• The great reward the righteous will be given

• Angels give Abraham the glad tidings of a son in his old age

• Angels sent to punish the guilty ones among the people of Lot

Al-Hijr (The Rock) Verses 45 – 60

إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ

“Verily the pious1ones shall be in the midst of gardens and fountains;” (15:45)2

ادْخُلُوهَا بِسَلَامٍ آمِنِينَ

(The angels saying unto them:) “Enter ye therein in Peace, Secure” (15:46)

وَنَزَعْنَا مَا فِي صُدُورِهِمْ مِنْ غِلٍّ إِخْوَانًا عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مُتَقَابِلِينَ

“And We will root out whatever rancour be in their hearts, (they shall be} as brothers, on dignified couches, 3face to face.” (15:47)

لَا يَمَسُّهُمْ فِيهَا نَصَبٌ وَمَا هُمْ مِنْهَا بِمُخْرَجِينَ

“Shall not touch them therein any weariness, nor shall they ever be cast out of it.” (15:48)4

نَبِّئْ عِبَادِي أَنِّي أَنَا الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

Announce thou (O’ Our Apostle Muhammad!) unto My servants that Verily I, am the most Oft-Forgiving, The Most Merciful, (15:49)

وَأَنَّ عَذَابِي هُوَ الْعَذَابُ الْأَلِيمُ

And that My chastisement that is the chastisement grievous. (15:50)

وَنَبِّئْهُمْ عَنْ ضَيْفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ

And inform them of the guests of Abraham (15:51)5

إِذْ دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا سَلَامًا قَالَ إِنَّا مِنْكُمْ وَجِلُونَ

When they entered in unto him, said they: “Peace.” He said: “Verily we feel afraid of you!” (15:52)6

قَالُوا لَا تَوْجَلْ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَامٍ عَلِيمٍ

Said they: “Fear thou not! Verily we bear unto thee the glad tidings of a son endowed with knowledge.” (15:53)7

قَالَ أَبَشَّرْتُمُونِي عَلَىٰ أَنْ مَسَّنِيَ الْكِبَرُ فَبِمَ تُبَشِّرُونَ

He said: “Bear ye unto me the glad tidings (of a son) 8while, old age hath touched me? of what then bear ye unto me the glad tidings?” (15:54)9

قَالُوا بَشَّرْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ فَلَا تَكُنْ مِنَ الْقَانِطِينَ

They10said: “We bear unto thee the glad tidings in truth, so be thou not of the despairing ones.” (15:55)11

قَالَ وَمَنْ يَقْنَطُ مِنْ رَحْمَةِ رَبِّهِ إِلَّا الضَّالُّونَ

Said he:12“And who 13despaireth of the mercy of his Lord but those who are astray?” (15:56)14

قَالَ فَمَا خَطْبُكُمْ أَيُّهَا الْمُرْسَلُونَ

He15said: “What is your business, then, O’ messengers (of God)?” (15:57)

قَالُوا إِنَّا أُرْسِلْنَا إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍ مُجْرِمِينَ

Said they: “Verily we are sent unto a guilty people,” (15:58)16

إِلَّا آلَ لُوطٍ إِنَّا لَمُنَجُّوهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

“Except the family of Lot; Verily we will deliver them all” (15:59)17

إِلَّا امْرَأَتَهُ قَدَّرْنَا إِنَّهَا لَمِنَ الْغَابِرِينَ

“Except his18wife; we are certain that she shall be of those who remain behind (in the wrath of God).” (15:60)19

Commentary

Verse 49

Note the gracious way in which the sinners are invited to repentance seeking pardon and mercy of the Lord for it is voluntarily announced by the Lord Himself.

Verse 60

Referring to Lot the Holy Qur’an repeatedly says that Lot was rescued and his ‘Aal’, i.e., family in general and ‘Ahl’ and relatives in particular, i.e., the closest members of the house. Wife is not included from those who were blessed with the delivery from the wrath. (A.P.).

• 1. Those who guard themselves against evil.
• 2. Refer to verse 7:42.
• 3. In rejoicing assemblies - This asserts the social pleasures in the life hereafter – mirroring their love for each other.
• 4. Refer to verses 56:16-26 & 52:17-28.
• 5. Refer to verses 11:71-73.
• 6. Refer to verses 11:71-73.
• 7. Refer to verses 11:71-73.
• 8. In spite of.
• 9. Refer to verses 11:71-73.
• 10. The angels.
• 11. Refer to verses 11:71-73.
• 12. Abraham.
• 13. Being despaired of God’s mercy is considered a major Sin in Islam.
• 14. Refer to verses 11:71-73.
• 15. Abraham.
• 16. Refer to verse 11:70.
• 17. Refer to verses 21:74, 26:160-174 & 54:33.
• 18. Lot’s.
• 19. Refer to verses 7:83, 27:54-58 & 37:133-135.