Transliteration:( 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 Lut! We are messengers [162] from your Lord; they cannot reach you. So travel with your family during the night, and let none of you look back [163], except your wife [164]. The same affliction will befall her [165]. Their appointed time is the morning. Is the morning not near? [167]'" (Kanzul Imaan Translation)
We (the angels) have brought punishment upon the people, and not revelation upon you, because angels who bring Divine Revelation are recognizable to the Prophets; otherwise, that would not be positive revelation. It should be remembered that the appearance of the angels in the form of handsome young youths was to apprehend the criminals at the time of the crime, just as police come in plain clothes to apprehend criminals while committing crimes, which then becomes indisputable supporting evidence in a case.
None of you should look back at your homes, wealth, possessions, or compatriots.
This tells us that it is a sin to express regret at the destruction of the infidels, which becomes a cause of one's own destruction. Hazrat Lut's (On whom be peace) wife was destroyed because she regretted the destruction of the people, uttering painfully "Alas! My people." As soon as she uttered these words, a stone fell on her skull, killing her instantly. These stones were of baked clay. Each stone had the name of the criminal, and they acted like bombs, falling on the head of the person whose name was on them.
This tells us that these angels, due to Divine knowledge, were fully aware of those who would be dying as infidels and those who would die as believers, as well as where and when these people would be destroyed. All three of these aspects are from the Five branches of knowledge. The knowledge of our Holy Prophet is far superior to that of the angels. If the angels can have knowledge of these, then how can they be hidden from our Holy Prophet?
This tells us that early dawn is the time when mercy descends upon the beloved servants of Allah Almighty and punishment descends upon the cursed people. It is for this reason that reciting Istighfar and engaging in worship during this time is commendable and meritorious.
When Hazrat Lut (On whom be peace) desired their earliest destruction, the angels responded by telling him that dawn is near, not far.
The tafsir of Surah Hud verse 81 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Hud ayat 80 which provides the complete commentary from verse 80 through 81.
(11:81) Thereupon the angels said: ‘O Lot! We indeed are messengers of your Lord. And your people will in no way be able to hurt you. So depart with your family in a part of the night and let no one of you turn around[89] excepting your wife (who shall not go); for what will befall them shall also befall her.[90] In the morning their promised hour will come. Is not the morning near?’
89. This meant to impress on them the urgency of the matter so that they should get out of the doomed place and should not even turn round to look behind to see what was happening there. They were warned lest they should be attracted by the loud noises caused by the explosions and by the wailing of the people and thus lag behind in the territory that had been marked for the scourge and was to be overtaken by it.
90. The doom of the wife of Prophet Lot (peace be upon him) is the third incident related in this Surah to serve as a lesson that no relationship can deliver a people from the horrible consequences of their sin.
[571]- i.e., sometime before dawn.
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