7. The Story of Sayyidnā Lūt عليه السالم and His People
   7.1 The Ambiyā’ Always Called First to Tawhīd; Lā ‘Ilāha ‘il Allāh
   7.2 The Ambiyā’ Used to Confront the Present Problems of the Society
   7.3 The Major Disease of the People of Lūt was Homosexuality
   7.4 The People of Lūt عليه السالم Invented this Sin
   7.5 Hayāh (Shyness) is Unfortunately Lost Among Muslims too
   7.6 Tahāra (Chasteness/Purity) is Seen as Something Shameful Today
   7.7 The generosity of Ibrāhīm عليه السالم
   7.8 The Servant of Allāh ﷻ is Pleased when Punishment Comes on Evil
   7.9 Sayyidatnā Sārah is Given the Glad Tidings
   7.10 ‘Ibrāhīm عليه السالم was Concerned for Two Reasons
   7.11 The Witness of Lūt Against His People
   7.12 The Messengers of Allāh ﷻ Arrive in the Town
   7.13 The Wife of Lūt Spreads the News about the Three Handsome Men
   7.14 The People of Lūt Receive the Punishment of Allāh ﷻ
   7.15 The Doom
   7.16 Reflect upon the Present Situation of the Evil Societies of Today
   7.17 We Muslims Severely Disapprove the Sin of Homosexuality

7.1 The Ambiyā’ Always Called First to Tawhīd; Lā ‘Ilāha ‘il Allāh

We will start with the story of Sayyidnā Lūt عليه السالم . Sayyidnā Lūt عليه السالم  was sent to the people of Sadūm – or Sodom in English. He didn’t belong to those people. He was the nephew of ‘Ibrāhīm, but he was sent on a mission to make Da’wah to those people, and he made Da’wah to them, obviously. Always, we find that the first thing the Ambiyā call to is Allāh ﷻ – Tawhīd; Lā ‘Ilāha ‘Illā Al-Lāhu – there is no god but Allāh ﷻ. But we need to realize that ‘Lā ‘Ilāha ‘Illā Al-Lāhu’ is not a word that is spoken only, it is a way of life. And when we say, “Lā ‘Ilāha ‘Illā Al-Lāhu”, we are saying that there is no god that should be worshipped, except Allāh ﷻ, and no god should be followed, except Allāh ﷻ, because there is no other god than Allāh ﷻ. That would mean that the commandments, and the orders and the instructions should be taken from Allāh ﷻ.

7.2 The Ambiyā’ Used to Confront the Present Problems of the Society

We notice that the Ambiyā of Allāh ﷻ, when they are dealing with their people, they confront the problems of the society, and they do not confront hypothetical situations, problems that are irrelevant, or problems of the far past. They confront the diseases of the society. They put their hand on the disease, and they understand the symptoms of it, and then they attack it. And that is a very difficult thing to do. It is very easy to make Da’wah to people by giving them the things they want to hear, and neglecting the things they don’t want to hear. For example, the people are suffering from a certain problem. For example, we are dealing with a government that is ruling with dictatorship, we are not going to speak about the government. Leave that alone. The people in front of me are smoking, I am not going to talk about smoking, I am going to talk about something else. The people that I am dealing with are suffering from a problem of Hijāb, the women are not wearing Hijāb, [but] no, I am going to talk about Salāh, I am not going to talk about Hijāb, that is controversial, leave it alone. The people would love you as a Dā’iya when you do that, they would love you because you are letting them hear the things they want to hear. But that’s not the way of the Ambiyā of Allāh ﷻ. The Ambiyā of Allāh ﷻ would attack the particular problem the society is suffering from, and that is what put the Ambiyā of Allāh ﷻ in trouble. That is why all of the Ambiyā of Allāh ﷻ suffered from the oppression of their people, because the people don’t want to hear about their mistakes, people do not want you to tell them about their problems. They don’t want you to tell them that they are wrong. People want you to make them feel that they are comfortable. And they [the Ambiyā] attack, and they pinpoint the particular problem, and they attack it. All of the Ambiyā of Allāh ﷻ, this is their way. But in the Da’wah that we give today, very rarely do we follow this method because we are weak. But we need to follow the way of the Ambiyā of Allāh ﷻ in their Da’wah. It is very important because the religion of Allāh ﷻ comes to confront the particular problems that the people are facing with. It did not come to deal with hypothetical problems, and hypothetical issues, and issues of the past. The Ummah is suffering from problems today, we need to face those problems, and not talk about things that are already dead or gone, or things that didn’t happen and that is why Lūt عليه السالم  attacked the people and told them about the thing they do not want to hear about.

