Tafsir of Hud 11:80

(He said: "Would that I had strength against you")—meaning: If it were established that I possessed strength involving you in terms of resistance to repel you by myself, I would have done so. "If" (Law) is conditional, and its response is omitted, just as it is omitted in His saying, Glorified be He: {"And if there were a Quran by which mountains could be moved..."}. It is also permitted that it be for wishing (optative). "(Against you)" (Bikum) is a state (hal) of "strength" (quwwah), as is well-known regarding the description of an indefinite noun if it is placed before it. Its attachment to it is weak because the object (ma'mul) of a verbal noun (masdar) does not precede it, according to the well-known rule.

His saying: (Or I could betake myself to a powerful support) is a conjunction to what preceded it, based on what you have learned regarding its meaning as necessitated by the school of al-Mubarrad. The present tense is used in the place of the past tense; Abu Hayyan considered this the most apparent view. Al-Hawfi said: It is a conjunction to what preceded it, based on the understanding that the intended meaning is "or that I betake myself." Abu al-Baqa' permitted this, and he also permitted that the sentence be an independent, new statement.

"The support" (rukn) originally refers to a side of a house or a mountain. It is also said: "rukn" with a damma on the kaf, and it has been recited as such. Its plural is "arkan" (pillars/supports). He, peace be upon him, meant by it a powerful person or entity, likening him to the corner of a mountain in its strength and impregnability. That is: Or I could join myself to a powerful one, through whom I might be shielded from you and obtain victory over you.

The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, considered this statement from him, peace be upon him, a lapse, and he sought forgiveness through it. Al-Bukhari and Muslim recorded from Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, may Allah exalt him and grant him peace, said: "May Allah have mercy on my brother Lot; he was betaking himself to a powerful support." By this, he—peace and blessings be upon him—meant Allah, the Exalted, for there is no support more powerful than Him, Majestic and Glorious. If a person takes something other than Allah as their preparation, calamities will come upon them from all directions of benefits. It has been reported that because of this word, He, Glorified be He, did not send a prophet after Lot except under the protection of his clan.

In al-Bahr, it is mentioned that according to the opinion of the Kufans, it is permissible for "or" (aw) to mean "nay" (bal). Thus, he, peace be upon him, would have turned away from the previous sentence and said: "Nay, I betake myself, in my state with you, to a powerful support," alluding by it to the Presence of Allah, the Exalted. It is not hidden that the explicit, authentic reports that contradict this interpretation refuse such an allusion.

Shaybah and Abu Ja'far recited "Awiya" in the accusative case, due to the implicit "an" (to) after "aw," and it is estimated as a verbal noun conjoined to "strength" (quwwah). Similar to this is the saying: "Were it not for men from Ruzam, honorable, and the kin of Subay', or (I would) drink colocynth"—meaning: If I had strength against you, or (if I had) a betaking.

It is reported that he, peace be upon him, locked his door against his guests and began to argue with his people on their behalf from behind the door, so they scaled the wall. When the angels, peace be upon them, saw the distress that was upon Lot...