Al-A'raf: (83-84) So We saved him and his family, except...

Translation and Exegesis

{فأنجيناه وأهله} (So We saved him and his family)

This phrase can mean:

1. His supporters and followers who accepted his religion.
2. Those connected to him by lineage. Ibn Abbas said it refers to his two daughters.

{إلا امرأته} (except his wife)

• Imra'ah (wife) is used for the man's spouse. Similarly, rajul (man) can refer to the husband, as the husband is like the owner of the wife in the context of marriage, whereas the wife is not considered the owner of the husband. When imra'ah is attributed to the man using the general term, the marital relationship is understood.

{كانت من الغابرين} (she was among those who remained behind/perished)

• The root ghabara (غبر) means to remain or stay. The poet Al-Hudhali said:

  "I remained after them with a life of toil, And I think I will soon follow, being trailed."

• Meaning: She remained behind, meaning she was among those who were left behind from salvation and did not attain deliverance.
• It is also possible that it means she did not travel with Lot and his people, but stayed behind in that place which was the location of the punishment.

{وأمطرنا عليهم مطراً} (And We rained down upon them a rain)

• It is said: Matarat as-sama' (The sky rained) and Amṭarat (It rained). The first form is more eloquent.
• Amṭarahum (He rained upon them) means rain and punishment. Similarly, Amṭara 'alayhim (He rained upon them).
• The intended meaning here is that Allah rained down stones upon them from the sky, as evidenced by another verse: {وأمطرنا عليهم حجارة من سجيل} (And We rained upon them stones of baked clay) (Al-Hijr: 74).

{فانظر كيف كان عاقبة المجرمين} (Then behold how was the end of the criminals)

This verse contains two issues:

Issue 1: Although the apparent meaning of this address is specific to the Prophet (peace be upon him), the intent is for all accountable people to take heed and be deterred by it.

• Objection: How can they take heed, since they are safe from the punishment of annihilation?
• Answer: The punishment of the Hereafter is far greater and more severe than this. Hearing this story reminds them of the Hereafter, which serves as a reprimand and a warning against the punishment of annihilation.

Issue 2: The legal ruling regarding sodomy (liwat).

• The position of Imam Al-Shafi'i (may Allah be pleased with him) is that sodomy necessitates the prescribed legal punishment (hadd).
• Abu Hanifa held that it does not necessitate hadd.
• Imam Al-Shafi'i can argue based on this verse in several ways:
  1. It is established in the law of Lot (peace be upon him) that the sodomite was to be stoned (rajm). The principle is that what is established remains unless a abrogating ruling appears. No abrogating ruling for this judgment has appeared in the Law of Muhammad (peace be upon him), so its continuation must be affirmed.
  2. The verse {أولئك الذين هدى الله فبهداهم اقتده} (Those are the ones whom Allah guided, so follow their guidance) (Al-An'am: 90). We have previously explained in the exegesis of this verse that it indicates that the law of those before us is binding upon us.
  3. Allah says: {فانظر كيف كان عاقبة المجرمين} (Then behold how was the end of the criminals). The apparent meaning of this consequence is what was previously mentioned: the sending down of stones upon them. The "criminals" (al-mujrimīn) are those who commit the act of Lot's people, as that is the preceding context. Thus, the meaning of the verse is: "Behold how Allah rained stones upon those who commit that specific act." Mentioning the ruling immediately following the relevant description indicates that this description is the effective cause ('illah) for that ruling. Therefore, this verse implies that this specific crime is the cause for this specific deterrent (the rain of stones). When the cause is established, the ruling must occur wherever that cause is found.

{وَإِلَى مَدْيَنَ أَخَاهُمْ شُعَيْبًا فَقَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ إِلَهٍ غَيْرُهُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُمْ بَيِّنَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ فَأَوْفُوا الْكَيْلَ وَالْمِيزَانَ وَلَا تَبْخَسُوا النَّاسَ أَشْيَاءَهُمْ وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَاحِهَا ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ}

(And to Madyan [We sent] their brother Shu'ayb. He said, "O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. A clear sign has come to you from your Lord. So give full measure and weight, and do not deprive people of their due, and do not cause corruption in the land after it has been set right. That is best for you, if you should be believers.")