One of the major events in the life of Abraham the Friend (Ibrāhīm Khalīl, peace be upon him) is the story of the people of Lot and the collective calamity that befell them. Lot (Lūṭ, peace be upon him) was the son of Haran, who, as previously mentioned, was also known as Azar (Tāriḥ). Lot was the nephew of Abraham. As stated earlier, Abraham, Haran, and Nahor were brothers. It is said that this Haran was the founder of the city of Harran, but this is a weak opinion, as it contradicts the sources of the People of the Book. Allah knows best.
Lot (peace be upon him), by the command and permission of his uncle Abraham the Friend (peace be upon him), left his uncle’s neighborhood and settled in the city of Sodom, which was part of the region of Ghūr al-Zaghir. Ghūr was the capital of the area, with towns, villages, and district centers attached to it. There lived a people who were the most immoral, most disbelieving, most corrupt in their hearts and conduct. They would waylay travelers and commit evil deeds in their gatherings. "They did not desist from the evil they were doing. What evil they used to do." (al-Māʾida 5:79)
They invented a type of lewdness that no one before them had ever committed. They abandoned the women whom Allah the Exalted had created for His righteous servants, and instead approached men, engaging in sexual relations with them. Lot called them to worship Allah alone, without partner. He forbade them from these unlawful, prohibited, and abominable acts. Yet they persisted in their deviation and transgression, continuing in their kufr (disbelief) and immorality. Thereupon, Allah the Exalted sent upon them a punishment they could not have imagined or anticipated, one that could not be averted. He made them a lesson for all people of reason and insight in this world. For this reason, their story is recounted in several places in the Noble Qur’an, as follows:
"And [We had sent] Lot when he said to his people, 'Do you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds? Indeed, you approach men with desire, instead of women. Rather, you are a transgressing people.' But the answer of his people was only that they said, 'Evict them from your city! Indeed, they are men who keep themselves pure.' So We saved him and his family, except for his wife; she was of those who remained behind. And We rained upon them a rain [of stones]. Then see how was the end of the criminals." (al-Aʿrāf 7:80-84)
"And certainly did Our messengers come to Abraham with good tidings; they said, 'Peace.' He said, 'Peace,' and did not delay in bringing [them] a roasted calf. But when he saw their hands not reaching for it, he distrusted them and felt from them apprehension. They said, 'Fear not. We have been sent to the people of Lot.' And his wife was standing, and she smiled. Then We gave her good tidings of Isaac and after Isaac, Jacob. She said, 'Woe to me! Shall I give birth while I am an old woman and this, my husband, is an old man? Indeed, this is an amazing thing!' They said, 'Are you amazed at the decree of Allah? May the mercy of Allah and His blessings be upon you, people of the house. Indeed, He is Praiseworthy and Honorable.' And when the fright had left Abraham and the good tidings had reached him, he began to argue with Us concerning the people of Lot. Indeed, Abraham was forbearing, grieving, and [frequently] returning [to Allah]. [The angels said], 'O Abraham, give up this [plea]. Indeed, the command of your Lord has come, and indeed, there will reach them a punishment that cannot be repelled.' And when Our messengers came to Lot, he was distressed for them and felt for them great discomfort and said, 'This is a trying day.' And his people came hastening to him, and before this they had been doing evil deeds. He said, 'O my people, these are my daughters; they are purer for you. So fear Allah and do not disgrace me concerning my guests. Is there not among you a man of reason?' They said, 'You have already known that we have no claim to your daughters, and indeed, you know what we want.' He said, 'If only I had against you some power or could take refuge in a strong support.' The angels said, 'O Lot, indeed we are messengers of your Lord; [therefore], they will never reach you. So set out with your family during a portion of the night and let not any among you look back – except your wife; indeed, she will be struck by that which strikes them. Indeed, their appointment is [for] the morning. Is not the morning near?' So when Our command came, We made the highest part [of the city] its lowest and rained upon them stones of layered hard clay, [which were] marked from your Lord. And Allah’s punishment is not from the wrongdoers [very] far." (Hūd 11:69-83)
"And inform them about the guests of Abraham. When they entered upon him and said, 'Peace.' He said, 'Indeed, we are fearful of you.' They said, 'Fear not. We give you good tidings of a learned boy.' He said, 'Do you give me good tidings although old age has come upon me? Of what [wonder] do you inform?' They said, 'We give you good tidings in truth, so do not be of the despairing.' He said, 'And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord except for those astray?' He said, 'Then what is your business, O messengers?' They said, 'Indeed, we have been sent to a people of criminals, except the family of Lot; indeed, we will save them all except his wife.' We decreed that she is to be of those who remain behind. And when the messengers came to the family of Lot, he said, 'Indeed, you are people unknown.' They said, 'But we have come to you with that about which they were disputing, and we have come to you with truth, and indeed, we are truthful. So set out with your family during a portion of the night and follow behind them and let not any among you look back and go where you are commanded.' And We conveyed to him the decree that the last remnant of those people would be cut off by morning. And the people of the city came rejoicing. He said, 'Indeed, these are my guests, so do not disgrace me. And fear Allah and do not shame me.' They said, 'Have we not forbidden you from [protecting] people?' He said, 'If you must act, then [take] these are my daughters.' By your life, [O Muhammad], indeed they were, in their intoxication, wandering blindly. So the shriek seized them at sunrise. And We made the highest part [of the city] its lowest and rained upon them stones of hard clay. Indeed in that are signs for those who discern. And indeed, those cities are [situated] on an established road. Indeed in that is a sign for the believers." (al-Ḥijr 15:51-77)
