And his people came to him, meaning those among them who had the strength of determination. They rushed towards him, as if they were being carried by something they could not resist, in the utmost haste, acting like the greedy and fearful who fear missing what they desire. So he was agitated because of that, or due to the terror from Lut, peace be upon him, or from the angels, peace be upon them.

And since their finding—how much more their disobedience—did not take a long time before, he introduced the conjunction and said: "And before this," meaning before this coming, "they were," meaning by nature and disposition, "doing" with continuity "the evil deeds," meaning the abominations that cause the utmost disgrace. They were struck by them and trained upon them until the abhorrence of them was removed from them. He knows what they want, and it is as if they did not leave any handsome or other than that from the strangers. For this reason, it was not mentioned that the messengers, peace be upon them, were in the form of handsome youths, nor was the mention of the males in their story restricted to being handsome. So it is as if it was said: What did he say to them? It was said: "He said, O my people," seeking their compassion. "These are my daughters," guiding them towards modesty and generosity.

And when it was as if it was said: What shall we do with them? He said: ﴿They﴾. And when he was in the position of defending with gentleness, he said, loosening the reins in the submission of the purity of what they do according to their claim, subtly indicating the foulness of what they intend: ﴿It is purer for you﴾. And the intended meaning of this is not its reality, but rather a warning to the people that they will not reach them except if they reach the daughters, for the disgrace in both is equally severe, or in the guest it is greater. An example of this is when a person intercedes for someone who is being struck, and when the matter becomes serious, he throws himself upon him, so his appearance is that he has done it to protect him from the beating with himself. And its meaning is respecting him by respecting him. And this is indicated by his words in the other verse: ﴿If you are to act﴾ [Al-Hijr: 71]. And here his saying: ﴿So fear Allah﴾, meaning the greatest King in this matter that you desire ﴿and do not disgrace me﴾, meaning: do not bring upon me the disgrace that involves humiliation and shame ﴿in my guests﴾. For there is no doubt for anyone with a sense of his affair that piety, when it is achieved, prevents from both matters, and that disgrace, considering the lack of it in the daughters, is greater; for it is a lasting shame due to the association of the daughters with the father. And all of this is evidence that he does not doubt that they are human beings and has not entertained the thought that they are angels. So it is a warning to the disbelievers that they do not benefit from the descent of the angels except the righteous, guided one who follows the truth. Then he strongly denied their state in that there would not be among them a wise man urging them to abandon error and adhere to the path of guidance. He said: ﴿Is there not among you a man﴾, meaning: one complete in manhood ﴿wise﴾, complete in wisdom to prevent you from this vile act? But there was none among them of that, rather they said: ﴿You certainly know﴾, meaning: O Lot, speaking the words in their reality without diverting from what he hinted at ﴿what we want﴾, which is approaching the males for the purpose of perversion and excess. They carried his offer for his daughters to the reality of their foulness and began to build upon that with audacity and lack of concern for the enormities. So Allah, the Exalted, informed of his saying to them in the manner of beginning with his words: ﴿He said﴾, wishing that he had the strength to see what he would do in bringing them down, lamenting the loss of that ﴿If only I had strength against you﴾, meaning: in repelling you ﴿or﴾ if only I ﴿could take refuge﴾ with some supporters and allies ﴿to a strong corner﴾, meaning: a group that is like the corner described with strength, I would have prevented you from what you have come for. And omitting it is more eloquent for the departure of the soul in every direction. And the evil is what appears to be disliked by its owner; and the severe is the intense in evil, especially as if its evil has wrapped around him. And the strength is specific to what can occur with it and what cannot occur. And the corner is the foundation of the building after the base, and the corner here is one like it. And the strength is a gathering that makes it difficult to achieve. And describing it as a corner with strength implies that his people were in the utmost strength and ferocity, and that he wished to confront them if he could. And that is because the root of (ركنَ) in every arrangement revolves around steadiness, from رَكُنَ - with the damma meaning to be steady, and it necessitates strength. And from it is the corner for the stronger side and the great matter and what is relied upon from kingship and soldiers and others, and honor and protection. And from that is denial with the damma for cunning and intelligence, and denial for the abominable and the severe matter and what comes from the outpouring of blood or pus. And the matter is difficult. And a path that is denied is one that is not intended. And the abominable is the opposite of the known, for when a thing is unknown, its matter becomes difficult. And the people denied one another: they became adversaries, and denial is a change from a state that pleases to a state that is disliked. And the one who denies - like a speaker - is the large, ugly one, and steadiness also necessitates inclination and calm. And from it is leaning towards it - with the fatha: to incline and settle, and to lean in the house - with the kasra: to reside. And the kenara - with the kasra and emphasis: the piece of linen clothing, for it is leaned towards for its beauty. And likewise the kenarat for the sticks and drums, and the kiran like a book for the lute or the cymbal, or it could be from the strength of their sounds - and Allah knows best.