historical

Lot's Wife

اِمْرَأَةُ لُوط

Lot's wife, whose name is not mentioned in the Quran, serves as a profound and poignant figure in Islamic tradition, illustrating the critical importance of individual faith and accountability. Despite being the spouse of Prophet Lot (Lut), a messenger of God, she tragically failed to heed his call to righteousness and did not believe in the divine message he brought to his people. When divine judgment was decreed for the city of Sodom due to its pervasive corruption and immorality, Lot and his family were instructed to depart. However, Lot's wife was explicitly excluded from this salvation. The Quran tells us that [We saved him and his family, except for his wife; she was of those who remained]. Angels conveyed to Lot that [she will be struck by that which strikes them], a fate confirmed in other verses, stating [She is to be of those who remain behind]. Her story is a powerful cautionary tale, emphasizing that one's ultimate destiny is determined by personal belief and obedience to Allah, not by one's relationship to a prophet or a righteous individual. It underscores that spiritual salvation is an individual journey, demanding sincere faith and submission.

Quran 7 verses

فَأَنجَيْنَٰهُ وَأَهْلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَهُۥ كَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْغَٰبِرِينَ

Fa anjainaahu wa ahlahooo illam ra atahoo kaanat minal ghaabireen

So We saved him and his family, except for his wife; she was of those who remained [with the evildoers].

تو ہم نے ان کو اور ان کے گھر والوں کو بچا لیا مگر ان کی بی بی (نہ بچی) کہ وہ پیچھے رہنے والوں میں تھی

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Mentioned in the fourth (83) and the fifth (84) verses is the Divine punishment given to the people of Sadum for their crooked and immodest practice. As a consequence, the punishment of Allah Ta` ala descended on the entire people with the exception of Sayyidna Lut (علیہ السلام) and some of his comp...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: So We delivered him and his family except his wife she was of those who stayed behind who remained in the chastisement.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Allah says, We saved Lut and his family, for only his household believed in him. Allah said in another Ayah, فَأَخْرَجْنَا مَن كَانَ فِيهَا مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ - فَمَا وَجَدْنَا فِيهَا غَيْرَ بَيْتٍ مِّنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ (So We brought out from therein the believers. But We found not there any househ...

قَالُوا۟ يَٰلُوطُ إِنَّا رُسُلُ رَبِّكَ لَن يَصِلُوٓا۟ إِلَيْكَ فَأَسْرِ بِأَهْلِكَ بِقِطْعٍ مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ وَلَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنكُمْ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَكَ إِنَّهُۥ مُصِيبُهَا مَآ أَصَابَهُمْ إِنَّ مَوْعِدَهُمُ ٱلصُّبْحُ أَلَيْسَ ٱلصُّبْحُ بِقَرِيبٍ

Qaaloo yaa Lootu innaa Rusulu Rabbika lai yasiloo ilaika fa asri bi ahlika biqit 'im minal laili wa laa yaltafit minkum ahadun illam ra ataka innahoo museebuhaa maaa asaabahum; inna maw'i dahumus subh; alaisas subhu biqareeb

The angels said, "O Lot, indeed we are messengers of your Lord; [therefore], they will never reach you. So set out with your family during a portion of the night and let not any among you look back - except your wife; indeed, she will be struck by that which strikes them. Indeed, their appointment is [for] the morning. Is not the morning near?"

فرشتوں نے کہا کہ لوط ہم تمہارے پروردگار کے فرشتے ہیں۔ یہ لوگ ہرگز تم تک نہیں پہنچ سکیں گے تو کچھ رات رہے سے اپنے گھر والوں کو لے کر چل دو اور تم میں سے کوئی شخص پیچھے پھر کر نہ دیکھے۔ مگر تمہاری بیوی کہ جو آفت ان پر پڑنے والی ہے وہی اس پر پڑے گی۔ ان کے (عذاب کے) وعدے کا وقت صبح ہے۔ اور کیا صبح کچھ دور ہے؟

