to the city of Sodom in Palestine, which was on the western shore of
the Dead Sea.
This city was filled with evil. Its residents waylaid, robbed and
killed travellers. Another common evil among them was that their men
used to have sex with men instead of women. This unnatural act later
became known as sodomy, after the city ofSodom. It was practiced
openly and unashamedly.
It was at the height of these crimes and sins that Allaah revealed to
Prophet Luutthat he should summon the people to give up their indecent
behaviour, but their immoral habits were so deeply ingrained that they
were deaf to Luut's preaching. Addicted to their unnatural desires,
they refused to accept the call to repentance, even when Luutwarned
them of Allaah's punishment. Instead, they threatened to drive him out
of the city if he continued preaching against their evil habits.
Allaah Almighty revealed )what means(:"The people of Luut denied the
messengers. When their brother Luut said to them: 'Will you not fear
Allaah? Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger. So fear Allaah
and obey me. And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is
only from the Lord of the worlds. Do you approach males among the
worlds. And leave what your Lord has created for you as mates? But you
are a people transgressing.' They said: 'If you do not desist, O Luut,
you will surely be of those evicted.' He said: 'Indeed, I am, toward
your deed, of those who detest ]it[. My Lord! Save me and my family
from ]the consequence of[ what they do.' So We saved him and his
family, all. Except an old woman ]i.e., the wife of Luut[ among those
who remained behind."]Quran: 26:160-171[
The sinful actions of Prophet Luut's people saddened his heart. Their
abominable reputation spread throughout the land, while he continued
to struggle 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; even in his household, not all
the members believed: Luut's wife was a disbeliever.
If home is the place of comfort and rest, then Luutfound none, for he
was tormented both within and outside his home. His life was
continuous agony as he suffered greatly, but he remained patient and
steadfast as a Messenger to his people. Instead of heeding to him,
they belittled his message, and mockingly challenged him, saying )what
means(:"…'Bring us the punishment of Allaah, if you should be of the
truthful!"]Quran: 29:29[
Overwhelmed with despair, Luutprayed to Allaah to grant him victory
and to destroy the corrupt. Allaah Almighty, therefore, sent three
angels in the guise of young handsome men in answer to his prayer.
They reached the walls of the town in the afternoon. The first person
who caught sight of them was Luut's daughter while she was filling her
jug with water from the river. When she saw them, she was stunned that
there could be men of such magnificent beauty on earth.
One of the three men )angels( asked her: "O maiden! Is there a place to rest?"
Remembering the evil character of her people, she replied: "Stay here
and do not enter the town 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!"
Luutfelt distressed as he quickly ran to his guests.
They visited him at home as guests. After ushering them in hospitably,
he asked them where they came from and where they were going.
They did not reply to his questions. Instead they asked if he could
host them. He began talking with them and impressed upon them the
repulsive nature of his people. Luutwas 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 nightfall, for then no one would see
them.
When darkness shrouded the town, Luutescorted his guests to his home.
No one was aware of their presence. However, as soon as Luut'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 spread it to all
the inhabitants like wildfire. The people rushed towards Luutquickly
and excitedly.
When Luutsaw 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 Allaah's punishment. He urged them to seek sexual
fulfilment with their wives, for that is what Allaah had made lawful.
Luut's people waited until he had finished his short sermon, and then
they roared with laughter. Blinded by lust, they broke down the door.
Luutbecame very angry, but he stood powerless before these violent
people. He felt powerless to prevent the abuse of his guests, but he
firmly 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 to him: "Do not be anxious or frightened, for we are
angels, and these people will not harm you."
On hearing this, the mob was terrified and fled from Luut's house,
hurling threats at him as they left. The angels warned Prophet Luutto
leave his house before sunrise, taking with him all his family, except
his wife.
Allaah had decreed that the city ofSodomshould 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 then rained on
the city. Everyone and everything was destroyed, including Luut's
wife.
The Holy Quran recorded this event; it states )what means(:"So We
saved him and his family, all. Except an old woman ]his wife[ among
those who remained behind. Then We destroyed the others. And We rained
upon them a rain ]of stones[, and evil was the rain of those who were
warned. Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be
believers. And indeed, your Lord – He is the Exalted in Might, the
Merciful."]Quran: 26:170-175[
Thus, the people of Luutwere destroyed and their towns and names have
been erased from the face of the earth.
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