Wife of Prophet Lut (upon him be peace)

This rock formation (near the city of Salt) is

believed by Christians to be the wife of Lut

(upon him be peace), who looked back at the

punishment being inflicted on the people of

Sodom and Gommorah and as a result was

turned into a pillar of salt. According to the Holy

Quran, the wife of Lut (upon him be peace) was

inflicted with punishment but her turning into a

pillar of salt is not specifically mentioned. Allah

(Glorified and Exalted is He) knows best. Please

note that this has been shown for information

purposes only as it relates to Quranic revelation.

By no means does this imply that this is a place

of veneration for Muslims.

Some angels came down in the form of

handsome young men to Sadoom (Sodom),

where lived Lut (upon him be peace) among a

community indulging in homosexuality and

immoral behaviour. The first to see them was

one of the daughters of Lut (upon him be

peace) who immediately told her father about

them. Lut (upon him be peace), fearing that

they will be abused if they were spotted,

rushed out to meet them and invited them to

his house as his guests. Allah (Glorified and

Exalted is He) mentions this incident in the

Quran in Surah Hud: “And when Our

Messengers came to Lut he was grieved on

their account and felt himself straightened for

them (lest the town people should approach

them to commit sodomy with them). He said:

‘This is a distressful day’.” [11:17]

Only the people of his house were aware of the

guests but his wife went out and informed the

people that Lut (upon him be peace) had

brought handsome men into the house. People

immediately came and surrounded the house

and demanded Lut (upon him be peace) to

give up his guests to them. Lut (upon him be

peace) barricaded himself behind the closed

door but when he found the task of holding

them back formidable, he said, “Would that I

had power against you, or might have some

strong support for refuge.” [11:80]

In that moment, Allah (Glorified and Exalted is

He) makes mention of what the angels said: “O

Lut ! Verily, we are the Messengers from your

Lord! They shall not reach you! So travel with

your family in a part of the night, and let not

any of you look back, but your wife (will

remain behind), verily, the punishment which

will afflict them, will afflict her. Indeed,

morning is their appointed time. Is not the

morning near?” [11:81]

Lut (upon him be peace) left with his family

and when the sun rose the decree of Allah was

fulfilled. A severe punishment descended upon

the people and destroyed all of them. On the

saving of Lut (upon him be peace), Allah

(Glorified and Exalted is He) says in the Holy

Quran: “So we saved him and his family, all

except an old woman (his wife) among those

who remained behind. ” [26:170-171]

There are two interpretations about how his

wife was destroyed. Either she remained inside

the city or she looked back at the punishment

and as a result was punished herself.

Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has

mentioned in Surah At-Tahrim: “Allah has

struck a similitude for those who disbelieve –

the wife of Nuh and the wife of Lut. They were

under two of our righteous servants, but they

betrayed them, so that they (their husbands)

availed them nothining whatsoever against

Allah; so it was said (to them) enter the fire

along with the enterers.” [66:10]

References: Stories of the Prophets – Ibn Kathir