Lineage and Background
- Lūṭ (AS) was the nephew of Prophet Ibrāhīm (AS) — his father Hārān was Ibrāhīm’s brother.
- He believed in Ibrāhīm’s message and migrated with him from Iraq to the Levant (Shām).
- Allah later chose Lūṭ (AS) as a Prophet and sent him to the people of Sodom (Saddūm) and nearby towns in the Dead Sea region, located in modern-day Jordan or Palestine.
The People of Sodom
The people of Sodom were deeply corrupt and engaged in many immoral acts, the most notorious of which was homosexuality — something not practiced by any nation before them:
“Do you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds?”
[Surah Al-A‘raf 7:80]
They were also known for:
- Robbery and banditry.
- Rejecting guests and travelers.
- Openly celebrating sin.
They lived in multiple towns — Sodom being the central one — and persisted in denying Allah and His commandments.
Lut’s (AS) Mission
Allah sent Lūṭ (AS) to warn them, guide them to righteousness, and call them to Tawḥīd (worship of Allah alone).
His message was clear:
“Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger. So fear Allah and obey me.”
[Surah Ash-Shu‘arā’ 26:161–162]
And:
“Do you approach males among the worlds and leave what your Lord has created for you as mates? But you are transgressing people.”
[Surah Ash-Shu‘arā’ 26:165–166]
Their Response
Instead of repenting, they:
- Mocked Lūṭ (AS).
- Challenged him to bring punishment.
- Rejected his warnings outright.
They even threatened him:
“If you do not stop, O Lūṭ, you will surely be expelled!”
[Surah Ash-Shu‘arā’ 26:167]
Lūṭ (AS) was pained and distressed, especially as his own wife was among the disbelievers — betraying him by supporting the people of Sodom in secret.
The Arrival of the Angels
Allah sent three angels — Jibrīl, Mīkā’īl, and Isrāfīl (peace be upon them all) — disguised as handsome young men, on their way to destroy Sodom.
On their journey, they first visited Ibrāhīm (AS) and gave him the glad tidings of a son (Ishāq) and grandson (Ya‘qūb), before informing him of Sodom’s impending destruction.
Ibrāhīm (AS) pleaded:
“Indeed, within it is Lūṭ.”
The angels replied,
“We know better who is within it. We will surely save him and his family — except his wife.”
[Surah Al-‘Ankabūt 29:32–33]
The Final Days of Sodom
When the angels arrived at Lūṭ’s house, he became worried and anxious — he feared for their safety due to his people’s obsession with immoral behavior.
“This is a trying day…”
[Surah Hūd 11:77]
The people of the town came rushing, demanding access to the guests.
Lūṭ pleaded:
“These are my daughters (i.e., lawful women) — they are purer for you. So fear Allah…”
[Surah Hūd 11:78]
But they mocked him. At that moment, the angels revealed themselves:
“O Lūṭ, indeed we are messengers of your Lord; they will never reach you…”
[Surah Hūd 11:81]
They instructed him:
- To leave the city by night with his family.
- Not to look back.
- His wife would be left behind due to her betrayal.
The Destruction of the People of Lut
As Lūṭ (AS) and the believers fled, Allah’s punishment descended at daybreak:
“We made the highest part [of the city] its lowest and rained upon them stones of hard clay…”
[Surah Hūd 11:82]
The punishment included:
- An earthquake.
- The cities being turned upside down.
- A rain of stones — marked, piled upon one another.
Their towns were utterly wiped from the face of the earth, leaving behind the Dead Sea — still known today for its lifelessness and unusual characteristics.
“Indeed, in that is a sign for those who give thought.”
[Surah Al-Hijr 15:75]
Lut (AS) and the Believers
Lūṭ (AS) and the few who followed him were saved. He is described in the Qur’an as:
“Among the righteous.”
[Surah As-Saffat 37:133]
He continued his life in another place, though little is mentioned about his later years. The legacy of his struggle remains preserved in the Qur’an.
🧠 Lessons from the Story of Lut (AS)
| Lesson | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Moral corruption invites divine wrath | The people of Lūṭ were destroyed not only for disbelief but for open and persistent immorality. |
| A Prophet can be betrayed by his own family | Lūṭ’s wife supported the disbelievers and was punished with them. |
| Divine mercy reaches the sincere | Lūṭ and the righteous few were saved despite being surrounded by evil. |
| Warnings are always given before punishment | The people were warned repeatedly, but they rejected truth arrogantly. |
| Obedience and trust in Allah brings salvation | Lūṭ followed Allah’s command and was saved with the believers. |
🏛️ Summary of Prophet Lūṭ (AS)
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Lineage | Nephew of Ibrāhīm (AS) |
| Mission | Sent to the people of Sodom |
| Message | Tawḥīd and moral purity |
| Response | Rejection, mockery, aggression |
| Punishment | Earthquake, reversal of the cities, and raining stones |
| Survivors | Lūṭ (AS) and a few believers (not his wife) |
| Legacy | A sign for all time about the dangers of persistent sin and disbelief |
