The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 411
PT. 14 AL-HIJR 70. And fear Allah and disgrace me not. '1773 71. They said, 'Did we not forbid thee to entertain all sorts of people?'1774 72. "He said, 'These are my daughters if you must do something. '1775 1773. Commentary: "11:79. Lot further begged his people not to disgrace him for offering hospitality to the wayfarers, because that was, after all, a good act in the sight of God and did not deserve censure or condemnation. 1774. Commentary: As there existed a state of war between the people of Lot and the neighbouring tribes, his people had warned Lot not to bring strangers into the city. But as travel was neither safe nor comfortable in those parts of the country, Prophet Lot used to harbour lonely wayfarers in his house. This was resented by his people, who were looking for a pretext to expel him from the city, being already tired of his teaching and preaching. But they could not do so without a valid excuse, because Lot was a full- fledged citizen and his daughters were married in the town. Now, however, they found a good excuse for venting their wrath on him for his having given shelter to strangers in his house despite their warnings. From this it is clear that Lot's people did not come to him with the wicked CH. 15 وَاتَّقُوا اللهَ وَلَا تُخْزُونِ قَالُوا أَوَلَمْ نَنْهَكَ عَنِ الْعَلَمِينَ قَالَ هَؤُلَاءِ بَنَى إِنْ كُنْتُمْ فَعِلِينَ intention of committing sodomy with his guests, but to convey to him the warning that they had found a valid excuse to expel him from the town. This was the reason of their rejoicing. The story that they were pleased because they found an opportunity for committing sodomy with Lot's guests is quite baseless, because it is out of keeping with the context. In fact, the whole story has been unthinkingly borrowed from the Bible by some simple-minded commentators (Gen. 19:5). If Lot's people had come with the evil intention of satisfying their unnatural lust on this occasion, then, instead of being displeased with Lot, they should have been pleased with him, because he had provided them with such an opportunity. 1775. Commentary: 1619 The verse states that Lot offered to the infuriated people his daughters as hostages against any possible infringement on his part or that of his guests of the interests of the town. As his daughters were married to townsmen, he, their father, could do nothing against the interests of the town; and if he did anything of that sort, they could easily wreak vengeance on him