Surah Hud — Verse 81

Word Meanings:

• "Fa asri" — to travel or depart during the night, specifically in the dark hours.
• "Bi qit'in min al-layl" — in a portion of the night, meaning the latter part of it, just before dawn.
• "Wa lā yaltafit minkum aḥad" — none of you should look back or turn around.
• "Muṣībuhā" — that which will befall her, i.e., the punishment.

Explanation of the Verse:

When the angels came to Prophet Lot (peace be upon him) in the form of handsome young men, his people rushed to his house with evil intentions. The angels then revealed their true identity to him, saying: "O Lot, we are messengers sent by your Lord. These people will never reach you with any harm, for Allah has protected you from them. So leave this town at once, taking your family with you in the last part of the night, when darkness covers the earth and people are deep in sleep. Let none of you look back, for looking back would mean witnessing the punishment and being struck by it. But as for your wife — she is an exception. She will stay behind, for she has betrayed you by aligning herself with the disbelievers in heart and faith, and she will be overtaken by the same punishment that will destroy them."

The angels then informed him of the appointed time of destruction: "Indeed, their promised time is the morning." When Lot asked for it to be sooner, they replied: "Is not the morning near?" — meaning that the dawn was already approaching, and the punishment would come swiftly, as the night was almost over.

This verse carries profound lessons. It shows that Allah never abandons His righteous servants, even in the darkest of times. When the whole town was steeped in corruption and Lot stood alone with his family, Allah sent His angels to reassure him and to execute His justice. It also teaches us that loyalty to Allah must come before loyalty to anyone, even family — for Lot's wife chose disbelief over faith, and her fate was sealed with the fate of the wicked. The nearness of the morning symbolizes the nearness of Allah's help and His justice — relief is always closer than we think. So, dear believer, when trials surround you, remember that the "morning" of Allah's victory is always near, and His promise never fails. Hold firm to your faith, and never look back at the world of sin that Allah has commanded you to leave behind.