Surah Al Hijr Tafseer

Lut is ordered to leave with His Family during the Night

Allah tells:

فَأَسْرِ بِأَهْلِكَ بِقِطْعٍ مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ وَاتَّبِعْ أَدْبَارَهُمْ

Then travel for a portion of the night with your family, and you go behind them in the rear,

Allah tells us that His angels ordered Lut to set out after part of the night had passed. They told him to walk behind them, to protect them. Similarly, the Messenger of Allah would walk in the rear of the army on military campaigns, in order to help the weak and carry those who had no means of transport.

وَلَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنكُمْ أَحَدٌ

and let no one amongst you look back,

meaning - when you hear the people screaming from their torment, do not turn around to look at them; leave them to face whatever punishment and vengeance is coming to them.

وَامْضُواْ حَيْثُ تُوْمَرُونَ

but go on to where you are ordered.

it is as if they had a guide with them to show them the way