7.3 The Major Disease of the People of Lūt was Homosexuality

The people of Lūt were suffering from the disease of homosexuality. That was a major disease that the society was suffering from. That wasn’t the only problem, they also had other problems related to that, and that is that they were criminals. They would rob the travellers, they would cause corruption in the land, they had very perverted hearts. So, Lūt عليه السالم  told the people,

“Go you in unto the males of the ‘Alamin (mankind), and leave those whom Allāh has created for you to be your wives? Nay, you are a trespassing people!”(Ash-Shu’arā’ – 26:165, 166) He told them, “This thing you are doing is wrong”.

7.4 The People of Lūt عليه السالم  Invented this Sin

The people of Lūt were very, very corrupt. We read in these Āyāt, Lūt عليه السالم  is telling his people,

And (remember) Lūt! When he said to his people. Do you commit Al-Fahishah (evil, great sin, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse, sodomy, etc.) while you see (one another doing evil without any screen)?”(An-Naml – 27:54) The people of Lūt used to do this in public, in their clubs. They wouldn’t do it in secret, in private. They would do it in public, and they are the ones who invented this sin. Therefore, if anybody tells you that, “This is in the genes”, that is not true; because the people of Lūt are the ones who have invented it. Now, we find people in America or in the West, who are trying to justify this action by saying that this is something biological, in your genes. That’s not the case, because Lūt عليه السالم  says,

And (remember) Lūt (Lot), when he said to his people: “You commit Al- Fahishah (sodomy the worst sin) which none has preceded you in (committing) it in the ‘Alamin (mankind and jinns). Verily, you do sodomy with men, and rob the wayfarer (travellers, etc.)! And practise Al-Munkar (disbelief and polytheism and every kind of evil wicked deed) in your meetings.”(Al-’Ankabūt – 28:28, 29) Nobody did this before you, you are the ones who invented this sin. Wa Taqţa`ūna As-Sabīla – and you would rob the traveller. Wa Ta’tūna Fī Nādīkumu Al-Munkara – and you would commit sins in your clubs. They had these clubs in which they would drink, and they would commit these sins in their clubs, in public. Very evil. And the people of Lūt lost, they completely lost a concept of shame. They had no shame – no Hayāh. Because when you reach to the level where you would commit such a thing in public, that tells you that these people had no Hayāh – no shame whatsoever.

7.5 Hayāh (Shyness) is Unfortunately Lost Among Muslims too

And this is something that we find in the West today. Among men and among women, there is no shyness. Being shy is a negative characteristic. You are supposed to be assertive, aggressive, outgoing, loud, and noisy. And I have seen from some of the sisters, for example, that the Hijāb is only a show from the outside, but from the inside it’s homegrown in America. And I have seen it, for example, in conventions, you find that young Muslim sisters are bumping into the brothers, and pushing them around, and screaming in the elevators, and laughing loudly. This is something that you cannot see in Muslim countries when you go to the rural areas. There is shyness. This Hayāh is lost! This Hayāh is lost, even from the Muslims who are living in the West. And these are very important qualities because Hayāh is a branch of Īmān! Hayāh is a branch of Īmān, and Hayāh is not only for the women, but also for the men. Hayāh is for men and women.

