Tafsir of Hud 11:80

"He said: 'If only...'"

The apodosis (jawab) of law (if) is omitted, similar to the Almighty’s saying: {If only a Qur’an were such that mountains could be moved by it} (Ar-Ra‘d: 31).

It means: "If I had the strength to deal with you, I would have acted and done [something] to you." It is said: "I have no strength for it," and "I have no power for it." This is similar to {They have no power to resist it} (An-Naml: 27), and "I have no two hands for it," because it carries the meaning of "I am unable to bear it" or "I cannot sustain it."

The meaning is: "If I were strong enough against you on my own, or if I could take refuge with a powerful person whom I could lean upon and find protection in, so that he might defend me from you."

He likened the "powerful and mighty" to a pillar (rukn) of a mountain in its firmness and impregnability. For this reason, the angels said—having found him distressed—"Your pillar is indeed strong." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"May Allah have mercy on my brother Lot; he was taking refuge with a strong pillar."

It is also recited as aw āwiya (or I take refuge) in the accusative case, implying an omitted an (to), as if it were said: "If I had strength against you, or [if I could] take refuge," similar to the poet’s saying:

For wearing a cloak and having my eyes cooled [is better than...]

It is also recited as rukun (with two dammahs).

It is narrated that he locked his door when they arrived and began to argue with them as Allah has recounted, and to debate them, so they climbed over the wall.

{They said: "O Lot, we are the messengers of your Lord; they will not reach you. So set out with your family during a portion of the night, and let not any among you look back, except your wife; indeed, she will be struck by that which strikes them. Indeed, their appointment is the morning. Is the morning not near?"}