قَالَ لَوْ أَنَّ لِى بِكُمْ قُوَّةً أَوْ ءَاوِىٓ إِلَىٰ رُكْنٍ شَدِيدٍ
Important Words:
رکن (support). They say رکن الیه (rakana) i.e. he inclined to him or it; he trusted or relied upon him or it so as to become easy or quiet in mind; he leaned, rested or relied upon him. رکن فی المنزل means, he kept tenaciously to the abode and did not relinquish it. رکن (rukn) means, side or outward part of a thing; corner or angle; a stay or support of any kind; a thing whereby one is strengthened; near relations or clan or tribe by whom one is aided and strengthened; a noble or high person; also might and resistance; a thing or event of great magnitude (Lane).
Commentary:
Lot says that if he had possessed any power, he would have resisted these mischievous people; but he was powerless against them.
The words, I should betake myself to a mighty support for shelter, mean that now the only course left to him was that he should seek refuge with God and beg Him to send upon them His punishment.
I shall pray to God to be saved from the humiliation you seek to inflict upon me by insisting that I should turn away my guests.