The Story of Prophet Lut (Lot) 

Summary

Did you know?

1) Prophet Lut came from Babylon (Iraq) in the birthplace of his uncle Prophet Ibrahim. During the journey of Prophet Ibrahim to migrate with his family from Iraq to Syria to Palestine accompanied by Prophet Lut, God commanded Prophet Lut to go to a city called Sodom to carry out the most challenging mission of preaching to the people of Sodom to repent and return to the way of God.

2) The city of Sodom is located on the border of Jordan and Palestine which is now known as the Dead Sea. At that time, the Dead Sea was a flat land and the City of Sodom was the focus of travelers and traders who came to trade. The city is fast but full of corruption and dishonesty. Evil was so rampant that Allah used the most despicable words to describe the people of Lut (the people of Sodom) in the Quran.

3) These people commit all kinds of crimes such as robbery, murder, and the Luth people are the first people to commit homosexual activities (the word ‘sodomy’ comes from the name of this race). Their morals are so bad that they are proud of their LGBT status and commit inverse immorality in public is normal for them.

4) Prophet Lut migrated and settled in the City of Sodom. Many times the prophet Lut invited his people to repent and return to nature. But these cursed people hated the preaching of the prophet Luth so much so that he told them to be silent and forbidden to talk to anyone. Prophet Lut swore to Allah that he was not involved and would not be at all stuck with the activities of his people. They felt humiliated by the oath of the prophet Luth as if he acted holy. Then they threatened the prophet Lut. If he did not stop preaching, they would drive the family of the prophet Lut out of the city of Sodom.

5) Prophet Lut ignored the threats of his people and continued to preach. Prophet Lut commanded, fear God’s punishment! Until one day the people challenged him, “Bring the punishment of your god now! Prove it to us! ” So God sent down his wrath. God sent his three angels who resembled three very handsome young men.

6) Interlude: When these three angels went to the city of Sodom, they went to the house of Abraham first. Prophet Ibrahim did not know who these three young men were but because he had great respect for the guests, Prophet Ibrahim served delicious food from the cows he slaughtered. When Prophet Ibrahim ate, his three guests did not touch the food. Prophet Ibrahim began to wonder. Then they said, “Do not be afraid, we are angels sent by God”. And they conveyed the good news that Siti Sarah, the barren wife of the prophet Ibrahim, was pregnant with the second child of the prophet Ibrahim namely the prophet Isaac (his first child was the prophet Ishmael from his second wife Siti Hajar). And they also told that they were going to Sodom to destroy the people of Lot by the command of God. Prophet Ibrahim was worried because he was worried about his nephew, Prophet Luth and prayed that Allah would save Prophet Lut and his family.

7) From a distance, the daughter of the prophet Lut saw three handsome young men had entered the city of Sodom. He kept running home and told his father. Prophet Lut met the three young men and tried to persuade them to break back but were rejected. Therefore, Prophet Lut took them to his house secretly because he was worried about the handsome young man on the deck because inverse vice was very prevalent at that time.

8) The wife of the prophet Lut was a polytheist who did not believe in her husband’s da’wah. When his wife saw the three young men in her house, she told the people to come and see. Then the men of the tribe came in large numbers and knocked on the door of the house of the prophet Luth. Prophet Lut said, “Do not embarrass me in front of my guests!” Prophet Lut said “Marry my daughters!” They replied, “You know we are not interested in your daughter and you know what we want” Refer to the Quran (11:79). Prophet Lut said again, “If only I had the strength to oppose you, or have strong supporters” refer to the Quran (11:80).

9) Then the three young men said to the prophet Lut that they were actually angels sent by God to destroy the people of Lut. They told the prophet Lot to take his family away from the city at night and not to look back; except his wife. Refer to the Quran (11:81). One of the angels was Gabriel. Gabriel opened the door of the house of the prophet Luth and as soon as the wind hit all the people of Luth then they became blind. Then Lot and his family fled from the city of Sodom. God sent down three plagues on the people of the prophet Lut.

10) First: The next morning, came a very loud sound called As-Saihah. The sound was so loud that the ground shook. This is the sound that Allah sent down to destroy the Thamud before this.

11) Second: Gabriel returned to his original form and using the tip of his wing, he lifted the whole city of Sodom to heaven and overturned it and it fell to the ground.

12) Third: Then Allah sent down flames of rain upon the city of Sodom – Refer to the Quran (11:82). And every stone was marked by the name of every one of the people of Lut whom he would have struck – refer to the Quran (11:83).

13) Then another nation and its city disappeared in the land of Allah, as a result of challenging His wrath. God then made the Dead Sea in the place of the city of Sodom as a reminder to mankind of what had happened to the people of Lot.

14) Prophet Lut went to see his uncle, Prophet Ibrahim to tell what had happened but Prophet Ibrahim already knew. Prophet Lut continued his life preaching to the people to always believe in God.

Detailed of story

Description of the People of Sodom

Prophet Abraham (PBUH) left Egypt accompanied by his nephew Lot , 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.

Lot’s Message

It was at the height of these crimes and sins that Allah revealed to Prophet Lot (PBUH) 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 Allah’s punishment. Instead, they threatened to drive him out of the city if he kept on preaching.

Almighty Allah 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 Allah and obey Him? Verily! I am a trustworthy Messenger to you. So fear Allah, 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 Allah has created for you to be your wives? Nay, you are a trespassing people!”

They said: “If you cease not, 0 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 (his wife) among those who remained behind. Al-Quran [26: 160-171]

Lot’s Wife

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.

Allah the Almighty declared:

Allah sets 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 doctrine) so they (Noah and Lot) benefited them (their respective wives) not, against Allah, and it was said: “Enter the Fire along with those who enter!” Al-Quran [66: 10]

Angels Come to Meet Lot

If home is the place of comfort and rest, then Lot 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 Allah’s Torment upon us if you are one of the truthful.” Al-Quran [29: 29]

Overwhelmed with despair, Lot prayed to Allah to grant him victory and destroy the corrupt. Therefore, the angels left Abraham and headed for Sodom the town of Lot . 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 three men (angels) asked her: “Oh 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.

“Oh 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.

The Mob at Lot’s House

When darkness fell on the town, Lot escorted his guests 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 Allah’s punishment. He urged them to seek sexual fulfillment with their wives, for that is what Allah 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.

The Punishment

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 Lot (PBUH) to leave his house before sunrise, taking with him all his family except his wife.

Allah had decreed that the city of Sodom should 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 rained on the city. Everyone and everything was destroyed, including Lot’s wife.

The Angels Meet Abraham

Allah 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, 0 Messengers?”

They (the angels) said: “We have been sent to a people who are Mujrimeen (criminals, disbelievers 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 those who remain behind (i.e. she will be destroyed).

Condensed Version of Lot’s Story : 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 apart 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.

And 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 Allah 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-Saiha (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 Allah). 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. Al-Quran [15: 51-77]

Allah 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. And We rained on them a rain (of torment). And 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. And verily! Your Lord, He is indeed the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful. Al-Quran [26: 170-175]

Lot’s Life after Sodom

The book was closed on the people of Lot (PBUH). 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 (PBUH) proceeded towards Abraham (PBUH). He visited him, and when he recounted the story of his people, he was surprised to learn that Abraham (PBUH) already knew. And so Lot (PBUH) continued to invite people to Allah, as did Abraham (PBUH), the patient one who turned to Allah repentantly, and the two held firm to their mission.