Tafsir of Al-`Ankabut 29:29

"Do you indeed approach men?" Meaning: You engage in sexual intercourse with them.

"And cut off the way?" Meaning: You obstruct the path by burdening strangers and passersby with that heinous act and approaching them by force. Or, it means cutting off the path of procreation by shunning the "tilth" (women) and approaching what is not tilth. It is also said: You cut off the path by murder and robbery. It is also said: You cut off the path by committing loathsome deeds.

"And you practice..." Meaning: You perform.

"...in your assembly the evil?" Meaning: In your gathering place where you congregate. This is a generic noun, for their assemblies were numerous, and it is not called an nadi (assembly place) unless its people are present; if they depart from it, it is no longer called nadi.

Regarding "the evil" (al-munkar): Ahmad, al-Tirmidhi (who classified it as hasan), al-Hakim (who authenticated it), al-Tabarani, al-Bayhaqi in al-Shu'ab, and others reported from Umm Hani bint Abi Talib that she said: I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) about the Almighty's saying, "And you practice in your assembly the evil," and he said: "They used to sit on the path, pelt passersby with pebbles, and mock them."

Mujahid, Mansur, al-Qasim ibn Muhammad, Qatadah, and Ibn Zayd said it refers to approaching men in their assemblies where they could see one another. Mujahid also said it refers to pigeon racing, staining the fingertips with henna, whistling, pelting with pebbles, and abandoning modesty in all their affairs. Ibn Abbas said it refers to their flatulence and slapping one another in their assemblies. In another narration from him, it is pelting with pebbles, shooting with pellets, snapping fingers, chewing gum, using the siwak (tooth-stick) in public, loosening the waist-wrapper (izar), swearing, and using obscene language in jest.

It is not mentioned in the story of Lut (peace be upon him) that he called his people to the worship of Allah the Almighty, as occurred in the story of Ibrahim, nor in the story of Shu'ayb that follows. This is because Lut was from the people of Ibrahim and lived in his time; he had already preceded him in calling to the worship and oneness of Allah, and his mission was well-known to the people. Therefore, Lut (peace be upon him) mentioned what was specific to him—prohibition of the indecency and other matters. As for Ibrahim and Shu'ayb (peace be upon them), they came after the extinction of those who used to worship Allah the Almighty and call to Him (Glorified be He). Thus, each of them called his people to the worship of the Almighty. This is as stated in al-Bahr.

"And the answer of his people was nothing except that they said: 'Bring us the punishment of Allah, if you should be among the truthful.'" Meaning: Regarding what you promise us of the descent of punishment, as stated in al-Kashshaf and elsewhere. This is apparent in that he (peace be upon him) had threatened them with punishment. It is also said: It means, in your claim that we deserve punishment, which is understood from the reproach contained in the interrogative of denial. It is also said: It means, in your claim that it is loathsome for the one who utters that speech of yours.

This response was issued by them during the first of the many instances of Lut's (peace be upon him) exhortations. As for what is mentioned in Surah al-A'raf in the Almighty's saying, "And the answer of his people was nothing except that they said: 'Expel them from your city,'" and what is mentioned in Surah al-Naml in the Almighty's saying, "And the answer of his people was nothing except that they said: 'Expel the family of Lut from your city,'" these occurred after this instance. Thus, there is no contradiction between the exclusivity here and the exclusivity there; this was stated by Abu Hayyan and followed by Abu al-Su'ud. It was countered that this determination requires a transmitted proof (tawqif). The response given is that the content of the two answers suggests chronological order; "Bring us the punishment of Allah, if you should be among the truthful" belongs to the category of denial and mockery, which is more fitting for the early exhortations and reproaches. "Expel them from your city" and the like belongs to the category of punishment and vengeance, which is more appropriate after repeated exhortations and reproaches that caused them annoyance and increased pain, coupled with their ability to vent their spite. This amount suffices to claim chronological order.

It has been said in refuting the contradiction between the two exclusivities: what is here is the answer of his people to him when he advised them, and what is there is the answer of some of them to others when they consulted regarding his affair. It is also said: One of the answers was issued by the elders and leaders of his people, while the other was issued by others. The apparent stance of some eminent scholars requires opting for the view that each of the exclusivities is relative to the answer he (peace be upon him) hoped for in their following him. Reflect upon this.