Surah Al-A'raf — Verse 82

Word Meanings:

• جَوَابَ (Jawāb): Response or answer.
• قَوْمِهِ (Qawmihi): His people — referring to the people of Prophet Lut (Lot), peace be upon him.
• أَخْرِجُوهُم (Akhrijūhum): Expel them or drive them out.
• قَرْيَتِكُمْ (Qaryatikum): Your town or city.
• يَتَطَهَّرُونَ (Yataṭahharūn): They purify themselves — meaning they keep away from filth and sin.

Explanation of the Verse:

When Prophet Lut, peace be upon him, sincerely advised his people and condemned their abominable practice — a sin never committed by any creation before them — their only response was not reflection, not repentance, but arrogance and mockery. They said to one another: "Drive Lut and his followers out of our town! They are people who pretend to be pure and clean, avoiding what we do."

Their words were dripping with sarcasm. They mocked the very purity that Lut and his believing household embodied. Instead of feeling shame for their filthy deeds, they felt shame for the righteous ones among them. They could not tolerate the presence of people whose lives were a living rebuke to their corruption. So they chose expulsion over reform, and ridicule over reflection.

Notice how the wicked often try to silence the voice of truth by attacking the character of those who carry it. The people of Lut did not argue with the message; they simply wanted to remove the messenger. They said, "Expel them," because they could not bear the light of righteousness shining in their midst.

A Call to Reflection and Action:

This verse carries a profound lesson for every believer. The righteous will always face opposition, and sometimes the response to truth is not logical debate but emotional rejection and even threats of exile. Yet, Lut, peace be upon him, remained steadfast. He did not soften his message to please the crowd, nor did he abandon his mission when faced with hostility.

Dear reader, when you stand for what is right — when you lower your gaze, guard your chastity, speak the truth, and distance yourself from corruption — some may mock you, call you "too strict," or even try to push you away. But know that their mockery is a sign of your success, not your failure. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "Islam began as something strange, and it will return to being strange, so glad tidings to the strangers" (Sahih Muslim). Those who are mocked for their purity are among the blessed ones.

Let this verse inspire you to hold firm to your values, even if the whole world around you has gone astray. And let it remind you that the ultimate victory belongs to the people of truth, for Allah soon after destroyed those who mocked and expelled His prophet, and He saved Lut and his family — except his wife who chose to stay with the wrongdoers.

So be patient, be pure, and trust in Allah's promise. The end is always for the righteous.