Prophet Lut (AS)

Prophet Lut AS was the nephew of
the Prophet Ibrahim AS. The story of
his people and the punishment they
were afflicted with was a shocking
incident in the life of Ibrahim AS.
Lut AS, as you will recall, left Ur with
Ibrahim AS and settled in Palestine.
Nothing authoritative is known of
Lut’s AS earlier life. What is evident
is that as some point after his
settling, Allah appointed him as
prophet to communities on the shore
of what is now the Dead Sea, at a
distance of 24 hours’ journey from
Ibrahim’s AS home.
Lut AS went to the city of Sodom
after Ibrahim AS had asked him to do
so. It was the main city of that region
with suburbs and satellite villages,
prosperous and well-populated. In
the region where Lut AS settled, there
were 5 cities, referred to in the
Qur’an as Al-Mu’tafikat (Qur’an 9:70;
53:53, 69:9), meaning “the
Overturned Cities”. Sodom was the
largest of these.
The people of Sodom were of the
most immoral and insolent nature.
Although they were guilty of many
vices, one stands out glaringly among
all the rest – homosexuality or
sodomy – they were the first people
in human history to practice
homosexuality.
It is reported that these people would
commit perverted deeds openly in
their gatherings, and they cut the
access of travellers to their roadways,
robbing and killing them, after
perhaps first forcing them engage in
unnatural acts. And it was not only
some or even a majority of Lut’s AS
people who engaged in such practice;
rather it was the entire population.
Allah in His Mercy, caused Lut AS to
settle among them so they might
perhaps be guided. Lut AS called
them to heed Allah’s command and
to worship Him alone, without
associating any partner with Him.
And he forbade them from their
indecent practice and abhorring act.
But they ignored and rejected his
appeal, and continued in their
erroneous unnatural acts. As a result,
Allah destroyed them by a severe
punishment.
LUT AS WARNS HIS PEOPLE
“Will you not fear Allah?” he said,
appealing to them to reflect on their
accountability to their Creator. And
assuring his people of his absolute
reliability, he added, “Indeed, I am to
you a trustworthy messenger.So fear
Allah and obey me. And I do not ask
you for it any payment. My payment
is only from the Lord of the
worlds.” (Qur’an 26:161-164)
As if holding up a mirror in front of
his people, Lut AS tried to make them
look at the awfulness of their
perverted habits and criminal
behaviours.
Do you commit immorality while you
are seeing? Do you indeed approach
men with desire instead of women?
Rather, you are a people behaving
ignorantly.” (Qur’an 27:54-55)
But the response of his people,
already extraordinarily hardened
and callous, was only that they said,
“Expel the family of Lut from your
city. Indeed, they are people who keep
themselves pure.” (Qur’an 27:56)
Lut’s AS admonition became
stronger: “ Do you commit such
immorality as no one has preceded
you with from among the
worlds?” (Qur’an 7:80) , he asked.
The people simply replied with the
same words as before, asking to
drive Lut AS and his family out.
But ignoring their enmity and
threats, Lut AS faithfully continued to
preach and warn, reiterating his
message, emphasizing the error and
ingratitude of turning away from the
souses whom Allah had granted for
the natural fulfillment of their needs.
Continuing to preach despite his
people’s hostility and threats, he then
enumerated the entire catalogue of
their misdeeds, saying,
“Indeed, you commit such immorality
as no one has preceded you with from
among the worlds. Indeed, you
approach men and obstruct the road
and commit in your meetings [every]
evil.” And the answer of his people
was not but they said, “Bring us the
punishment of Allah, if you should be
of the truthful.” (Qur’an 29-28-29)
It is said that the people would
openly engage in homosexual acts in
their assemblies’ without anyone’s
objecting to it, as it was generally
accepted practice. Shaytan was
amongst them, and as is his way, he
made their actions appear fair and
wholesome. They would spout
obscenities in their gatherings, and
pass wind and laugh at it. They
relished cock, pigeon and goat fights.