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: At that time, the angels under Divine command said to Sayyidna Lut (علیہ السلام) : فَأَسْرِ‌ بِأَهْلِكَ بِقِطْعٍ مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ (So, move with your family in a part of night). And asked him to instruct everyone in his family not to turn and look back with the exception of his wife because she was g...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: they said ‘O Lot truly we are messengers of your Lord. They shall not reach you with any harm so travel with your family during a part of the night and let not one of you turn round lest they see the terrible predicament that will befall them except for your wife read illā imra’atuka in the nominati...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Lut's Inability, His Desire for Strength and the Angels' Informing Him of the Reality Allah, the Exalted says that Lut was threatening them with his statement, لَوْ أَنَّ لِى بِكُمْ قُوَّةً (Would that I had strength (men) to overpower you,) meaning, `I would surely have made an example of you and d...

إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَهُۥ قَدَّرْنَآ إِنَّهَا لَمِنَ ٱلْغَٰبِرِينَ

Illam ra atahoo qaddarnaaa innahaa laminal ghaabireen

Except his wife." Allah decreed that she is of those who remain behind.

البتہ ان کی عورت (کہ) اس کے لیے ہم نے ٹھہرا دیا ہے کہ وہ پیچھے رہ جائے گی

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: From verse 48: لَا يَمَسُّهُمْ فِيهَا نَصَبٌ وَمَا هُم مِّنْهَا بِمُخْرَ‌جِينَ (No weariness shall touch them therein nor will they be expelled from there), we learn about two features of Jannah: (1) No one shall ever feel tired or weak. This is contrary to what happens in our mortal world where har...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: except his wife — We have decreed that she indeed should be of those who will remain behind’ of those who will stay behind in the chastisement because of her unbelief.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Reason why the Angels came Allah tells us that after Ibrahim had calmed down from the excitement of this good news, he started to ask them why they had come to him. They said, إِنَّآ أُرْسِلْنَآ إِلَى قَوْمٍ مُّجْرِمِينَ (We have been sent to a guilty people.) meaning the people of Lut. They tol...

فَأَنجَيْنَٰهُ وَأَهْلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَهُۥ قَدَّرْنَٰهَا مِنَ ٱلْغَٰبِرِينَ

Fa anjainaahu wa ahlahooo illam ra atahoo qaddarnaahaa minal ghaabireen

So We saved him and his family, except for his wife; We destined her to be of those who remained behind.

تو ہم نے ان کو اور ان کے گھر والوں کو نجات دی۔ مگر ان کی بیوی کہ اس کی نسبت ہم نے مقرر کر رکھا ہے (کہ وہ پیچھے رہنے والوں میں ہوگی)

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: لَنُبَيِّتَنَّهُ وَأَهْلَهُ ثُمَّ لَنَقُولَنَّ لِوَلِيِّهِ مَا شَهِدْنَا مَهْلِكَ أَهْلِهِ وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ We shall attack him (Salih علیہ السلام) and his family at night, then will say to his heir, We did not witness the destruction of his family and we are really truthful - 27:49. The plan w...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: So We delivered him and his family except his wife — We decreed for her We made her by Our decree to be of those who remained behind in the chastisement.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Lut and His People Allah tells us about His servant and Messenger Lut, peace be upon him, and how he warned his people of Allah's punishment for committing an act of immorality which no human ever committed before them -- intercourse with males instead of females. This is a major sin, whereby men ar...

قَالَ إِنَّ فِيهَا لُوطًا قَالُوا۟ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن فِيهَا لَنُنَجِّيَنَّهُۥ وَأَهْلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَهُۥ كَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْغَٰبِرِينَ

Qaala inna feeha Lootaa; qaaloo nahnu a'lamu biman feehaa lanunajjjiyannahoo wa ahlahooo illam ra atahoo kaanat minal ghaabireen

[Abraham] said, "Indeed, within it is Lot." They said, "We are more knowing of who is within it. We will surely save him and his family, except his wife. She is to be of those who remain behind."