The people of Lūt, when they heard this Message that Lūt عليه السالم  is telling them, that what you’re doing is wrong, Allāh ﷻ says,

And the answer of his people was only that they said: “Drive them out of your town, these are indeed men who want to be pure (from sins)!”(Al-’A’rāf – 7:82) Why? What was the justification given by the people of Lūt?

“‘Innahum ‘Unāsun Yataţahharūn – because these are people who want to be pure.”

7.6 Tahāra (Chasteness/Purity) is Seen as Something Shameful Today

See how the good becomes bad and the bad becomes good? How the concepts are turned upside down? The people of Lūt are saying, “Kick Lūt out!” Why? “Because they want to be pure. You are supposed to be impure. If you want to stay here, you cannot be pure.” In other words, they are saying that our law doesn’t protect the pure people. If you want to be clean, then you are in the wrong place. It’s the same thing with Muslims now living in the West; if you are going to follow the rules of Allāh ﷻ and be pure, you are looked at as fundamentalist or extremist. You have to go with the society in these impurities and dirt, to get along. This is Tahāra and they were upset because the people of Lūt [the Followers] had Tahāra, they wanted them to leave. And then they said,

“If you cease not. O Lūt (Lot)! Verily, you will be one of those who are driven out!”(Ash-Shu’arā – 26:167-169) Lūt عليه السالم , even though he is alone, but he is telling them, in public, the truth. Allāh ﷻ says,

Lūt responded, “I am, indeed, of those who disapprove with severe anger and fury your shameful action (of sodomy).(Ash-Shu’arā – 26:167-169)

Realize and know, that I disapprove severely, and strongly with what you are doing. I am not going to get along with you. I am not going to get along with you, I do not approve what you are doing. And then he made a Du’ā,

“My Lord! Save me and my family from what they do.”(Ash-Shu’arā – 26:167-169)

7.7 The generosity of Ibrāhīm عليه السالم

In another part of the world, ‘Ibrāhīm عليه السالم  received three guests, three men. They came in the house of ‘Ibrāhīm عليه السالم . ‘Ibrāhīm, the father of generosity; he went out and got a calf and he slaughtered it.

They say that the two requirements of generosity are quality and quantity. For you to be generous, you have to provide good quality and you have to provide the right quantity. That’s the two conditions of generosity – quality and quantity. Allāh ﷻ says, about this calf that ‘Ibrāhīm عليه السالم  presented to the people, in one Āyah it says “`Ijlin Samīn – it was a fat calf.” In the other Āyah it says, “`Ijlin Hanīdh – it is a roasted calf.” So, one Āyah is talking about the quality of that food, it was excellent quality, it was roasted. So, it was very well cooked. And the other Āyah is telling us about the quantity of the food, and that is `Ijlin Samīn – it was fat, it was enough for them. So, ‘Ibrāhīm عليه السالم  fulfilled the two requirements of generosity – the quality and the quantity. So, he presented them with this calf, he slaughtered it, he cooked it. It’s a lot of effort, and he presented it to these three guests. But the amazing thing, or the shocking thing to ‘Ibrāhīm is that they didn’t eat. Travelers must be hungry, and they didn’t eat. ‘Ibrāhīm عليه السالم  was afraid. He started feeling mistrust towards them. Allāh ﷻ says,

But when he saw their hands went not towards it (the meal), he felt some mistrust of them, and conceived a fear of them. They said: “Fear not, we have been sent against the people of Lūt (Lot).”(Hūd – 11:70)

These three men were angels sent by Allāh ﷻ to the people of Lūt عليه السالم .

