Surah Al-Hijr — Verse 71

Word Meanings:

• "Banāti" (بناتي): Literally means "my daughters." In this context, it refers to the women of his nation, as a prophet is like a father to his people. Some scholars interpret it as his actual daughters, while others understand it as all the women of his community whom he could lawfully give in marriage.
• "Fāʿilīn" (فاعلين): Those who do or act — i.e., if you are determined to carry out what I am offering you.

Tafsir (Explanation):

Prophet Lot (Lut), peace be upon him, found himself in an extremely difficult and painful situation. His people, driven by their corrupt desires, had surrounded his house, demanding access to his honorable guests — the angels who had come in the form of handsome young men. In his desperate attempt to protect his guests and steer his people away from their abominable sin, Lot turned to them and said: "These are my daughters — marry them if you must fulfill your desires."

By "daughters," he meant the women of his nation, for a prophet is like a father to his people. He was offering them lawful marriage — a pure, honorable, and divinely sanctioned way to satisfy their natural instincts — instead of the filthy, unnatural act they were bent on committing. He was saying: "If you truly need to fulfill your urges, then do so through the lawful path that Allah has permitted. Leave this abomination that has never been done before in all of creation."

This was not merely a suggestion; it was a profound act of compassion and guidance. Lot was willing to endure personal humiliation and offer his own family in marriage just to save his guests from harm and to pull his people back from the edge of destruction. His words carried both a plea and a warning: "If you are determined to act, then act in a way that pleases Allah — not in a way that earns His wrath."

A Da'wah Reflection:

This verse teaches us the immense mercy and wisdom of the prophets. Even when facing a people deeply entrenched in sin, Lot did not curse them or abandon them — he sought every possible avenue to guide them. He presented the lawful alternative clearly and sincerely, hoping they would choose the path of righteousness.

Dear reader, how beautiful is this religion! It never leaves a person without a lawful outlet for their natural desires. Islam does not suppress human instincts; it purifies and channels them. When a person feels tempted by sin, the solution is not despair — it is to turn to what Allah has made lawful and pure. The door of repentance and lawful fulfillment is always open. Allah does not forbid something except to replace it with something better.

Let this be a lesson for us all: when we see someone falling into sin, our response should be one of compassion and guidance, not arrogance or rejection. And when we ourselves face temptation, let us remember that Allah's lawful alternatives are always superior — in this life and the next.