Surah Ash-Shu'ara — Verse 172

Word Meanings:

• ثُمَّ (Thumma): Then, indicating sequence and succession.
• دَمَّرْنَا (Dammarnā): We destroyed utterly and completely, leaving nothing intact.
• الْآخَرِينَ (Al-Ākharīn): The others — those who remained behind after the believers had left.

Tafsir (Explanation):

After Prophet Lot (peace be upon him) and his believing family departed from the wicked town of Sodom under the cover of night, as Allah had commanded, the divine decree of destruction descended upon those who remained. The verse tells us: "Then We destroyed the others" — meaning, We annihilated every single one of those who persisted in their defiance and corruption.

These were the people who had rejected the message of their prophet, who had engaged in abominable sins that had never been committed before in all of creation, and who had even threatened to expel Lot and his followers from their land. When the punishment came, it was not a gentle or partial calamity — it was total and absolute destruction. Allah rained down upon them stones of baked clay, layer upon layer, marking each stone with the name of its intended recipient. Their town was turned upside down, and not a single one of the wrongdoers was left to tell the tale.

This destruction serves as a timeless lesson: when a people are given clear warning through the messengers of Allah, and they still choose arrogance and sin over repentance, the justice of Allah is swift and decisive. Yet even in this severe punishment, there is mercy — for the believers were saved beforehand, and the earth was purified of corruption.

A Da'wah Reflection:

Dear reader, ponder deeply upon this scene. The very same town that once bustled with life, with its markets, homes, and gatherings, became a barren wasteland in a single moment. The people who thought they were secure in their wealth and numbers found that no power could shield them from the command of their Lord.

This story is not merely ancient history — it is a living reminder for every generation. Allah's mercy is vast beyond measure, and His door of repentance remains open until the final hour. But when the decree of punishment arrives, no plea can delay it. Today, we have the precious opportunity that the people of Lot did not have: we can turn back to Allah before it is too late. We can abandon sins, however deeply rooted they may be, and seek His forgiveness. The Lord who destroyed the wrongdoers is the same Lord who saved the believers — and His mercy is far greater than His wrath.

Let this verse inspire you to be among those who heed the warnings, who purify their lives, and who race toward the forgiveness of their Lord. For the destruction of the wicked is certain, but the salvation of the righteous is even more certain — and that salvation is within your reach, right now, with a single sincere step toward Allah.