| An-Naml: (54 - 58) And [mention] Lot when he said...

The author of Al-Kashshaf said: "[Mention] Lot," or "[We sent] Lot," indicated by the preceding verse, "And We have already sent [messengers]..." (An-Naml: 45). The word idh (when) is an appositive to the first interpretation, or an adverb of time to the second.

As for His saying, "Do you commit lewdness?" (Atatūna al-fāḥishah), it is in the form of indefinite negation, even though it is phrased as a question. Perhaps reprimand using such a phrase is more emphatic.

As for His saying, "while you see?" (wa-antum tubṣirūn), there are several interpretations:

1. It means they did not refrain from openly displaying this act with shamelessness, nor did they conceal it. This is one reason why their act was considered so grave, and it is mentioned in reprimanding them because of what made the act grave.
2. It means the insight of the heart: that is, you know it is lewdness, that no one preceded you in doing it, and that God Almighty did not create the male for the male, thus it contradicts God's wisdom.
3. It means you see the consequences (traces) that befell previous sinners and what descended upon them.

If you ask: If "you see" is interpreted as knowledge, and it is followed by "Nay, but you are a people who are ignorant" (bal antum qawmun tajhalūn), how can they be both knowing and ignorant?

The answer is: It means you commit the act of the ignorant by deeming it lewdness while knowing it, or you are ignorant of the final consequence. Or, by ignorance, He means the foolishness and recklessness they were engaged in.

Then, the Almighty clarified their ignorance by recounting their response to this speech, which was not a suitable answer: "So the only response of his people was that they said, 'Expel the family of Lot from your city; indeed, they are people who keep themselves pure.'" (Fa-mā kāna jawābu qawmihī illā an qālū akhrijū āla Lūṭin min qaryatikum innahum unāsun yataṭahharūn). They made their purification from this lewd act the very reason for expelling them. This purification should have earned them reward and honor, but some commentators say they only said this mockingly.

Then, the Almighty clarified that He saved him (Lot) and his family except for his wife, and destroyed the rest. All of this has been explained previously. And God knows best.

Here ends the story in this Surah. And God knows best.

The Discourse of God Almighty with Muhammad (peace be upon him)

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