The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 412
CH. 15 AL-HIJR 73. By thy life, these too in their mad intoxication are wandering in distraction- 1776 through his daughters. Some Muslim commentators, blindly following the story of the Bible (Gen. 19:8), have interpreted this verse as meaning that Lot offered those people his daughters for the gratification of their lust. This interpretation is absurd. No sensible man, much less a Prophet of God, would seek to deflect a man from one sinful act by suggesting to him the commission of another and more heinous sin. It is inconceivable that Prophet Lot should have offered his own daughters to those wicked people that they should satisfy their lust with them instead of with the strangers. Human imagination staggers at such a foolish and wicked idea. Some other commentators are of the opinion that, being an elderly man and a Prophet, Lot referred to the women of the tribe as his daughters, meaning that these people should go in unto their wives rather than gratify their lust unnaturally. This interpretation, though much more sensible than the Biblical story, is also not admissible being in conflict with the context (see also 11:79). It may also be noted here that the words (if you must do something) do not, according to Arabic idiom, mean "if you must commit sodomy. " They simply mean, "if you must do something. " 1776. Important Words: PT. 14 لَعَمُرُكَ إِنَّهُمْ لَفِي سَكْرَتِهِمُ يَعْمَهُونَ the same as (umurun) and means, life or the age to which life extends or the period in which the body is inhabited by life. The Arabs say i. e. by thy life I will assuredly do such a thing. The expression therefore means, by thy life; or by thy religion, for (‘amrun) also means religion (Lane). Commentary: This verse is addressed to the Holy Prophet by God and not to Lot by the angels, as some commentators seem to think. The expression (by thy life) therefore beautifully hints at the purity of the Holy Prophet's life by citing it as a witness against the wickedness of evildoers. the latter The case of Lot was in fact similar to that of the Holy Prophet in more than one respect. Just as the people of Lot prohibited him from entertaining outsiders, fearing lest should conspire against them, similarly the Meccans prohibited the Holy Prophet from having any dealings with strangers, for they feared that he might form an alliance with outside people and thus seek to do them harm. And just as Lot had his two daughters married among his enemies, similarly the Holy Prophet had three of his daughters married among disbelievers: Ruqayyah and Ummi Kulthūm having been married to 'Utbah and Shaibah, the two sons (by thy life). (‘amrun) is of Abū Lahab and Zainab to Abul ‘Āṣ 1620