How can the misconception of contradiction in the story of Lot (peace be upon him) be refuted, specifically regarding the timing of the angels' command for him to depart—at night before the arrival of his people in Surat Al-Hijr, and after their arrival in Surat Hud?

The repetition of Lot's story in the Quran is a rhetorical feature. The sequence of events in Surahs Hud and Al-Hijr differs; in Al-Hijr, the angels' informing Lot that they were messengers of Allah is presented first, whereas in Hud, it comes after his disputation with his people. This does not cause harm because the conjunction "wa" (and) does not necessitate a specific order. Lot's statement to his people, "These are my guests, so do not disgrace me," indicates that he did not know at that time that they were angels. Furthermore, the variation in wording does not change the meaning and purpose of the story.