7.8 The Servant of Allāh ﷻ is Pleased when Punishment Comes on Evil

Immediately, when they said this statement, Sayyidatnā Sārah was in the background listening to them, and when she heard that these three messengers [Angels] are going to punish the people of Lūt, she laughed. Fadahikat – she laughed. Why did she laugh? We should have hatred in our hearts of evil, and we should be happy and pleased, when the punishment comes on evil. So Sayyidatnā Sārah, when she heard the news, that these evil people are going to be destroyed, she was happy. Obviously, maybe many of us don’t understand this concept. What we understand is, when my team wins in soccer, or when my team wins in basketball or in football, that’s when we are happy, and that’s when we are cheering. But with the Sālihīn – the righteous, these are the games that they watch, and this is what they are happy for. And it’s not a game, it’s a conflict between good and evil, and they are happy when good wins, and they are upset when evil wins. So Sayyidatnā Sārah was happy when she heard the news that the people of Lūt are going to be destroyed. When she left, what was the response of the angels, the three men? These angels were in the form of men.

7.9 Sayyidatnā Sārah is Given the Glad Tidings

Allāh ﷻ says, “And his wife was standing (there), and she laughed (either, because the Messengers did not eat their food or for being glad for the destruction of the people of Lūt (Lot). But We gave her glad tidings of Ishāq (Isaac), and after him, of Ya’qūb (Jacob).(Hūd – 11:71) So they gave her now, glad tidings. We also came to give you the glad tidings that you will have a son, his name will be Ishāq عليه السالم . And then your son Ishāq will have a son, and he is Ya’qūb عليه السالم . She slapped her face, faşakkat Wajhahā – she slapped her face in amazement and she frowned, and said, “I am an old woman, and my husband is old! How can we have a child?” Hādhā Lashay’un `Ajībun – she said, “This is a strange thing!” The angels told her,

They said: “Do you wonder at the Decree of Allāh?”(Hūd – 11:73)

‘Is the order and commandment of Allāh ﷻ strange?’

There is nothing strange. Allāh ﷻ can with ‘Kun faya kūn’ – He would tell anything to be, and it will become.

The Mercy of Allāh and His Blessings be on you, O the family [of ‘Ibrāhīm (Abraham)]. Surely, He (Allāh) is All-Praiseworthy, All-Glorious.(Hūd – 11:73)

Raĥmatu Allāhi Wa Barakātuhu `Alaykum ‘Ahla Al-Bayti – Allāh ﷻ is giving the blessings, and the mercy on the household of ‘Ibrāhīm عليه السالم ; it is a blessed household.

‘Ibrāhīm عليه السالم  and Sārah received the glad tidings of a son. They were given the glad tidings, and this is after ‘Ibrāhīm already had his son Ismā’īl عليه السالم . They were very old in age, maybe over a hundred years old. They are given the news that they would have a child, and his name would be Ishāq, and then after Ishāq, Ya’qūb (Peace be upon them).

The Jews say that Ishāq was the one who was sacrificed, and not Ismā’īl عليه السالم . Now how can Ishāq be sacrificed, when ‘Ibrāhīm and Sārah were told that Ishāq would live, and would have a son, and his son would be Ya’qūb? What is the point in telling ‘Ibrāhīm to sacrifice Ishāq if ‘Ibrāhīm already knows that Ishāq would live, and would have a son and his son is Ya’qūb? This shows you that the Jews, because of their jealousy and hatred, tried to change everything, take everything from Ismā’īl عليه السالم  and give it to Ishāq عليه السالم . All of them are the Ambiyā of Allāh and Allāh ﷻ gives honouring to whomever He wills. Anyway, this is something on the side.

Now in this meeting, the angels delivered this news, that you would have a child and his name is Ishāq. ‘Ibrāhīm is thinking about something else. ‘Ibrāhīm عليه السالم  is concerned. We would expect that ‘Ibrāhīm would be concerned about the news that he would have a son, no! He was thinking about something else. He thanked Allāh ﷻ, that Allāh ﷻ will give him Ishāq, but he is concerned, he is thinking about something else at that moment. And he just waited until the conversation about Ishāq and Ya’qūb was over, and then he said, Allāh ﷻ says

Then when the fear had gone away from (the mind of) ‘Ibrāhīm, and the glad tidings had reached him, he began to plead with Us (Our Messengers) for the people of Lūt. Verily, ‘Ibrāhīm was, without doubt, forbearing, used to invoke Allāh with humility, and was repentant (to Allāh all the time, again and again).(Hūd – 11:74-76) ‘Ibrāhīm عليه السالم  was concerned; the angels said that they would destroy the people of Lūt عليه السالم .

