Abraham and Lut
Prophet Lut (peace be upon him) travelled with his uncle, Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him), after Abraham left Egypt. Lut later went to the city of Sodom, known as Sadum, which was located on the western side of the Dead Sea.
The people of Sodom were deeply involved in evil. They would attack travellers, rob them, and kill them. They were also openly involved in sexual relations between men instead of women, and they showed no shame about it.
Lut's Mission
At a time when these sins had become widespread, Allah revealed to Lut that he should call his people back to obedience and warn them against their behaviour.
Lut told his people to fear Allah and obey Him. He reminded them that he was a trustworthy messenger and that he did not ask them for any reward for his message. His only reward was with the Lord of all creation.
He condemned their behaviour and questioned why they approached men while abandoning the women Allah had created for them as wives. He told them that they were people who had crossed the limits set by Allah.
Instead of listening to him, the people threatened to drive him out of the city if he continued preaching.
Lut strongly rejected what they were doing and prayed to Allah to save him and his family from their evil.
Allah then saved Lut and his family, except for his wife, who remained behind with those who were destroyed. The Qur'an records this account in Surah Ash Shua'ra, verses 160 to 171.
Lut's Wife
Lut continued calling his people to Allah for many years, but no one accepted his message except some members of his household.
His wife was not among the believers. Like the wife of Prophet Nuh, she rejected the faith and did not support Lut in his mission.
Allah used the wives of Nuh and Lut as examples for those who disbelieve. Although both women were married to righteous servants of Allah, their relationship with their husbands could not save them because they had rejected the truth.
Allah states this in Surah At Tahrim, verse 10.
The Angels Come to Lut
Lut suffered greatly because of the behaviour of his people. Even his own home was not a place of complete peace because of the constant pressure surrounding him.
He remained patient and continued his mission, but the people repeatedly mocked him. They even challenged him to bring Allah's punishment upon them if he was truly telling the truth.
After years of rejection, Lut prayed to Allah for help against the corrupt people.
Allah answered his prayer. The angels who had visited Abraham travelled towards Sodom, the city of Lut.
They arrived near the city during the afternoon. Lut's daughter was beside the river filling her container with water when she saw the strangers. She was surprised by their appearance and realized that they were unfamiliar men.
One of the angels asked her if there was somewhere they could stay.
Because she knew the behaviour of her people, she became worried and told them to remain where they were while she informed her father. She then hurried home.
She told Lut that there were young men at the town entrance whose appearance she had never seen before.
Lut immediately became distressed and went to meet them. He asked where they had come from and where they were going, but they did not answer his questions. Instead, they asked whether he could host them.
Lut became very worried because he knew exactly what his people were like. He wanted to honour his guests and protect them, but he also feared what the people of the city might do.
He tried to explain the danger to his guests and eventually asked them to remain where they were until nightfall, when they would be less likely to be noticed.
The Mob Arrives at Lut's House
When night came, Lut brought the guests into his home.
Lut's wife saw them and secretly left the house. She informed the people of the city about the visitors, and the news quickly spread throughout Sodom.
A large crowd rushed towards Lut's house.
When Lut saw them approaching, he closed the door and pleaded with them to leave his guests alone. He told them to fear Allah's punishment and urged them to seek lawful relationships with their wives instead.
The people mocked him and refused to listen.
They eventually broke down the door and attempted to reach the guests. Lut became extremely distressed because he was unable to stop the crowd, but he continued standing against them and pleading with them to stop.
The Angels Reveal Who They Are
Lut felt completely helpless and wished that he had the strength to protect his guests.
At that moment, the visitors revealed the truth. They told Lut not to be afraid because they were angels and that his people would not be able to harm him.
The people became frightened and fled from the house.
The angels then told Lut that he had to leave the city during the night with his believing family. He was instructed not to take his wife because Allah had decreed that she would be destroyed with the people.
The angels explained that the people of Sodom were going to be punished because of their corruption and disbelief.
The Destruction of Sodom
Lut and his family were instructed to leave before sunrise.
Allah's punishment then came upon the city.
The town was struck by a devastating earthquake, and the cities were overturned. Stones of baked clay were also rained down upon them.
The people and everything connected to the cities were destroyed.
Lut's wife was among those left behind and was destroyed with the people.
Allah describes this event in detail in Surah Al Hijr, verses 51 to 77. The passage explains that the angels had already warned Lut to travel during the night with his family and not to look back. The destruction came at sunrise, and the cities were turned upside down before stones of baked clay were rained upon them.
Allah also describes the destruction in Surah Ash Shua'ra, verses 170 to 175, stating that Lut and his family were saved except for his wife, and that a terrible punishment was brought upon the people who had been warned.
The Angels' Visit to Abraham
Before travelling to Sodom, the angels had visited Prophet Abraham.
They entered upon him and greeted him with peace. Abraham initially felt afraid because of their unexpected arrival.
The angels reassured him and gave him the good news that he would have a son who would possess knowledge and wisdom.
Abraham was surprised because he had already reached old age. The angels reassured him that this was a true promise from Allah.
Abraham then asked the angels why they had come.
They explained that they had been sent to a sinful and criminal people. However, Lut and his believing family would be saved.
They told Abraham that Lut's wife would be among those who remained behind and would be destroyed.
The angels then travelled to Lut. When they arrived, Lut was initially unfamiliar with them and worried about what would happen. They told him that they had come with the punishment that his people had continued to doubt.
They instructed Lut to leave during the night with his family and to continue moving without looking back.
The angels also told him that the destruction of the people would take place in the early morning.
When the people of the city came towards Lut's house, he reminded them that these were his guests and pleaded with them not to disgrace him. He again called them to fear Allah.
The people refused to listen and continued in their corruption.
Allah then brought His punishment upon them at sunrise. Their cities were overturned and stones of baked clay were rained upon them.
Allah points to the destroyed cities as a sign for people who reflect and learn from His signs. The account places them along the route between Makkah and Syria, near the area where the Dead Sea is today.
This account is given in Surah Al Hijr, verses 51 to 77.
Lut After Sodom
After the destruction of Sodom and its people, the story of that corrupt community came to an end.
The cities were destroyed and their people disappeared.
Lut then travelled towards Prophet Abraham and visited him. When Lut told Abraham what had happened to his people, he discovered that Abraham already knew about their destruction through the angels.
Lut continued his mission of calling people towards Allah, just as Abraham continued to call people to Allah. Both remained firm in their mission and continued to turn towards Allah with patience and repentance.