وَلَقَد أَنذَرَهُم بَطشَتَنا فَتَمارَوا بِالنُّذُرِ

He had certainly warned them of Our punishment, but they disputed the warnings.

EXEGESIS

The lām in laqad (certainly) is to indicate an oath, and thus the verse reads: I swear, Lot had certainly warned them of Our punishment.[1]

‌Baṭshah (punishment) originally means clout and power and to take something by force. It also means to strike and punish because a criminal is usually taken to punishment by force.[2] It is used both for God, Indeed your Lord’s striking (baṭsha rabbik) is severe, (85:12), and for people, when you seize [someone for punishment] (baṭashtum), you seize like tyrants (26:130).

Tamāraw (they disputed) is from miryah (doubt) on the standard of tafāʿul which implies interaction. It means a dialogue intended to inculcate doubts and confusion in opposition to the truth. It is said that tamārī on the standard of tafāʿul has also a connotation of continuity.[3]

In this context, it means that whilst Prophet Lot (a) was warning the people, they continuously spread doubts and confusions amongst each other in order to diminish the effect of the warnings.[4]

Some have suggested that the conjugate tamāraw is used for emphasis rather than for interaction.[5] Although the verb literally means to doubt, most exegetes maintain that this is an allusion to denial and rejection and not pure doubt (see also 53:55).[6] According to Qarāʾatī, since verse 33 explicitly mentioned that they rejected the warnings, this verse can be understood as explicating that doubting the truth is equivalent to rejecting it.[7]

EXPOSITION

As if to clarify any doubts that anyone might have, that perhaps the punishment was sent upon a group who had not fully been exposed to the truth, this verse serves to emphasise that the people of Lot (a) had been presented with proofs and they knew where the truth lies. This verse serves to exonerate Prophet Lot (a) and shows that he had completed his duty.[8]

When Prophet Lot (a) warned them, their responses were a type of mocking and futile argument, But the only answer of his people was that they said: ‘Bring us Allah’s punishment should you be truthful’ (29:29).

REVIEW OF TAFSĪR LITERATURE

According to some, perhaps the punishment that is being referred to in this verse is the punishment of the hereafter. This is in line with other verses that refer to the punishment of the hereafter as baṭshah (44:16). All the prophets would warn their people about the punishment of the hereafter and thus Lot (a) was also doing the same (see for example 92:14 and 40:18).

[1] Mizan, 19/81; Ibn Ashur, 27/195.
[2]Amthal, 17/334.
[3] Tahqiq, 11/83.
[4] Amthal, 17/334.
[5] Tabrisi, 9/291; Abu al-Futuh, 18/228.
[6] Munyah, 27/212.
[7] Qaraati, 9/363.
[8] Razi, 29/315.