Surah Al-Anbiya — Verse 74

Meanings of Key Words:

• Ḥukm (حُكْمًا): Wisdom, sound judgment, and the ability to adjudicate between people with justice.
• ʿIlm (عِلْمًا): Deep knowledge of Allah’s religion, His commands, and His divine laws.
• Al-Khabāʾith (الْخَبَائِثَ): The abominable deeds and filthy acts, most notably the sexual immorality that the people of Lot committed, along with other sins such as highway robbery and public indecency.
• Qaryah (الْقَرْيَةِ): The town, which was Sodom (Sadūm).
• Qawm Sawʾ (قَوْمَ سَوْءٍ): An evil people, wicked in their nature and deeds.
• Fāsiqīn (فَاسِقِينَ): Those who defiantly disobey Allah and transgress His limits, having abandoned the path of obedience.

Explanation of the Verse:

In this noble verse, Allah the Exalted recounts His immense favors upon His Prophet Lot (peace be upon him). He says: "And Lot—We gave him judgment and knowledge." This means that Allah granted Lot (peace be upon him) prophethood, sound wisdom, and the ability to settle disputes with fairness and insight. He also blessed him with profound knowledge of Allah’s religion and His divine commands, enabling him to guide his people with clarity and authority.

Then Allah mentions another great blessing: "And We saved him from the town that was committing wicked deeds." This refers to the city of Sodom, whose inhabitants were steeped in abominable sins—most notoriously, they were the first people in history to commit the act of homosexuality, along with cutting off the roads and committing other vile acts in their gatherings. Despite Lot’s persistent calls to righteousness, they rejected him and persisted in their corruption. So Allah, in His mercy and justice, saved Lot and his believing family from the punishment that befell that wicked town.

Allah then explains why they deserved destruction: "Indeed, they were an evil people, defiantly disobedient." Their hearts had become hardened, their fitrah (natural disposition) corrupted, and they had completely turned away from obedience to their Lord. They chose filth over purity, transgression over guidance, and thus earned His wrath and punishment.

A Daʿwah Reflection:

This verse carries a profound lesson for every believer. It shows that Allah never abandons His righteous servants. When Lot (peace be upon him) was surrounded by a society drowning in immorality, Allah did not leave him to be swept away by the tide of corruption—He granted him wisdom, knowledge, and ultimately salvation. This is a powerful reminder that no matter how dark or corrupt the world around us becomes, Allah is always with those who hold fast to His commands. He grants them insight to navigate through trials and delivers them from harm in ways they could never imagine.

It also serves as a warning: evil deeds, especially those that violate the natural order and human dignity, bring about destruction—both in this life and the Hereafter. The people of Lot were not destroyed simply because of one sin, but because they persisted in their wickedness, normalized it, and rejected the guidance of a noble prophet. Their end is a timeless lesson for all of humanity: that societies which abandon moral values and divine guidance inevitably face ruin.

As believers, we are called to be like Lot—firm in faith, wise in judgment, and patient in calling others to goodness, while trusting that Allah’s help is always near. Let us strive to purify our own souls, avoid all forms of immorality, and be beacons of light in a world that often celebrates darkness. For indeed, Allah’s promise is true: He saves the righteous and destroys the corrupt.