The Overturned Towns (of Lut)
المدن المنقلبة
The Overturned Towns refer to the communities associated with Prophet Lut (Lot), peace be upon him, which were catastrophically destroyed by God. These towns, often identified with Sodom and Gomorrah, were punished for their profound moral corruption and egregious acts of sexual perversion, which went against the natural order and divine law. The Quran describes this devastating event, noting how [when Our command came, We made the highest part [of the city] its lowest], followed by a rain of stones. This divine judgment serves as a profound and recurring reminder throughout the Quran of the consequences of rejecting God's guidance and indulging in sin. The story of [the towns overturned] is often mentioned alongside other nations that rejected their messengers, highlighting a consistent pattern of divine justice. Various chapters mention these cities, affirming how [the overturned cities with sin] faced a fearsome end. Their narrative is not merely a historical account, but a poignant warning, urging humanity to reflect on the accountability of actions. Allah asks, [have they not seen it?], inviting contemplation on the fate of those who stray far from righteousness. Thus, the Overturned Towns stand as an eternal testament to divine justice and mercy, reminding us of the importance of upholding moral values and responding to the call of the prophets.
Quran 5 verses
أَلَمْ يَأْتِهِمْ نَبَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَعَادٍ وَثَمُودَ وَقَوْمِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَأَصْحَٰبِ مَدْيَنَ وَٱلْمُؤْتَفِكَٰتِ أَتَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ فَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ
Alam yaatihim naba ul lazeena min qablihim qawmi Noohinw wa 'Aadinw wa Samooda wa qawmi Ibraaheema wa ashaabi adyana walmu'tafikaat; atathum Rusuluhum bilbaiyinaati famaa kaanal laahu liyazlimahum wa laakin kaanooo anfusahum yazlimoon
Has there not reached them the news of those before them - the people of Noah and [the tribes of] 'Aad and Thamud and the people of Abraham and the companions of Madyan and the towns overturned? Their messengers came to them with clear proofs. And Allah would never have wronged them, but they were wronging themselves.
کیا ان کو ان لوگوں (کے حالات) کی خبر نہیں پہنچی جو ان سے پہلے تھے (یعنی) نوح اور عاد اور ثمود کی قوم۔ اور ابراہیم کی قوم اور مدین والے اور الٹی ہوئی بستیوں والے۔ ان کے پاس پیغمبر نشانیاں لے لے کر آئے۔ اور خدا تو ایسا نہ تھا کہ ان پر ظلم کرتا لیکن وہی اپنے آپ پر ظلم کرتے تھے
Commentary
فَلَمَّا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا جَعَلْنَا عَٰلِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهَا حِجَارَةً مِّن سِجِّيلٍ مَّنضُودٍ
Falammaa jaaa'a amrunaa ja'alnaa 'aaliyahaa saafilahaa wa amtamaa 'alaihaa hijaaratam min sijjeelim mandood
So when Our command came, We made the highest part [of the city] its lowest and rained upon them stones of layered hard clay, [which were]
تو جب ہمارا حکم آیا ہم نے اس (بستی) کو (اُلٹ کر) نیچے اوپر کردیا اور ان پر پتھر کی تہہ بہ تہہ (یعنی پےدرپے) کنکریاں برسائیں
Commentary
وَلَقَدْ أَتَوْا۟ عَلَى ٱلْقَرْيَةِ ٱلَّتِىٓ أُمْطِرَتْ مَطَرَ ٱلسَّوْءِ أَفَلَمْ يَكُونُوا۟ يَرَوْنَهَا بَلْ كَانُوا۟ لَا يَرْجُونَ نُشُورًا
Wa laqad ataw 'alal qaryatil lateee umtirat mataras saw'; afalam yakoonoo yarawnahaa; bal kaanoo laa yarjoona nushooraa
And they have already come upon the town which was showered with a rain of evil. So have they not seen it? But they are not expecting resurrection.
اور یہ کافر اس بستی پر بھی گزر چکے ہیں جس پر بری طرح کا مینہ برسایا گیا تھا۔ کیا وہ اس کو دیکھتے نہ ہوں گے۔ بلکہ ان کو (مرنے کے بعد) جی اُٹھنے کی امید ہی نہیں تھی۔
Commentary
وَٱلْمُؤْتَفِكَةَ أَهْوَىٰ
Wal mu'tafikata ahwaa
And the overturned towns He hurled down
اور اسی نے الٹی ہوئی بستیوں کو دے پٹکا
Commentary
وَجَآءَ فِرْعَوْنُ وَمَن قَبْلَهُۥ وَٱلْمُؤْتَفِكَٰتُ بِٱلْخَاطِئَةِ
Wa jaaa'a Firawnu wa man qablahoo wal mu'tafikaatu bilhaati'ah
And there came Pharaoh and those before him and the overturned cities with sin.
اور فرعون اور جو لوگ اس سے پہلے تھے اور وہ جو الٹی بستیوں میں رہتے تھے سب گناہ کے کام کرتے تھے
Commentary
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