Tafsir of Surah Hud

Q: There is a person who explains the intended meaning of the Ayah (Qur’anic verse) saying (what means): Here are my daughters (i.e. the women of the nation), they are purer for you (if you marry them lawfully). That Prophet Lut (peace be upon him) meant to invite them to commit fornication - Zina (sexual intercourse outside marriage) - with his real daughters. Moreover, he claims that the interpretation given by the exegetes of the Qur’an to this Ayah: that Lut (peace be upon him) meant all the believing women, since he is like a father to them all, and that he meant lawful marriage, contradicts the apparent meaning of the Ayah. He justifies his opinion by saying that Zina compared to sodomy is closer to instinct and is a lesser perversion. Consequently, applying the famous juristic rule of averting the greater of the two evils i.e., sodomy, allows committing the lesser i.e., Zina. What is your opinion regarding this interpretation and what is the ruling on that person?

A: What is intended by the Ayah saying (what means), Here are my daughters (i.e. the women of the nation), they are purer for you (if you marry them lawfully). Is to urge those Kafirs (disbelievers) to marry women and have lawful sexual relations with them, whether those women were Lut’s real daughters or the women of his people, since they were considered like his own daughters, for being sent as a Messenger to them. The Ayah further urges the Kafirs to avoid sodomy and sexual assault on Lut’s guests. In general, no permission is granted to commit Zina whether with Lut’s daughters or with the women of his people, since it is one of the major sins according to all of Allah’s Divine Laws. (Part No. 4; Page No. 233) Allah’s Prophet would never allow something that Allah prohibited. Anyone who claims that Lut (peace be upon him) permitted Zina, when compared to sodomy, is gravely mistaken.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.