7.10 ‘Ibrāhīm عليه السالم  was Concerned for Two Reasons

‘Ibrāhīm was concerned for two reasons. First of all, because Lūt عليه السالم  was still there, and in another Āyah, ‘Ibrāhīm is telling the angels, “Lūt is there!” ‘Ibrāhīm عليه السالم  is concerned because his nephew, the righteous Nabī of Allāh ﷻ, Lūt عليه السالم  is still in the village. And ‘Ibrāhīm thought that maybe the punishment will come and destroy everyone in the village. And ‘Ibrāhīm, also because of his gentleness and his mercy, he was pleading for the people of Lūt; he wanted to give them another chance, maybe they would repent to Allāh ﷻ, and believe. So, he is pleading for them, “Give them another chance!” But the angels told him,

 “O ‘Ibrāhīm (Abraham)! Forsake this. Indeed, the Commandment of your Lord has gone forth. Verily, there will come a torment for them which cannot be turned back.”(Hūd – 11:74-76)

“Oh ‘Ibrāhīm, leave this issue alone, leave this matter alone!” ‘Innahu Qad Jā’a ‘Amru Rabbika – the order of Allāh ﷻ has already been revealed; there is no changing it, you cannot plead for this, you cannot make any Shafā’ on this. The order of Allāh ﷻ, the commandment of Allāh ﷻ has already descended! And they said, “Wa ‘Innahum ‘Ātīhim `Adhābun Ghayru Mardūdin – verily there will come a torment for them, that cannot be turned back.”

7.11 The Witness of Lūt Against His People

The punishment, there’s no way it can be turned back. That’s it! The angels left. They came to ‘Ibrāhīm عليه السالم  to deliver to him the news, and that is Ishāq عليه السالم  and Ya’qūb عليه السالم . And they left on their way to fulfil their mission; they are heading to Sadūm. When they reached to the outskirts of the town, it is said that the first one who saw them was the daughter of Lūt.

7.12 The Messengers of Allāh ﷻ Arrive in the Town

She saw these three handsome, young men. She immediately rushed towards her father and told him, “My father, there are three young, handsome men coming in town!” The father immediately rushed outside to meet them, and to tell them, be my guests, because Lūt عليه السالم  knows if they are not his guests, they are going to be guests with somebody else from the people of Sadūm. If he doesn’t take care of them, they would be in trouble; and these are three young, handsome men. Lūt عليه السالم  was walking into the town, he was walking in front of them to make sure that nobody will see them, if they are seen they will be in trouble. So, he is leading them in the streets of the town, and then Lūt looked back at them and said, “Wallāhi mā a’lam ‘alā wajhi al-ard ahad afsad min ahl hādhihi al- qaryah – in the name of Allāh ﷻ, I don’t know of anyone on the face of the earth who is more evil than these people.” They didn’t respond. He turned again to them and said, “In the name of Allāh ﷻ, I don’t know that there’s anyone on the face of the earth, more evil than these people”. What is Lūt trying to do? Lūt عليه السالم  doesn’t want to tell them, ‘Leave!’. He doesn’t want to say explicitly, leave, because they might interpret it as, ‘he doesn’t want to host us, so let’s leave him alone and go and find somebody else’. He doesn’t want to do that, because he knows if they go and find another host, they would be in trouble. But he wants to give them a correct assessment of the situation. He thinks that these are foreigners, they don’t know what’s going on, so he wants to tell them, ‘Do you know where you’re going? Do you know what town this is? Do you know the evil that is happening here?’, so that they would take the initiative and leave on their own. And he kept on doing that, again and again, three or four or five times. Every now and then, he would turn back and say, “These are the most evil people, these people are corrupt.” Lūt عليه السالم  doesn’t know what’s happening. Lūt is speaking to these three men, and he doesn’t know what’s happening because Ibn Kathīr says, that these three angels, in the form of men, were given instructions by Allāh ﷻ; that you do not destroy the people of Lūt, until you hear the witness of their Nabi against them. So, the angels were recording everything Lūt عليه السالم  was saying, because he is their Nabi, they have to hear what he says about them, he is the one who will be asked about them on the Day of Judgement. So, before these people are punished, they need to get the most important witness, and that is the witness of their own Nabi. So, the angels were silent, and they were recording everything Lūt عليه السالم  was saying; “These people are the most evil people on the face of the earth”, and the angels are writing that down. They got the witness of Lūt عليه السالم  and now they can go ahead with the punishment.

