Al-Hijr: (61 - 64) And when the angels came...

Know that when the angels gave Abraham the good news of a son and informed him that they were being sent to destroy a guilty people, they then went to Lot and his household. Lot and his people did not know that they were angels of God. For this reason, he said to them: {Indeed, you are a people unknown (munkarūn)}.

There are several interpretations for this:

1. First: He described them as munkarūn (unknown/strange) because the Prophet (Lot, peace be upon him) did not recognize them. When they suddenly arrived, he found their presence strange and feared they had entered to inflict some evil upon him, so he uttered this word.
2. Second: They were handsome, youthful men. He feared that his people might come to him because of their presence, so he said this word.
3. Third: The word nukra (strangeness/unknown) is the opposite of ma'rifa (recognition). Thus, His saying {Indeed, you are a people unknown} means: I do not know you, nor do I know which people you belong to, nor for what purpose you have entered upon me.

Upon this statement, the angels said: {Rather, we have brought you that which they used to doubt}, meaning the punishment whose descent they were doubting.

Then they confirmed what they had mentioned by saying: {And we have brought you the Truth}. Al-Kalbi said this refers to the punishment. It is also said it refers to certainty and the established, undeniable matter, which is the punishment of those people. They further emphasized this by saying: {And indeed, we are truthful}.

{So set forth with your household during a portion of the night and follow them in their rear, and let none of you look back, and proceed where you are commanded.}

{And We revealed to him that matter: that the last remnant of those people would be cut off by the morning.}

Exegesis (Tafsir):

This verse commands Lot to undertake the evacuation.

1. {So set forth with your household during a portion of the night}: This indicates the timing of the departure—at night, which is safer for concealment.
2. {and follow them in their rear}: This means Lot should walk behind his family members.
3. {and let none of you look back}: This is a strong prohibition against looking back at the destroyed city. This is often interpreted as a command to avoid hesitation or pity, or perhaps to avoid being struck by the punishment that befell the others.
4. {and proceed where you are commanded}: Meaning, go toward the designated place of safety.

{And We revealed to him that matter: that the last remnant of those people would be cut off by the morning.}

This confirms the finality of the decree concerning the people of Lot. The destruction was decreed to be completed by the morning, ensuring that no trace or remnant of them would remain. This emphasizes the certainty and immediacy of the divine judgment.