Surah Ash-Shu'ara — Verse 166

Key Words and Their Meanings:

• تَذَرُونَ (Tadharūna): You abandon, leave behind, or forsake.
• مَا خَلَقَ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّنْ أَزْوَاجِكُم (Mā khalaqa lakum Rabbukum min azwājikum): What your Lord has created for you from your spouses—i.e., the lawful, natural means of intimacy and reproduction.
• عَادُونَ (ʿĀdūn): Transgressors, those who overstep the limits set by Allah, crossing from the lawful into the unlawful.

Explanation of the Verse:

This verse continues the address of Prophet Lut (peace be upon him) to his people, who had fallen into a grave moral corruption. He rebukes them with a question that exposes the sheer irrationality and deviation of their behaviour: "Do you approach males among the worlds, and abandon what your Lord has created for you from your spouses?" In other words, they had turned away from the natural, pure, and divinely ordained path of intimacy with their wives—the very relationships that Allah had created for their comfort, love, and the continuation of humanity—and instead pursued an unnatural act that defied both their innate disposition (fitrah) and the clear commands of their Creator.

The phrase "what your Lord has created for you" is deeply significant. It reminds them—and all of humanity—that the blessings of marriage and lawful intimacy are not mere accidents of nature, but deliberate gifts from the Most Merciful, designed to fulfil emotional, physical, and social needs in a framework of purity and dignity. By abandoning these gifts, the people of Lut were not only rejecting a blessing but also insulting the wisdom of their Creator.

The verse concludes with a piercing verdict: "Nay, you are a people who transgress." This is not merely a description of their actions, but a declaration of their character. The word "transgressors" (ʿādūn) captures the essence of their sin: they had crossed every boundary—the boundaries of nature, of revelation, of decency, and of reason itself. They were not ignorant of the truth; they were defiantly overstepping it.

A Call to Reflection and Guidance:

This verse carries a timeless lesson for every believer. It teaches us that Allah, in His infinite wisdom, has set clear boundaries for our own good. The lawful pleasures He has permitted are not restrictions on our freedom—they are protections for our souls, our families, and our societies. When we honour these boundaries, we find peace, contentment, and the pleasure of our Lord. When we cross them, we lose our way, harm ourselves, and invite His displeasure.

Dear reader, let this verse be a reminder of the beauty of Allah's design. He created us, knows what is best for us, and has made the lawful path easy and blessed. Turn to Him with a sincere heart, embrace the purity He has legislated, and you will find that true happiness lies not in following your desires blindly, but in submitting to the One who created you. For He is the Most Merciful, the Most Forgiving, ever ready to accept the repentance of those who return to Him.