It is also said that they used to mock
passersby, throwing rocks and
whistling at them, and they walked
about naked. (Tabari)
Steeped in sin, they were deaf to all
of Lut’s AS admonitions. Thus, the
answer of his people was not but they
said, “Bring us the punishment of
Allah, if you should be of the
truthful.” (Qur’an 29:29)
“My Lord,” Lut AS prayed, “support
me against the corrupting
people.” (Qur’an 29:30)
In the entire region, there was only
one household of righteous people
and that was his own. And although
his two daughters were believers, his
wife, who is said to have been a
Sodomite, was connected to the
people of the area and her loyalty
was with them.
THE ANGELS’ VISIT TO IBRAHIM AS
Lut’s AS story is inextricably
interwoven with Ibrahim’s AS. We
return now to the Qur’anic narrative
concerning the angels’ visit to
Ibrahim AS.
You may recall the mistrust Ibrahim
AS felt when he saw that his visitors
did not touch the food he had set
before them and his saying to them
openly, “”Indeed, we areb b  fearful of
you.” (Qur’an 15:52)
Then they reassured him, saying,
“Fear not. We have been sent to the
people of Lut.” (Qur’an 11:70). And
the made to known to him that they
were angels, sent by Allah.
The angels’ errand to Lut’s AS people
was then temporarily put aside while
they gave Ibrahim AS and Sarah the
tidings of the son who was to be born
to them, Ishaq AS. But once the
matter had been addressed, Ibrahim
AS, who knew well that angels do not
visit human beings except for some
very serious purpose, returned to the
subject of Lut’s AS people.
The aged prophet asked the reason of
their visit besides giving him and his
wife glad tidings of a son. The angels
then made their errand clear to
Ibrahim AS.
“Indeed, we have been sent to a
people of criminals,” (Qur’an 15:58),
“to send down upon them stones of
clay, marked in the presence of your
Lord for the transgressors. (Qur’an
51:33-34) – except the family of
Lut” (Qur’an 15:59) “Indeed, we will
save them all except his wife.” Allah
decreed that she is of those who
remain behind. (Qur’an 15:59-60)
The angels reiterated that they would
destroy the entire people of that city.
“Indeed, within it is Lut.” (Qur’an
29:32), Ibrahim AS exclaimed in
alarm.
They said, “We are more knowing of
who is within it. We will surely save
him and his family, except his wife.
She is to be of those who remain
behind.” (Qur’an 29:32)
But even then Ibrahim AS did not
remain silent.
And when the fright had left Ibrahim
and the good tidings had reached him,
he began to argue with Us concerning
the people of Lut. (Qur’an 11:74)
The divine Author of the Holy Book
then adds, almost as if Ibrahim’s AS
appealing for such sinful and
criminal people required an
explanation,
Indeed, Ibrahim was forbearing,
grieving and [frequently] returning [to
Allah]. (Qur’an 11:75)
When Ibrahim AS pleaded with the
angels, they rebuked him gently. “O
Ibrahim, give up this [plea]. Indeed,
the command of your Lord has come,
and indeed, there will reach them a
punishment that cannot be repelled,”
they said. (Qur’an 11:76)
Ibrahim AS continued to plead until
the angels told him that if there were
five people in Lut’s AS city who
prayed, the punishment would be
averted from them.
THE ANGELS ARRIVE IN SODOM
The three angels – said to have been
Jibrael AS, Mikael AS and Israfil AS –
then arrived at the outskirts of Lut’s
AS town in the form of very
handsome human beings.
When Lut AS heard of the strangers,
he felt distressed and wondered how
he could convince them to bypass the
towns of Sodom and continue on
their travels. He tried to make them
understand the nature of the
townspeople but only succeeded in
convincing the messengers to wait
for nightfall before entering the
town. He brought them to his house
secretly so that no one but his family
knew that they were there. However,
his wife went out to inform her
people, saying, “In Lut’s house there
are men whose like I have never
seen, nor have I ever seen such
handsome faces.”
“Indeed, you are people
unknown.” (Qur’an 15:62), Lut AS
said to this visitors, thus giving them
an indirect hint of what they might
expect in his town.
His guests showed no trace of fear or
concern.
“But we have come to you with that
about which they were disputing, and
we have come to you with truth, and
indeed, we are truthful. So set out
with your family during a portion of
the night and follow behind them and
let not anyone among you look back
and continue on to where you are
commanded,” (Qur’an 15:63-65), they
instructed Lut AS.
