Prophet Abraham peace be upon him
left Egypt accompanied by his nephew Lut peace be upon him, who then went to the
city of Sodom (Sadum), which was on the western shore of the Dead Sea.
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.
It was at the height of these crimes
and sins that Allâh revealed to Prophet Lut peace be upon him 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 Allâh's punishment.
Instead, they threatened to drive him out of the city if he kept on preaching.
Allâh 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 Allâh and obey Him? Verily!
I am a trustworthy Messenger to you. SO fear Allâh, 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 Allâh 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
Qur'ân)
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.
Allâh the Almighty declared: Allâh
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 Allâh, and it was said: "Enter the Fire along with those who
enter!" (Ch 66:10 Qur'ân)
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 Allâh's
Torment upon us if you are one of the truthful!" (Ch 29:29 Qur'ân).
Overwhelmed with despair, Lot prayed
to Allâh to grant him victory and destroy the corrupt. Therefore, the angels left
Abraham peace be upon him and headed for Sodom the town of Lut peace be upon him.
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.
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 Allâh's punishment. He urged them to seek sexual
fulfillment with their wives, for that is what Allâh had made lawful.
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.
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 peace be upon him to leave his house before sunrise, taking with him
all his family except his wife.
Allâh had decreed that the city
of Sodom should perish. An earthquake rocked the town. Iy 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.
Allâh 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 Allâh 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 Allâh). 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 Qur'ân)
Allâh 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
Qur'ân)
The book was closed on the people
of Lot peace be upon him. 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 peace be upon him proceeded
towards Abraham peace be upon him. He visited him, and when he recounted the story
of his people, he was surprised to learn that Abraham peace be upon him already
knew. So Lut peace be upon him continued to invite people to Allâh, as did Abraham
peace be upon him, the patient one who turned to Allâh repentantly, and the two
held firm to their mission.
Translated by Muhammad Gemeiah