Prophet Lut (A.S.)
Quran References:
Prophet Lut (AS) is mentioned 27 times in the following Ayats of the Quran:
(Quran, 6:86, 7:80-82, 11:70, 11:74, 11:77, 11:89, 11:91, 12:38, 14:36, 15:59, 15:61, 15:67, 21:71, 21:74, 22:43, 26:160-161, 26:167, 27:54, 27:56, 29:28, 29:32-33, 37:133, 54:33)
The People of Sodom and their Sin:
In the town of Sodom, a widely common practice was men having sex with men. This was known as sodomy, named after the city of Sodom.
Prophet Lut (AS) was sent to summon the people and he would warn them of Allah’s punishment if they refused to give up this immoral act.
However, the people of Sodom would refuse to listen and threatened to force him out of the city.
Lut’s Persistent Preaching:
As the years passed, Lut (AS) would continue to call people towards Allah SWT, but no one responded to his call apart from his daughters and his own wife was also a disbeliever.
The people would say: ‘Bring Allah’s Torment upon us if you are one of the truthful’ (Quran, 29:29)
Lut (AS) prayed to Allah SWT to grant him victory and destroy the corrupt.
Arrival of the Angels:
After the angels visited Prophet Ibrahim, (mentioned in the story of Ibrahim (AS)) they headed to Sodom. Lut’s daughter saw them and told her father that guests had arrived to see him.
Prophet Lut (AS) went to meet his guests and he asked the angels where they came from and where they were going.
The angels did not answer his questions and instead asked if he could host them. Lut (AS) requested for them to wait until the evening so that nobody could see them.
Later that evening, Lut (AS) escorted his guests to his home and when his wife saw this, she ran to the disbelievers of Sodom to tell them.
This is mentioned in the Quran, where Allah SWT says: ‘And when Our messengers came to Lut..’ (Quran, 11:77)
Prophet Lut’s Confrontation with the Mob:
When the people of Sodom heard about these guests, they rushed towards Prophet Lut’s home.
Prophet Lut (AS) was shocked to see that they had found out about the guests but eventually, he realised that his own wife had informed them.
When Prophet Lut (AS) saw the people approaching his house, he shut the door, but the residents of Sodom kept on banging.
Lut (AS) pleaded with the people to leave his guests alone and to fear Allah’s punishment. However, they continued banging until they eventually broke down the door.
Lut (AS) continued to stand his ground and again pleaded with the people to fear Allah.
The angels saw Lut in a state of helplessness and grief and told him: Do not be frightened, we are angels, and these people will not harm you.
When the disbelievers of Sodom heard the angels say this, they ran away.
The Punishment of the City of Sodom:
The angels then told Prophet Lut (AS) to flee from his house before sunrise and take his family with him, apart from his wife.
This was an order from Allah SWT, which is mentioned in the Quran. Allah says: ‘Set out your family in a portion of the night… and let none of you look back.’ (Quran, 15:65)
An earthquake then rocked the city of Sodom and a storm of stones rained on the city. Allah SWT mentions in the Quran: ‘So We turned the cities upside down and rained upon them stones of baked clay.’ (Quran, 7:83)
Everything in the city of Sodom was destroyed, including Lut’s wife.
The town of Sodom was erased from the face of the earth.
Allah SWT rescued Prophet Lut (AS) and his family from this destruction. Allah says: ‘So We saved him and his family – except his wife; she was one of those who remained behind.’ (Quran, 7:83)
Aftermath:
Prophet Lut (AS) then visited his uncle Ibrahim (AS) and told him the story about the disbelievers of Sodom.
Whilst telling Ibrahim (AS), he was surprised to learn that his uncle already had knowledge of the events that occurred.
Prophet Lut (AS) continued to call people to Allah SWT until the day he passed away.
The Quran on Prophet Lut (AS):
Allah SWT describes Prophet Lut (AS) as a righteous Prophet. Allah says: ‘And we gave him judgement and knowledge, and We saved him from the people who practiced evil.’ (Quran, 21:74)
Allah SWT also mentions that the people of Lut committed a sin that no other nation had done before. Allah says: ‘Do you commit a shameful deed that no man has ever done before?’ (Quran, 7:80)