7.13 The Wife of Lūt Spreads the News about the Three Handsome Men

Lūt عليه السالم  is seeing that these three men are not getting the point, and they are following him, and things are getting more difficult on him.

Allāh ﷻ is describing to us this situation of Lūt عليه السالم ,

And when Our Messengers came to Lūt (Lot), he was grieved on their account and felt himself straitened for them (lest the town people should approach them to commit sodomy with them). He said: “This is a distressful day.”(Hūd – 11:77) He was feeling uncomfortable. Imagine the situation of Lūt, very difficult situation; he needs to protect these three men. And then he took them into his house, and he closed the doors. Nobody saw them. So, who leaked the news? The wife of Lūt. The wife of Lūt left, and she went to the people of Lūt, and she told them that, “There are three handsome men in our house!” She was collaborating with them. Allāh ﷻ says,

Allāh sets forth an example for those who disbelieve, the wife of Nūh (Noah) and the wife of Lūt (Lot).(At-Tahrīm – 66:10) She was collaborating with the people of Lūt, and she is the one who leaked out the information that these three men are in town. She went and told them this, and the news was spreading, and the crowds were gathering in the streets. They were coming out of their clubs, rushing in the streets. Crowds are rushing in the streets. Allāh ﷻ says,

And the inhabitants of the city came rejoicing (at the news of the young men’s arrival).(Al-Hijr – 15:67) Happy, celebrating, and rioting and demonstrations were outside of the house of Lūt. And there was a crowd; imagine a huge crowd of men celebrating, and dancing, and singing; Yastabshirūna – they are happy. Allāh ﷻ describes this evil scene, and Allāh ﷻ says, “La`amruka – in your life”. Muhammad ﷺ is the only person whom Allāh ﷻ makes an oath in his life. Allāh ﷻ makes an oath in anything of his creation. We can only make an oath in Allāh ﷻ. Allāh ﷻ has made an oath in no other human being in Qur’ān, except Muhammad ﷺ; La`amruka – in your life. Allāh ﷻ is making an oath in the life of Muhammad ﷺ. What does Allāh ﷻ say?

Verily, by your life (O Muhammad), in their wild intoxication, they were wandering blindly.(Al-Hijr – 15:72) Sakrā means they were drunk, but they were not drunk because of alcohol, they were not intoxicated because of alcohol, they were intoxicated by their lusts. Desires, and especially sexual desires, they can blind a person, they can literally blind the heart. It can make a person drunk, obsessed, and blind – a’mal basīra, and that was the situation of the people of Lūt. Lūt عليه السالم  came out to his people. Allāh ﷻ says,

And his people came rushing towards him, and since aforetime they used to commit crimes (sodomy, etc.)(Hūd – 11:78) Lūt told these people,

Lūt said: “Verily! these are my guests, so shame me not.(Al-Hijr – 15:68-71)

“And fear Allāh and disgrace me not.”(Al-Hijr – 15:68-71) What is this disgrace you are going to cause on me? These are my guests. They told him, Lūt عليه السالم ,

