Surah Adh-Dhariyat: (31) He said, "Then what is your business?" . . . . .

And in this [verse] are several issues:

We say: Abraham (peace be upon him) did what is part of the etiquette of a host, by asking his guest when he is in a hurry to leave: "What is this haste, and what is the matter that prevents us from being honored by gathering with you?" He did not remain silent when they departed, lest his silence suggest he found them burdensome.

Furthermore, they brought forth what is part of the etiquette of a true friend, who does not conceal things from a sincere friend, especially since this was with God's permission for Abraham (PBUH) to be informed of their destruction, and for his heart to be comforted by presenting the good substitute first—namely, Abraham being the father of the Prophets, Isaac (peace be upon him), according to the sound opinion.

If it is argued: Why is the particle fa (فـ) used here? If it were as you mentioned, he would have said, "What is this haste, and what is the matter that hastens you?"

We reply: If he had felt fear from them and they had left without good tidings or reassurance, he would not have said anything. But when he felt reassured by them, he said, "What is your business?" meaning: After this great reassurance, what is this painful alienation?

We say: Yes. This is because single words that approximate it, such as shughl (business/preoccupation), amr (matter), and fi'l (deed), do not indicate the magnitude of the affair. However, khatb refers to the great matter (al-amr al-'aẓīm). The greatness of the affair indicates the greatness of the one through whom it is accomplished.

Therefore, He said: {What is your business (khatbukum)?} meaning: Due to your high status, you are not sent except concerning a great matter. If he had used a compound phrase, such as saying, "What is your grave preoccupation and your great matter," it would have resulted in verbosity. Thus, khatb conveyed the meaning of magnification with conciseness.

We say: They told him, as evidenced by the Almighty's saying: {Indeed, We have been sent to the people of Lot} (Hud: 70). It was not mentioned here because, as we explained, the full narrative is detailed in Surah Hud.

Alternatively, we say: When they said to his wife: {Thus has your Lord decreed} (Adh-Dhariyat: 30), the knowledge that they were sent from God was established, as they were recounting the saying of God Almighty. This is supported by the fact that their statement: {Indeed, We have been sent to a criminal people} was the answer to his question to them.