Prophet Lot (Lut)
Description of the People of Sodom
This city was filled with evil.
Its residents waylaid, robbed and killed travelers. Another common evil among
them was that men had sex with men instead of with women. This unnatural act
later became known as sodomy (after the city of Sodom). It was practiced openly
and unashamedly.
Lot's Message
It was at the height of these crimes and sins that Allah revealed to
Prophet Lut (PBUH) that he should summon the people to give up their indecent
behavior, but they were so deeply sunk in their immoral habits that they were
deaf to Lot's preaching. Swamped in their unnatural desires, they refused to
listen, even when Lot warned them of Allah's punishment. Instead, they
threatened to drive him out of the city if he kept on preaching.
Allah the Almighty revealed: The people of Lot (those dwelt in the towns of Sodom in Palestine) belied the Messengers when their brother Lot
said to them: "Will you not fear Allah and obey Him? Verily! I am a
trustworthy Messenger to you. SO fear Allah, keep your duty to Him, and obey
me. No reward do I ask of you for it (my Message of Islamic Monotheism) my
reward is only from the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).
Go you in unto the males of the Alamin (mankind), and leave those whom Allah has
created for you to be your wives? Nay, you are a trespassing people!" They
said: "If you cease not, O Lot! Verily, you will be one of those who are
driven out!"
HE said:
"I am indeed, of those who disapprove with severe anger and fury your
(this evil) action (of sodomy). My Lord! Save me and my family from what they
do."
SO We
saved him and his family, all except an old woman (this wife) among those who
remained behind. (Ch 26:160-171 Quran)
Lot's Wife
The doings of Lot's people saddened his heart. Their unwholesome
reputation spread throughout the land, while he struggled against them. As the
years passed, he persisted in his mission but to no avail. No one responded to
his call and believed except for the members of his family, and even in his
household, not all the members believed. Lot's wife, like Noah's wife, a
disbeliever. Allah the Almighty declared:
"Allah set forth an example
for those who disbelieve, the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot. They were under
two of Our righteous slaves, but they both betrayed their (husbands, by
rejecting their doctrines) so they (Noah & Lut) benefited them (their
respective wives) not, against Allah, and it was said: "Enter the Fire
along with those who enter!" (Ch 66:10
Quran)
Angels Come to Meet Lot
If home is the place of comfort and rest, then Lut found none, for he
was tormented both inside and outside his home. His life was continuous torture
and he suffered greatly, but he remained patient and steadfast with his people.
The years rolled by, and still not one believed in him. Instead, they belittled
his message and mockingly challenged him: "Bring
Allah's Torment upon us if you are
one of the truthful!" (Ch 29:29 Quran).
Overwhelmed with despair, Lot prayed to Allah to
grant him victory and destroy the corrupt. Therefore, the angels left Abraham
(pbuh) and headed for Sodom the town of Lut (pbuh). They reached the walls of
the town in the afternoon. The first person who caught sight of them was Lot's
daughter, who was sitting beside the river, filling her jug with water. When
she lifted her face and saw them, she was stunned that there could be men of
such magnificent beauty on earth.
One of
the tree men (angels) asked her: "O maiden, is there a place to
rest?"
Remembering the character of her people she
replied, "Stay here and do not enter until I inform my father and
return." Leaving her jug by the river, she swiftly ran home.
"O father!" she cried. "You are
wanted by young men at the town gate and I have never before seen the like of
their faces!"
Lot felt distressed as he quickly ran to his guests. He asked them where
they came from and where they were going. They did not answer his questions.
Instead they asked if he could host them. He started talking with them and
impressed upon them the subject of his people's nature. Lot was filled with
turmoil; he wanted to convince his guests without offending them, not to spend
the night there, yet at the same time he wanted to extend to them the expected
hospitality normally accorded to guests. In vain he tried to make them
understand the perilous situation. At last, therefore, he requested them to
wait until the night fell, for then no one would see them.
The Mob at Lot's House
When darkness fell on the town, Lot escorted his
guest to his home. No one was aware of their presence. However, as soon as
Lot's wife saw them, she slipped out of the house quietly so that no one
noticed her. Quickly, she ran to her people with the news and it spread to all
the inhabitants like wildfire. The people rushed towards Lot quickly and
excitedly. Lot was surprised by their discovery of his guests. and he wondered
who could have informed them. The matter became clear, however, when he could
not find his wife, anywhere, thus adding grief to his sorrow.