Despite this reassurance, Lut AS
remained greatly troubled about the
strangers’ safety. Although, as his
guests, they were under his
protection, he knew well enough that
as soon as their presence became
known, the men of his town would be
at his door.
As Lut AS had anticipated, the news
of the incredibly handsome strangers
visiting the city brought the
townsmen to his house in haste,
(Qur’an 11:78; 15:67) rejoicing at
the prospect of the male visitors.
He warned the people that the men
were his guests and not to disgrace
him in front of his guests. The
intruders flung back at their prophet
saying “indeed you know what we
want!” (Qur’an 11:79)
Lut AS cried in anguish, feeling
totally powerless to save the guests to
whom he had given the protection of
his house.
“O Lut, indeed we are messengers of
your Lord; [therefore], they will never
reach you,” (Qur’an 11:80) his guests
reassured him.
The last words suggest that the
attackers intended to eliminate Lut
AS to get at his guests. But as they
men approached in the heat of their
unnatural lust, or perhaps tried to
force their way in, the angels took
away their sight. (Qur’an 54:37;
15:72)
The angels said to Lut AS,
So set out with your family during a
portion of the night and let not any
among you look back – except your
wife; indeed, she will be struck by that
which strikes them. Indeed, their
appointment is [for] the morning. Is
not the morning near?” (Qur’an
11:81)
Then it was early dawn, Lut AS
departed with his family, except his
wife. She remained behind and was
afflicted by the punishment along
with the wrong doers and wicked
townspeople. (Qur’an 54:34)
RETRIBUTION!
As he had been directed, Lut AS set
out with his family. When Lut AS and
his party had cleared the area, the
divine command came forth to
destroy Lut’s AS people. (Qur’an
15:73-74; 7:84; 53:53-54)
Various commentators have said that
angel Jibrael AS lifted up all the
sinful towns into the sky together
with their inhabitants, and turn them
over; hence the name Al-Mu’tafikat,
the Overturned Cities. Then Allah
rained upon them a rain [of stones],
and evil was the rain of those who
were warned (Qur’an 26:173) as He
sent upon them a storm of stones
(Qur’an 54:34) of clay, marked in the
presence of your Lord for the
transgressors.” (Qur’an 51:33-34).
It is said that each stone was
inscribed with the name of the
person for whom it was intended,
and that the heavenly missiles struck
the heads of their human targets,
smashing their brains.
Thus were the flourishing cities of
Sodom and the 4 other towns in the
vicinity obliterated with all their
people, including the wife of their
prophet, as a recompense for the
wickedness and perverse lusts of its
inhabitants.
Thus, the pages were closed on the
people of Lut AS. Their names were
erased from historical memory. The
punishment that Allah promised, and
Prophet Lut AS warned about,
happened, for surely Allah keeps His
promises. He promises severe
punishment for the wrongdoers and
Paradise is the reward of the
righteous. Lut and his family walked
into the sunrise and Qur’an mentions
them no more.
And to Lut We gave judgment and
knowledge, and We saved him from
the city that was committing wicked
deeds. Indeed, they were a people of
evil, defiantly disobedient. And We
admitted him into Our mercy. Indeed,
he was of the righteous. (Qur’an
21:74-75)
May Allah’s highest blessings be upon
Lut AS, the much tried prophet of the
Overturned Cities.
Today, in many cities across the
world, it is unsafe to walk down the
streets, even in daylight. Murder,
sexual crimes against adults and
children are widespread, and drugs
abound. Most children in high school
have already encountered drug users
and sellers. Alcohol is freely
available at corner stores, even
though it is responsible for the break
up of families, domestic violence and
the corrosion of society. Degenerate
lifestyles are accepted and even
thought of as normal. This
description paints a picture of a
scary, out of control world, but is it
really so different from the time of
Prophet Lut AS?  Should we not take
heed from the horrific fate of these
people and those before them who
have been destroyed by Allah for not
obeying His message?
Let us all take a minute to pray to
Allah to keep us and all our loved
ones guided, protected and
enveloped in His Highest Mercy,
shielded and away from such Satanic
vices. Ameen ya rabbil alameen.