In the Shade of the Qur'an by Sayyid Qutb

The story of the Prophet Lot and his people is mentioned at this juncture, although from a historical point of view it should link up with Abraham’s story. But the historical sequence is not of importance in this sūrah which concentrates on the unity of the divine message, the method followed by all prophets and the fate of the communities addressed by these messages. Hence, the saving of the believers is highlighted alongside the doom suffered by those who opposed God’s messengers, denying their messages.

Lot begins with his people in the same way as Noah, Hūd and Şāliĥ, denouncing their carelessness, trying to awaken their consciences, and reminding them that they need to be God-fearing. He calls on them to believe in God and to obey him, assuring them that he will not charge them anything for guiding them to the right path. He follows this with a clear denunciation of their wicked perversion which made them a community apart in human history:

Of all the creatures in the world, will you lustfully approach males, and eschew the wives God has created for you? You are indeed people who transgress all bounds.

(Verses 165-166)

Lot’s people, who inhabited several villages in the Jordan Valley, were known for their sinful practice of homosexuality, which reflects a wicked perversion of human nature. God has created human males and females, making each sex naturally inclined to the other in order for human life to progress through procreation. This mutual inclination is, then, part of the universal law that ensures balance and harmony among all creatures in the universe, whether animate or inanimate, and makes them cooperate in the fulfilment of God’s will that governs the entire universe. When a man has sex with another man, their practice neither fulfils any objective nor serves the nature of the universe and its laws. It is indeed singular that anyone should find pleasure in such a practice. The pleasure a man finds with a woman is indeed the means through which human nature fulfils God’s will. Thus, the deviation from natural law is clear in Lot’s people’s actions. Hence, it was inevitable that they should refrain from their deviation or be destroyed.

Their destruction was due to the fact that they had opted out of the normal way of life and the right line of human nature. They abandoned the very purpose of their existence, which is the preservation of human life through marriage and procreation.

When Lot called on them to abandon their perversion, denouncing their neglect of the spouses God created for them and their aggression against human nature, their response clearly showed that they were not ready to return to the path that ensured the continuity of human life: “Said they: Lot! If you will not desist, you will most certainly be expelled.” (Verse 167)

Lot did not belong to them by lineage. He had accompanied his uncle, Abraham, when the latter withdrew from his people and migrated. Abraham, Lot and the small number of people who believed with them crossed the Jordan. He then lived among those people until God chose him as His messenger, requiring him to call on people to return to the right path. Their response was a threat that they would drive him out of their towns unless he abandoned his call.

When things reached this point and the threat became serious, Lot spoke out loud, making it clear that he loathed their disgusting perversion: “He said: I am one who utterly abhors your doings.” (Verse 168) He used words that vividly describe his repugnance of their practices, before adding a prayer to God to save him and his family from such evil: “My Lord! Save me and my family from what they do.” (Verse 169)

He did not do what they did, but by his upright nature he felt it to be a way of life leading to ruin. Since he was in their midst he prayed that God would save him and his family from what was bound to come about as a result of such action.

God responded to his prayer: “So We saved him and all his family except an old woman, who was among those who stayed behind.” (Verses 170-171) This old woman was his wife as mentioned in other sūrahs. She was a terrible woman who helped others in their wickedness.

“Then We utterly destroyed the others, and rained down upon them a [devastating] rain.

Dire indeed was the rain that fell upon those who were warned [to no avail].” (Verses 172- 173) It is reported that their villages were sunk into the ground and covered with water. One of these was Sodom, the ruins of which are thought to be under the Dead Sea in Jordan. Some geologists confirm that the Dead Sea covers towns that were fully populated at one time. Some archaeologists have discovered the remains of a fort close to the Dead Sea, as well as an alter close to it where offerings were made.

However, the Qur’ān gives us Lot’s story and whatever the Qur’ān states is the truth telling exactly what happened. Their end is followed by the usual comment: “Indeed, there is in this a sure sign; yet most of them will not believe. And indeed it is your Lord who is the Mighty One, the Merciful.” (Verses 174-175)