The Prophet Lot 2

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The Guests of Abraham

I have talked about the guests of Abraham in previous chapters. In the story of Lot, I am going to talk about another aspect of their arrival. When Abraham got the happy news of children, he relaxed and asked them about their business. “We are sent to destroy Sodom,” they answered. “Oh, but Lot is also there; what are you going to do about him?” asked Abraham. “We are going to save him and his Ahl, all those who believe in him. But his wife will stay back because she is not a believer.”

“Can you not give some more time to the people of Sodom to reflect upon their actions?” besought Abraham.  He was a very kind and soft-hearted person, one who was deeply moved by the misfortunes of others. “Abraham, do not discuss this matter anymore. Your imploring and begging cannot change the decision,” replied the guests, and they departed.

The guests entered the city. The place was not known to them; they wandered in the streets of the city before coming to the house of Lot. The people of the city saw them. Lot received them, but he was not happy to perform this act. He was aware that a simple act of hospitality might end with dire consequences.

His fears were not groundless. In no time, the people of the city surrounded the house; they said, “Hand your guests over to us,” and mockingly added, “You very well know what we want to do to them.” Lot was extremely distressed. He said, “Do not seek men as your sex partners. Here are your wives. I consider them as my daughters. You should use them as sex partners. Is there not a single man among you who can discern the right path, and can save me from the disgrace of not being able to protect my guests?” The people of the city said, “We don’t want your daughters; you know what we want to do with your guests, so hand them over to us.” Lot was so disappointed with the answer that he said, “I wish I were strong enough to protect my guests or I had some strong supporters to save me from this degrading situation.”

When the guests saw the disappointment and melancholy which was surrounding Lot, they said to him, “Don’t give way to disappointment and worry about us. We are sent by God, and these people can do no harm to us. We are to bring the doom—for which they were constantly asking—upon them. The time fixed for it is morning. Leave before morning, and don’t turn back to look at this place. Hurry, the morning is taking long strides to reach them.” Lot and his Ahl—those who believed in the message of God—were saved, except his wife, who was a non-believer.

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In the morning, the volcano erupted with great force and spewed molten lava in the area. Rock fragments ejected from the volcanic mountain and fell like rain on the nation of Lot. An earthquake ignited the sulfur mines and produced so much smoke that it was impossible to see any object. With the tremor of earthquakes, the water of the Dead Sea swallowed the land. This was the end of a nation that did not take   the warnings of God seriously and repeatedly asked for the doom.

Note: In verse (4-15) the Quran prohibits women from taking women as sex partners.