Indeed, it is by our greatness that we sent. This indicates that sending is a sending of humiliation by saying, "upon them," which indicates their humiliation and the fulfillment of His command over them by saying, "a storm of stones," meaning a wind that throws stones that are less than a full measure. It was thus destructive to them, burning, sinking, and scattering. Except for the family of Lut, who are those who believed in him. When you see him, it is as if you have seen Lut, blessings and peace be upon him, due to the signs of his actions and his manner of speaking, his conditions, and his deeds.

And when their exception implies their salvation along with the possibility of sending something upon them that is not restricted to what has been mentioned, He said, beginning a response to one who might have asked: What is their condition? "We saved them," meaning a great salvation gradually. He mentioned the beginning of their salvation by saying, "at dawn," meaning at the last part of the night, which is the night in which his people were punished. It is as if he used this indefinite term because we do not know that night specifically. If you intended the dawn of the night that followed, it would have been a specific reference that does not divert. The dawn is the last sixth of the night, the time when a person, especially women and children, is in a state of deep sleep. Allah opens the gates of heaven at that time by the permission of supplication so that the response may be obtained. For when kings open their doors, that is permission for people to enter to fulfill their needs. Thus, the descent and the opening of doors are a metaphor for that. And Allah, glorified and exalted is He, is above any need for descent or opening a door or anything else.