Tafseer of The Heights · Al-A'raaf · 7:81
Indeed, you approach men with desire, instead of women. Rather, you are a transgressing people."
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The explanation of His word: Indeed, you approach men with desire, instead of women. Nay, you are a transgressing people (7:81).
Abū Jaʿfar said: The Exalted, whose praise is mentioned, herewith informs about Lūṭ, that he said to his people, rebuking them for their deed: Indeed you, O people, approach men in their hindparts, out of desire for that on your part, instead of that which Allah has permitted you and made lawful for you regarding women — Nay, you are a transgressing people. He says: Indeed, you are a people who do what Allah has forbidden you, and who are disobedient to Him through this deed of yours.
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And that is "al-isrāf" (the transgression / going to excess) in this place.
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And "al-shahwa" (the desire) follows the pattern "al-faʿla," and it is a verbal noun derived from the saying: "shahaytu hādhā al-shayʾa ashhāhu shahwatan" (I desired this thing, I desire it, with desire). To that belongs the verse of the poet:
And many a dishevelled one longing for sleep, to whom I said: depart! when the stars turn away and stretch out (and hasten).
He rose, trailing his cloak — had it been said to his soul: "take her with both your hands!", it would have collapsed.
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Footnotes:
(14) See the explanation of "al-isrāf" earlier: p. 395, note 2, and the references mentioned there.
(15) I do not know its poet.
(16) The first verse occurs in al-Lisān (sh-h-y), and the reading of al-Lisān is: "wa-sbakarrat."
His word "wa-ashʿath" refers to his travelling companion, for whom the journey had lasted long, so that his head became dusty and his hair became dishevelled through the neglect of anointing. And "isbaṭarrat al-nujūm": the stars stretched out, stood straight, and hastened in their course. And "isbakarrat" is equivalent to it.
(17) "kharrat," that is to say: it fell down, collapsed, and sank. In the printed edition it read "jarrat" with the jīm, which is an outright error.
This second verse — something similar to it occurs in the poetry of al-Akhṭal; he said:
And many a fair one, neither weak nor feeble of capacity, we gave to drink, when the first of the sparrows chirped;
I held the cup for him, not tarrying, in the night, until he drank it snoring and made it snore;
he rose, trailing his cloak — had his soul been made to endure with both his hands the warding off of the wine's intoxication, it would have collapsed;
and he turned away — were it said: "beware the sword!", then his lock of hair would not have shuddered free of fear.