ابراہیم نے کہا کہ اس میں تو لوط بھی ہیں۔ وہ کہنے لگے کہ جو لوگ یہاں (رہتے) ہیں ہمیں سب معلوم ہیں۔ ہم اُن کو اور اُن کے گھر والوں کو بچالیں گے بجز اُن کی بیوی کے وہ پیچھے رہنے والوں میں ہوگی

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ (And [ We sent ] Sayyidna Lut (علیہ السلام) when he said to his people, "Indeed you commit the shameful act - 29:28). Here Sayyidna Lut (علیہ السلام) has described three vicious sins of his people. One, unnatural offence of...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: He Abraham said ‘Lo! Lot is in it.’ They namely the messengers said ‘We know very well who is in it. Assuredly We shall deliver him read la-nunjiyannahu or la-nunajjiyannahu and his family except his wife she is of those who will stay behind’ of those who will remain behind in the chastisement.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Angels went to Ibrahim and then to Lut, may peace be upon them both When Lut, peace be upon him, asked Allah to help him against them, Allah sent angels to help him. They first came to Ibrahim in the form of guests, so he offered them hospitality in the appropriate manner. When he saw that they ...

وَلَمَّآ أَن جَآءَتْ رُسُلُنَا لُوطًا سِىٓءَ بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ بِهِمْ ذَرْعًا وَقَالُوا۟ لَا تَخَفْ وَلَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّا مُنَجُّوكَ وَأَهْلَكَ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَكَ كَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْغَٰبِرِينَ

Wa lammaaa an jaaa'at Rusulunaa Lootan seee'a bihim wa daaqa bihim zar'anw wa qaaloo laa takhaf wa laa tahzan innaa munajjooka wa ahlaka illam ra ataka kaanat minal ghaabireen

And when Our messengers came to Lot, he was distressed for them and felt for them great discomfort. They said, "Fear not, nor grieve. Indeed, we will save you and your family, except your wife; she is to be of those who remain behind.

اور جب ہمارے فرشتے لوط کے پاس آئے تو وہ اُن (کی وجہ) سے ناخوش اور تنگ دل ہوئے۔ فرشتوں نے کہا کچھ خوف نہ کیجئے۔ اور نہ رنج کیجئے ہم آپ کو اور آپ کے گھر والوں کو بچالیں گے مگر آپ کی بیوی کہ پیچھے رہنے والوں میں ہوگی

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ (And [ We sent ] Sayyidna Lut (علیہ السلام) when he said to his people, "Indeed you commit the shameful act - 29:28). Here Sayyidna Lut (علیہ السلام) has described three vicious sins of his people. One, unnatural offence of...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And when Our messengers came to Lot he was distressed on their account he was grieved because of them and he was constrained unable to help them because they had handsome faces dressed as guests and thus he feared for them from his people. So they informed him that they were the messengers of his Lo...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Angels went to Ibrahim and then to Lut, may peace be upon them both When Lut, peace be upon him, asked Allah to help him against them, Allah sent angels to help him. They first came to Ibrahim in the form of guests, so he offered them hospitality in the appropriate manner. When he saw that they ...

إِلَّا عَجُوزًا فِى ٱلْغَٰبِرِينَ

Illaa 'ajoozan fil ghaabireen

Except his wife among those who remained [with the evildoers].

مگر ایک بڑھیا کہ پیچھے رہ جانے والوں میں تھی

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary Mentioned in these verses is the fifth event that relates to Sayyidna Lut (علیہ السلام) . This event has appeared at several places earlier, therefore, no more details are needed. Here, the people of Makkah have been particularly admonished that they passed by the site of Sadum (Sodom) da...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: except an old woman who was among those who stayed behind in other words those who stayed behind in the chastisement.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Destruction of the People of Lut (Lot) Allah tells us that He sent His servant and Messenger Lut, peace be upon him, to his people, and they denied him, so Allah saved him from among them, him and his family with the exception of his wife, who was destroyed along with her people. Allah destroyed...

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