They (people of the city) said: “Did we not forbid you to entertain (or protect) any of the ‘Alamin (people, foreigners, strangers from us)?”(Al-Hijr – 15:68-71)

By their corrupt law, by their law, they have already placed some restrictions on Lūt. They told him, “You are not allowed to host any guests.” And then Lūt عليه السالم  told them,

Lūt said: “These (the girls of the nation) are my daughters (to marry lawfully), if you must act (so).”(Al-Hijr – 15:68-71)

He is not talking about his own daughters; he is talking about the daughters of the ummah because he is like their father. He said, “Here are the daughters.” They said, “We don’t have any need in your daughters. You know what we want!”

 “And indeed you know well what we want!(Hūd – 11:79)” We want your guests. Allāh ﷻ describes this difficult, critical situation; crowds celebrating outside, and rioting outside the house of Lūt عليه السالم , pushing the door to come in.

Lūt عليه السالم  said,

 “This is a distressful day.”(Hūd – 11:77)

What a difficult day! The pressure was building on Lūt عليه السالم , building, and building and building, he is carrying all this pressure on his shoulders. He then said, “Hādhā Yawmun `Aşībun – this is a distressful day.” He is trying his best, but he is losing grounds. And when we felt that this is a hopeless case, and that he is losing this battle, he wanted help. But Lūt عليه السالم  didn’t belong to that town, so he didn’t have any family to help him. He didn’t have a tribe to support him, and Lūt عليه السالم  didn’t have any sons, he had daughters, he didn’t have any men to fight with him. He was alone. In that moment of difficulty, in that critical moment, an extreme moment of distress on Sayyidnā Lūt عليه السالم , he said the following statement,

He said: “Would that I had strength (men) to overpower you, or that I could betake myself to some powerful support (to resist you).”(Hūd – 11:80)

If only I had a source of power to lean on. I wish that I have a source of power to lean on, so that I can fight you, family, or tribe, or men or sons.

Rasūlullāh ﷺ says, “Yarhamullāhu Lūt – May Allāh have mercy on Lūt. He had the strongest source of power with him; Allāh ﷻ. ” (Sahīh al-Bukhārī 3372, 3375, 4694, -Sahīh Muslim 151c, -Sunan Ibn Mājah 4026 In that particular moment, when Lūt said that statement, “I wish that I can lean on some source of power”, in that moment Allāh ﷻ says that the angels said,

They (Messengers) said: “O Lūt (Lot)! Verily, we are the Messengers from your Lord! They shall not reach you!”(Hūd – 11:81) These three men finally spoke out in that moment. Just one second before the defeat of Lūt عليه السالم , because that’s it, these men were crowding and were breaking in, and in that moment in which Lūt عليه السالم  said, “I wish that I have a source of power to lean on”, Rasūlullāh ﷺ said, “He had the strongest power with him; he had Allāh ﷻ on his side.”(Sahīh al-Bukhārī 3372, 3375, 4694 .Sahīh Muslim 151c. Sunan Ibn Mājah 4026)

7.14 The People of Lūt Receive the Punishment of Allāh ﷻ

The angels then spoke up and said, “O Lūt, we are the messengers of Allāh, do not fear, and they will not reach you.” And then they said,

So travel with your family in a part of the night, and let not any of you look back, but your wife (will remain behind), verily, the punishment which will afflict them, will afflict her. Indeed, morning is their appointed time. Is not the morning near?”(Hūd – 11:81) ‘Leave with your family in the darkness of the night.’ ‘Wa Lā Yaltafit Minkum ‘Aĥadun – and nobody of you look back.’ When you leave, do not look back. ‘’Illā Amra’ataka – except your wife.’

