Commentary
'In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful' The good news is the glad tidings of a son. And the extra is: they are Isaac and Jacob. The addition of 'destroyed' is an addition of alleviation, not definition. The meaning is reception. And the village is Sodom, concerning which it was said: 'Wretched are the inhabitants of Sodom; they were wrongdoers.' This means that wrongdoing had persisted among them in the past days, and they are insistent upon it. Their wrongdoing is their disbelief and various sins. 'Indeed, there is Lot in it' is not informing them of his presence there, rather it is a debate concerning him. For when they justified the destruction of its people by their wrongdoing, it was objected to them that there is one who is innocent of wrongdoing among them. The purpose of the debate is to show compassion towards them, and what is required of a believer to feel sorrow for his brother, and to strive in supporting and protecting him, and to fear that he may be harmed or suffer damage. Qatadah said: A believer does not see except that he should protect the believer. Do you not see their response that they know better than him about who is in it? They mean: We know better than you and are more informed about Lot and his people, and his distinction from them is clear, and he does not deserve what they deserve. So, lower yourself and ease the situation for yourself. And it has been recited 'We will surely save him' with emphasis and without emphasis, as well as 'We will save you.'
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