When Lot saw the mob approaching his house, he shut the door, but they
kept on banging on it. He pleaded with them to leave the visitors alone and
fear Allah's punishment. He urged them to
Lot's people waited until he had finished his short
sermon, and then they roared with laughter. Blinded by passion, they broke down
the door. Lot became very angry, but he stood powerless before these violent
people. He was unable to prevent the abuse of his guests, but he firmly stood
his ground and continued to plead with the mob.
The Punishment
At that terrible moment, he wished he had the power to push them away
from his guests. Seeing him in a state of helplessness, and grief the guests
said: "Do not be anxious or frightened, Lot for we are angels, and these
people will not harm you." On hearing this, the mob was terrified and fled
from Lot's house, hurling threats at him as they left. The angels warned
Prophet Lut (pbuh) to leave his house before sunrise, taking with him all his
family except his wife. Allah had decreed that the city of Sodom should perish.
An earthquake rocked the town. IT was as if a mighty power had lifted the
entire city and flung it down in one jolt. A storm of stones rained on the
city. Everyone and everything was destroyed, including Lot's wife.
The Angels Meet Abraham
Allah the Almighty recounted this
story:
"And tell them about the guests (angels) of Abraham. When they
entered unto him, and said:
"Salaaman (peace)!" Abraham said: "Indeed! We are afraid
of you."
They (the angels) said: "Do not be afraid! We give you glad tidings
of a boy (son) possessing much knowledge and wisdom." (Abraham) said:
"Do you give me glad tidings (of a son) when old age has overtaken me? Of
what then is your news?" They (the angels) said: "We give you glad
tidings in truth. So be not of the despairing."
Abraham said: "And who
despairs of the Mercy of his Lord except those who are astray?" (Abraham
again) said: "What then is the business on which you have come, O
Messengers?" They (the angels) said: "We have been sent to a people
who are Mujrimeen (criminals, disbeliveers, polytheists, sinners). (All) except
the family of Lot. Them all we are surely going to save (from
destruction)."
Except
his wife, of whom We have decreed that she shall be of the those who remain
behind (she will be destroyed).
Then when
the Messengers (the angels) came unto the family of Lot, he said: "Verily!
You are people unknown to me." They said: "Nay! we have come to you
with that (torment) which they have been doubting. And we have brought to you
the truth (the news of the destruction of your nation) and certainly, we tell
the truth. Then travel in a part of the night with your family, and you go
behind them in the rear, and let no one amongst you look back, but go on to
where you are ordered."
And We
made known this decree to him, that the root of those (sinners) was to be cut
off in the early morning
The inhabitants of the city came
rejoicing (at the news of the young men's arrival). Lot said: "Verily!
These are my guests, so shame me not. And fear Allah and disgrace me not."
They (people of the city) said: "Did we not forbid you to entertain (or
protect) any of the Alamin
(people, foreigners strangers
etc) from us?" Lot said: "These (the girls of the nation) are my
daughters to marry lawfully) if you must act so."
Verily,
by your life (O Muhammad), in their wild intoxication they were wandering
blindly. So As Saliha (torment, awful cry etc) overtook them at the time of
sunrise; and We turned (the towns of Sodom in Palestine) upside down and rained
down on them stones of baked clay. Surely! In this are signs for those who see
(or understand or learn the lessons from the Signs of Allah). And verily! They
(the cities) are right on the highroad (from Mecca to Syria, i.e. the place
where the Dead Sea is now). Surely! Therein is indeed a sign for the
believers." (Ch 15:51-77 Quran)
Allah the Exalted also declared:
"So we saved him and his
family, all, except an old woman (his wife) among those who remained behind.
Then afterward We destroyed the others. We rained on them a rain of torment.
How evil was the rain of those who had been warned. Verily, in this is indeed a
sign yet most of them are not believers. Verily! Your Lord, He is indeed the
All Mighty, the Most Merciful. (Ch
26:170-175 Quran)
Lot's Life after Sodom
The book was closed on the people of Lot (pbuh). Their towns and names
have been erased from the face of the earth. Gone are they from memory. One
book was closed of the books of corruption. Lot (pbuh) proceeded towards
Abraham (pbuh). HE visited him, and when he recounted the story of his people,
he was surprised to learn that Abraham (pbuh) already knew. So Lut (pbuh)
continued to invite people to Allah, as did Abraham (pbuh), the patient one who
turned to Allah repentantly, and the two held firm to their mission.
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