غادر النبي إبراهيم عليه السلام مصر برفقة ابن أخيه لوط عليه السلام، فذهب الأخير إلى مدينة سدوم (سادوم)، التي كانت على الشاطئ الغربي للبحر الميت.

Prophet Abraham (PBUH) left Egypt accompanied by his nephew Lut (PBUH), who then went to the city of Sodom (Sadum), which was on the western shore of the Dead Sea.

هذه المدينة كانت مليئة بالشر. كان أهلها يتربصون بالمسافرين ويسلبونهم ويقتلونهم. وكان من الشرور الشائعة بينهم أيضاً أن يأتي الرجال الرجال بدلاً من النساء. وقد عُرف هذا الفعل المخالف للفطرة لاحقاً باسم "اللواط" (نسبةً إلى مدينة سدوم). وكان يُمارَس علانيةً ودون حياء.

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.

وفي ذروة هذه الجرائم والمعاصي أوحى الله إلى النبي لوط عليه السلام أن يدعو القوم إلى الإقلاع عن فاحش أفعالهم، لكنهم كانوا منغمسين في عاداتهم الخبيثة إلى حدٍّ جعلهم صمًّا عن دعوة لوط، فلم يصغوا إليه، حتى حين حذّرهم من عذاب الله، بل هددوه بإخراجه من المدينة إن استمر في دعوته.

It was at the height of these crimes and sins that Allah revealed to Prophet Lut (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.

قال الله تعالى: قوم لوط (الذين سكنوا مدن سدوم في فلسطين)

Allah the Almighty revealed: The people of Lot (those dwelt in the towns of Sodom in Palestine)

كَذَّبَ قَوْمُ لُوطٍ الْمُرْسَلِينَ، إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ أَخُوهُمْ لُوطٌ: أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ؟ إِنِّي لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ، فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ. وَمَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ، إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ. أَتَأْتُونَ الذُّكْرَانَ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَتَذَرُونَ مَا خَلَقَ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ؟ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ قَوْمٌ عَادُونَ. قَالُوا: لَئِنْ لَمْ تَنْتَهِ يَا لُوطُ لَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُخْرَجِينَ. قَالَ: إِنِّي لِعَمَلِكُمْ مِنَ الْقَالِينَ.

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, O 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)

{فِعْلِ قَوْمِ لُوطٍ} رَبِّ نَجِّنِي وَأَهْلِي مِمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ. فَنَجَّيْنَاهُ وَأَهْلَهُ أَجْمَعِينَ، إِلَّا عَجُوزًا فِي الْغَابِرِينَ.

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 (this wife) among those who remained behind. (Ch 26:160-171 Quran)

وقد أحزن أفعالُ قوم لوط قلبَه، وانتشرت سمعتهم السيئة في الأرض كلها، بينما كان يكافحهم. ومرّت السنون وهو يواصل دعوته، لكن دون جدوى. فلم يستجب له أحد ويؤمن إلا أفراد من أسرته، ولم يؤمن جميع أفراد بيته، بل كانت امرأة لوط كافرةً، مثلَ امرأة نوح.

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.

قال الله تعالى:

Allah the Almighty declared:

www.islambasics.com ﴿ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا امْرَأَتَ نُوحٍ وَامْرَأَتَ لُوطٍ ۖ كَانَتَا تَحْتَ عَبْدَيْنِ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا صَالِحَيْنِ فَخَانَتَاهُمَا فَلَمْ يُغْنِيَا عَنْهُمَا مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا وَقِيلَ ادْخُلَا النَّارَ مَعَ الدَّاخِلِينَ﴾ (سورة التحريم: 10)

www.islambasics.com "Allah set 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 doctrines) so they (Noah & Lut) benefited them (their respective wives) not, against Allah, and it was said: "Enter the Fire along with those who enter!" (Ch 66:10 Quran)

إذا كان البيت هو مكان الراحة والطمأنينة، فإن لوطاً لم يجد ذلك، إذ كان يُعذَّب داخل بيته وخارجه. كانت حياته عذاباً متواصلاً، وقاسى منه كثيراً، لكنه ظل صابراً ثابتاً مع قومه. مرّت السنون، ومع ذلك لم يؤمن به أحد.

If home is the place of comfort and rest, then Lut 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.

بَلْ كَذَّبُوا رِسَالَتَهُ وَاسْتَهْزَءُوا بِهِ، وَتَحَدَّوْهُ سَاخِرِينَ: «ائْتِنَا بِعَذَابِ اللَّهِ إِنْ كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ». [العنكبوت: 29]

Instead, they belittled his message and mockingly challenged him: "Bring Allah's Torment upon us if you are one of the truthful!" (Ch 29:29 Quran).

غَلَبَ الْيَأْسُ عَلَى لُوطٍ، فَدَعَا اللهَ أَنْ يَنْصُرَهُ وَيُهْلِكَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ.

Overwhelmed with despair, Lot prayed to Allah to grant him victory and destroy the corrupt.