There are two interpretations on this: Do not take your wife with you. Leave her in town. The other interpretation is, that she would leave with you, but then she would look back and she would be killed.’Innahu Muşībuhā Mā ‘Aşābahum – she would be punished with the same punishment they are punished. And then they said, “‘Inna Maw`idahumu Aş-Şubĥu. ‘Alaysa Aş- Şubĥu Biqarībin – their appointed time is morning. Isn’t morning soon?”

7.15 The Doom

Lūt عليه السالم  left, under the darkness of night, with his daughters, with his family. Early in the morning with sunrise, when Lūt is already away from Sadūm, he walked away. Suddenly, As-Saīhah – the awful cry, attacked the people of Lūt. And then the angel Jibrīl عليه السالم , transformed out of this human form into his original angelic form. Jibrīl عليه السالم , which was in the form of a man, came out in his angelic form to fill the horizon with 700 wings. And then Jibrīl عليه السالم , with the tip of his wing, not with the whole wing, with the tip of his wing scraped up the whole town of the people of Lūt, and raised them up in the sky, and then flipped them upside down, and smashed them back to earth. And then Allāh ﷻ sent on them stones. Everyone received a stone with his name. Allāh ﷻ has never ever combined such a punishment on any people in history. They were afflicted with the awful cry, and then they were raised up and turned upside down, and then they received missiles from the sky to destroy them all, and to exterminate them from the face of the earth. Allāh ﷻ says,

So As-Saihah (torment – awful cry,) 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 Allāh).(Al-Hijr – 15:73-75)

7.16 Reflect upon the Present Situation of the Evil Societies of Today

I want to close with this verse, but before that, let’s look at the conditions we are living in. We are living now, in a society that is starting to recognise homosexuals as a minority group that deserves special status and deserves special rights. We are living in a society that, now, is publicly promoting this, in media, TV, movies. We are living in a society that is now officially in some places marrying them. We are living in a society that regards them as a group that needs to be defended. These things that exist in America and the West today, we need to understand and realize. According to my information, according to my knowledge, never ever in the history of mankind, since Lūt عليه السالم  until now, whether we are talking about pagans or Muslims or Christians or Jews or any other religion, never has this sin been promoted publicly as it is being promoted today in the West.

And look at all of the societies of the world – I am not talking about Muslims only. This is something that is not viewed with any respect in any religion. In every culture and society, whether we are talking about Asia, India or China, Japan, Africa, Europe, up till this time, nobody in the world since the time of Lūt عليه السالم  until now, allowed such a sin to be prompted publicly, and to be sanctified by the law except the societies of the West that we are living in today. We need to realize that if this sin is promoted, and becomes public, and is protected by law, then Allāh ﷻ will bring down his punishment because Allāh ﷻ says,

And they are not ever far from the Zalimun (polytheists, evil-doers, etc.).(Hūd – 11:83) Allāh ﷻ, after these Āyāt of Lūt says, “And this punishment is not far away from the evil doers.” This punishment will come down on any society that promotes such a sin. This sin does exist in every society of the world, but it’s underground and the people despise it, and the people dislike it, and they make fun of anybody who commits it, and they are outcasts of the society. In any place of the world, Muslim or non-Muslim, except in the West today, it is looked upon right now, and if we could get to the stage in the future, for some people they view it as an honour, that is how evil things became. This is the perception we need to have about this sin, that this is something that Allāh ﷻ will not allow to happen, and this is something that will draw the punishment of Allāh ﷻ.

7.17 We Muslims Severely Disapprove the Sin of Homosexuality

And we make our voice clear, and we say that we disapprove this sin, we disapprove it severely, we view that this sin is haram, and that it should be punished, and we do not approve of any public promotion of such a sin, and we make it a statement that we say aloud and clearly to everyone. And we are not afraid, and we say, even if they accuse of discrimination, or accuse us of extremism or fundamentalism, this is our religion. This is the religion of Allāh ﷻ.

Allāh ﷻ says about Lūt,

He said: “I am, indeed, of those who disapprove with severe anger and fury your (this evil) action (of sodomy).(Ash-Shu’arā – 26:168)