Prophet Lut
لوطعليه السلام
Nephew of Ibrahim, sent to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. His people were destroyed for their wickedness and transgression.
Mission to Sodom
Lut was the nephew of Ibrahim who believed in his message and migrated with him. He was sent to the people of Sodom and the surrounding cities near the Dead Sea. These people were engaged in unprecedented acts of immorality, highway robbery, and open wickedness in their gatherings.
وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ أَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُم بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّنَ الْعَالَمِينَ
“And [We sent] Lut when he said to his people, 'Do you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds?'”
The Angels Visit
Allah sent angels in the form of handsome young men to Lut. The wicked people of the city rushed to Lut's house, demanding access to his guests. Lut was distressed and tried to reason with them, but they persisted. The angels then revealed their true identity and told Lut to leave with his family during the night, warning that his wife would be among those who remained behind.
قَالُوا يَا لُوطُ إِنَّا رُسُلُ رَبِّكَ لَن يَصِلُوا إِلَيْكَ ۖ فَأَسْرِ بِأَهْلِكَ بِقِطْعٍ مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ
“They said, 'O Lut, indeed we are messengers of your Lord; they will never reach you. So set out with your family during a portion of the night.'”
The Destruction
At dawn, the cities were turned upside down and rained upon with stones of baked clay. The entire civilization was wiped out. Lut's wife, who had sympathized with the people and betrayed his trust, was among those destroyed. The area of the Dead Sea today stands as a stark reminder of this event.
فَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَمْرُنَا جَعَلْنَا عَالِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهَا حِجَارَةً مِّن سِجِّيلٍ مَّنضُودٍ
“So when Our command came, We made the highest part [of the city] its lowest and rained upon them stones of layered hard clay.”
Key Lessons
- ◆Standing for morality in an immoral society is a prophetic duty
- ◆Open and unashamed sin invites divine punishment
- ◆Family bonds do not guarantee shared faith — each person is accountable individually
References & Sources
- Quran: Surah Hud (11:77-83), Al-A'raf (7:80-84), Ash-Shu'ara (26:160-175), Al-Qamar (54:33-40), Al-Ankabut (29:28-35)
- Ibn Kathir, Qasas al-Anbiya