فَانْطَلَقَ الْمَلَائِكَةُ مِنْ عِنْدِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَاتَّجَهُوا نَحْوَ سَدُومَ بَلْدَةِ لُوطٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ. وَوَصَلُوا إِلَى أَسْوَارِ الْبَلْدَةِ عَصْرًا. وَكَانَتْ أَوَّلَ مَنْ لَمَحَهُمْ ابْنَةُ لُوطٍ، وَكَانَتْ جَالِسَةً بِجَانِبِ النَّهْرِ تَمْلَأُ جَرَّتَهَا بِالْمَاءِ. فَلَمَّا رَفَعَتْ وَجْهَهَا وَرَأَتْهُمْ، دُهِشَتْ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ رِجَالٌ بِمِثْلِ هَذَا الْجَمَالِ الْبَهِيِّ.

Therefore, the angels left Abraham (pbuh) and headed for Sodom the town of Lut (pbuh). 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.

قال لها أحدُ الرجال الثلاثة (الملائكة): «يا فتاة، هل من مكانٍ نستريح فيه؟» فتذكّرت طبيعة قومها، فأجابت: «قفوا هنا، ولا تدخلوا حتى أُخبر أبي ثم أعود». وتركت جرّتها عند النهر، وركضت مسرعةً إلى بيتها.

One of the tree men (angels) asked her: "O 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.

"يَا أَبَتِ! إِنَّهُمْ يَنْتَظِرُونَكَ عِنْدَ بَابِ الْمَدِينَةِ، وَمَا رَأَيْتُ مِثْلَ وُجُوهِهِمْ قَطُّ!" قَالَتْ. فَشَعَرَ لُوطٌ بِالضِّيقِ، وَأَسْرَعَ يَرْكُضُ إِلَى ضَيْفِهِ. سَأَلَهُمْ مِنْ أَيْنَ جَاءُوا وَإِلَى أَيْنَ يَذْهَبُونَ، فَلَمْ يُجِيبُوا عَلَى أَسْئِلَتِهِ، بَلْ سَأَلُوهُ أَنْ يُضِيفَهُمْ. فَأَخَذَ يَتَحَدَّثُ مَعَهُمْ، وَأَلَحَّ عَلَيْهِمْ فِي بَيَانِ طَبِيعَةِ قَوْمِهِ.

لَمَّا أَظْلَمَ اللَّيْلُ عَلَى الْبَلْدَةِ، أَخَذَ لُوطٌ ضَيْفَهُ إِلَى بَيْتِهِ. لَمْ يَعْلَمْ أَحَدٌ بِوُجُودِهِمْ. وَلَكِنْ حِينَ رَأَتِ امْرَأَةُ لُوطٍ الضَّيْفَ، خَرَجَتْ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ خُفْيَةً حَتَّى لَا يَلْحَظَهَا أَحَدٌ. وَسَرَعَانَ مَا رَكَضَتْ إِلَى قَوْمِهَا بِالْخَبَرِ، فَانْتَشَرَ بَيْنَ جَمِيعِ السُّكَّانِ كَالنَّارِ فِي الْهَشِيمِ. فَأَقْبَلَ الْقَوْمُ نَحْوَ لُوطٍ مُسْرِعِينَ مُتَحَمِّسِينَ. تَعَجَّبَ لُوطٌ مِنِ اكْتِشَافِهِمْ لِضَيْفِهِ، وَتَسَاءَلَ: مَنِ الَّذِي أَخْبَرَهُمْ؟ وَلَكِنِ اتَّضَحَ الْأَمْرُ حِينَ لَمْ يَجِدْ زَوْجَتَهُ فِي أَيِّ مَكَانٍ، فَازْدَادَ حُزْنُهُ إِلَى حُزْنِهِ.

When darkness fell on the town, Lot escorted his guest 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.

لَمَّا رَأَى لُوطٌ الْقَوْمَ يُقْبِلُونَ نَحْوَ بَيْتِهِ، أَغْلَقَ الْبَابَ، لَكِنَّهُمْ ظَلُّوا يَضْرِبُونَ عَلَيْهِ.

When Lot saw the mob approaching his house, he shut the door, but they kept on banging on it.

ناشدهم أن يتركوا الضيوف وأن يتقوا عذاب الله. وحثّهم على أن يقضوا شهوتهم مع نسائهم، فذلك هو ما أحلّه الله لهم.

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.

ثُمَّ انتظرَ قومُ لوطٍ حتى أتمَّ خطبتَه القصيرةَ، ثمَّ انفجروا ضاحكين.

Lot's people waited until he had finished his short sermon, and then they roared with laughter.

أعمتهم الشهوة، فكسروا الباب. غضب لوط غضبًا شديدًا، لكنه وقف عاجزًا أمام هؤلاء القوم المعتدين. لم يكن قادرًا على منع الاعتداء على ضيوفه، لكنه ثبت في موقفه ومضى يناشد الجمع.

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.

