah said: "those who learn lessons".

لِلْمُتَوَسِّمِينَ

(those who see) therefore the meaning is "those who ponder".

The City of Sodom on the Highroad

وَإِنَّهَا لَبِسَبِيلٍ مُّقِيمٍ

(And verily, they were right on the highroad.) meaning that the city of Sodom, which was physically and spiritually turned upside down, and pelted with stones until it became a foul smelling lake (the Dead Sea), is on a route that is easily accessible until the present day. This is like the Ayah,

وَإِنَّكُمْ لَّتَمُرُّونَ عَلَيْهِمْ مُّصْبِحِينَ - وَبِالَّيْلِ أَفَلاَ تَعْقِلُونَ

(Verily, you pass by them in the morning, and at night. Will you not then reflect) (37:137-138).

إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لآيَةً لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

(Surely, there is indeed a sign in that for the believers.) meaning, `All that We did to the people of Lut, from the destruction and the vengeance, to how We saved Lut and his family, these are clear signs to those who believe in Allah and His Messengers.'

There is indeed a sign a lesson in that for believers.

The local Department of Archaeology has set up some hotels and residential quarters at this site to attract tourists. The result is that people with an incorrigible infatuation with the material and who are equally dismissive of the concerns of the Hereafter have made this site a place of fun and frolic. People go there to enjoy the sights of the ancient. Lest such heedlessness becomes a habit, the Holy Qur’ an has served a warning towards the end by saying: إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ (Surely, in it there are signs for the believers). It means: In reality, these sites and the events associated with them are full of moral lessons for everyone having in-sight. But, it is the good fortune of believers only who would benefit by learning what these sites teach, while others would go through these sites as tourists and leave empty-handed.