في تلك اللحظة الرهيبة، تمنّى لو كان يملك القدرة على دفعهم بعيدًا عن ضيوفه. ولمّا رأوه في حال من العجز والحزن، قال الضيوف: «لا تخف ولا تحزن يا لوط، فإنّا رسل من الملائكة، ولن يصل هؤلاء القوم إليك بسوء». فلمّا سمع القوم ذلك، أصابهم الذعر، وفرّوا من بيت لوط، وهم يُلقون عليه التهديدات وهم منصرفون. وأمر الملائكة نبيّ الله لوطًا عليه السلام أن يغادر بيته قبل طلوع الشمس، وأن يأخذ معه جميع أهله إلا امرأته. فقد قضى الله أن تُهلَك مدينة سدوم. فزُلزلت المدينة زلزالًا شديدًا، وكأنّ قوّة عظيمة رفعت المدينة كلها ثم قلبتها في هزّة واحدة. وانهمرت على المدينة عاصفة من الحجارة.

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 Lut (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.

ودُمِّرَ كلُّ شيءٍ وكلُّ مَن فيه، بما في ذلك امرأةُ لوطٍ.

Everyone and everything was destroyed, including Lot's wife.

قال الله تعالى هذه القصة:

Allah the Almighty recounted this story:

وَنَبِّئْهُمْ عَن ضَيْفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ * إِذْ دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا

"And tell them about the guests (angels) of Abraham. When they entered unto him, and said:

قَالَ سَلَامٌ ۖ قَالَ سَلَامٌ ۖ قَالَ إِنَّا مِنكُمْ وَجِلُونَ Note: The original text is a Qur'an passage, so I'm rendering it in the standard Qur'anic Arabic, as it appears in the mushaf, with the verses in the Arabic script. {قَالَ سَلَامٌ ۖ قَالُوا سَلَامًا ۖ قَالَ إِنَّا مِنكُمْ وَجِلُونَ * قَالُوا لَا تَوْجَلْ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَامٍ عَلِيمٍ * قَالَ أَبَشَّرْتُمُونِي عَلَىٰ أَن مَّسَّنِيَ الْكِبَرُ فَبِمَ تُبَشِّرُونَ * قَالُوا بَشَّرْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ فَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ الْقَانِطِينَ * قَالَ وَمَن يَقْنَطُ مِن رَّحْمَةِ رَبِّهِ إِلَّا الضَّالُّونَ * قَالَ فَمَا خَطْبُكُمْ أَيُّهَا الْمُرْسَلُونَ * قَالُوا إِنَّا أُرْسِلْنَا إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍ مُّجْرِمِينَ * إِلَّا آلَ لُوطٍ ۚ إِنَّا لَمُنَجُّوهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ * إِلَّا امْرَأَتَهُ قَدَّرْنَا ۙ إِنَّهَا لَمِنَ الْغَابِرِينَ}

"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, O Messengers?" They (the angels) said: "We have been sent to a people who are Mujrimeen (criminals, disbeliveers, 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 the those who remain behind (she will be destroyed).

فَلَمَّا جَاءَ آلَ لُوطٍ الْمُرْسَلُونَ ۝ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ مُّنكَرُونَ ۝ قَالُوا بَلْ جِئْنَاكَ بِمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَمْتَرُونَ ۝ وَأَتَيْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ ۝ فَأَسْرِ بِأَهْلِكَ بِقِطْعٍ مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ وَاتَّبِعْ أَدْبَارَهُمْ وَلَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنكُمْ أَحَدٌ وَامْضُوا حَيْثُ تُؤْمَرُونَ ۝ وَقَضَيْنَا إِلَيْهِ ذَٰلِكَ الْأَمْرَ أَنَّ دَابِرَ هَٰؤُلَاءِ مَقْطُوعٌ مُّصْبِحِينَ ۝ وَجَاءَ أَهْلُ الْمَدِينَةِ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ ۝ قَالَ لُوطٌ

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 a part 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 The inhabitants of the city came rejoicing (at the news of the young men's arrival). Lot said:

أُغلِق الكتاب على قوم لوط عليه السلام. وطُمِست ديارهم وأسماؤهم عن وجه الأرض. وذهبوا فلم يبقَ لهم ذكرٌ في الذاكرة. أُغلِق كتابٌ من كتب الفساد. ومضى لوطٌ عليه السلام نحو إبراهيم عليه السلام. فزاره، ولمّا قصّ عليه خبر قومه، تعجّب إذ علم أن إبراهيم عليه السلام كان يعلم ذلك من قبل.

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.

فَاسْتَمَرَّ لُوطٌ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي دَعْوَةِ النَّاسِ إِلَى اللهِ، كَمَا اسْتَمَرَّ إِبْرَاهِيمُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، الصَّبُورُ الْمُنِيبُ إِلَى اللهِ، وَثَبَتَ الرَّجُلَانِ عَلَى رِسَالَتِهِمَا.

So Lut (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.