"The people of Lot denied the messengers. When their brother Lot said to them, 'Will you not fear Allah? Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger. So fear Allah and obey me. And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds. Do you approach males among the worlds and leave what your Lord has created for you as mates? But you are a people transgressing.' They said, 'If you do not desist, O Lot, you will surely be of those evicted.' He said, 'Indeed, I am, toward your deed, of those who detest [it]. My Lord, save me and my family from [the consequence of] what they do.' So We saved him and his family, all, except an old woman among those who remained behind. Then We destroyed the others. And We rained upon them a rain [of stones], and evil was the rain of those who were warned. Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers. And indeed, your Lord – He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful." (al-Shuʿarāʾ 26:160-175)
"And [mention] Lot, when he said to his people, 'Do you commit immorality while you are seeing? Do you indeed approach men with desire instead of women? Rather, you are a people behaving ignorantly.' But the answer of his people was only that they said, 'Evict the family of Lot from your city. Indeed, they are people who keep themselves pure.' So We saved him and his family, except for his wife; We determined she should be of those who remained behind. And We rained upon them a rain [of stones], and evil was the rain of those who were warned." (al-Naml 27:54-58)
"And Lot said to his people, 'Indeed, you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds. Indeed, you approach men and obstruct the road and commit evil in your meetings.' But the answer of his people was only that they said, 'Bring us the punishment of Allah, if you should be among the truthful.' He said, 'My Lord, support me against the corrupting people.' And when Our messengers came to Abraham with the good tidings, they said, 'Indeed, we will destroy the people of that city. Indeed, its people have been wrongdoers.' Abraham said, 'Indeed, Lot is in it.' They said, 'We are more knowing of who is in it. We will surely save him and his family, except his wife; she is to be of those who remain behind.' And when Our messengers came to Lot, he was distressed for them and felt for them great discomfort. They said, 'Fear not, nor grieve. Indeed, we will save you and your family, except your wife; she is to be of those who remain behind. Indeed, we will bring down upon the people of this city punishment from the sky because they have been defiantly disobedient.' And We have certainly left of it a sign as clear evidence for a people who use reason." (al-ʿAnkabūt 29:28-35)
"And indeed, Lot was among the messengers. [So mention] when We saved him and his family, all, except an old woman among those who remained behind. Then We destroyed the others. And indeed, you pass by them in the morning and at night. Then will you not use reason?" (al-Ṣāffāt 37:133-138)
In Sūrat al-Dhāriyāt, after recounting the story of Abraham’s guests and their giving him glad tidings of a knowledgeable son, it is stated:
"[Abraham] said, 'Then what is your business, O messengers?' They said, 'Indeed, we have been sent to a people of criminals, to send down upon them stones of clay, marked in the presence of your Lord for the transgressors.' So We brought out whoever was in the cities of the believers. And We found not within them other than a [single] house of Muslims. And We left therein a sign for those who fear the painful punishment." (al-Dhāriyāt 51:31-37)
"The people of Lot denied the warning. So We sent upon them a storm of stones, except the family of Lot – We saved them before dawn as favor from Us. Thus do We reward he who is grateful. And he had already warned them of Our assault, but they disputed the warning. And they had demanded from him his guests, but We blinded their eyes, [saying], 'Taste My punishment and warning.' And We have certainly made the Qur’an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?" (al-Qamar 54:33-40)
We have provided detailed explanations of these stories in our tafsir (Qur’anic exegesis) of Ibn Kathīr. Allah the Exalted has also recounted the story of Lot and his people in other parts of the Noble Qur’an, alongside the stories of Noah, ʿĀd, and Thamūd.
Our aim is to compile from verses and hadiths an account of the deeds of the people of Lot and the punishment that befell them. When Lot (peace be upon him) called them to worship Allah alone, without partner, and to refrain from the lewdness forbidden by their Lord, they did not respond. Not a single person among them believed in him. Rather, they persisted in their former ways, not abandoning their deviation and transgression. They even attempted to expel their prophet from among them. Lacking the intellect to comprehend the address directed at them, their response to the prophet’s call was simply:
"Evict the family of Lot from your city. Indeed, they are people who keep themselves pure." (al-Naml 27:56)
In reality, what is most praiseworthy, they presented as a reproach warranting expulsion. Their extreme stubbornness led them to speak in this way. Allah the Exalted purified Lot and his family, except for his wife. He brought them out of that town in the best manner. He left the disbelieving people there eternally, after turning the place into a sea from which foul odors emanate. In truth, for those disbelievers, it became a blazing fire, a boiling heat. The water of that sea is extremely bitter and salty.
The only reason they said, "Evict Lot," was that Lot forbade them from their grave disobedience and great lewdness. No nation before them had ever committed the lewdness they perpetrated. For this reason, they became a lesson to the worlds through the punishment that descended upon them.
They would waylay travelers, betray their companions, and commit all kinds of abominations in their gatherings, both in word and deed. They would even pass wind in each other’s presence without shame. Even in crowded assemblies, they did not refrain from lewdness. They did not heed the admonitions of preachers who advised them to cease their abominations. They felt no remorse for their past evils, nor did they intend to change in the future. Therefore, Allah the Exalted subjected them to a severe punishment.
One of the things they said to Lot was:
"If you are among the truthful, bring us the punishment of Allah!" (al-ʿAnkabūt 29:29)
They demanded from Lot the painful punishment with which he had threatened them. At that point, their noble prophet supplicated against them, asking the Lord of the worlds and the God of the prophets to aid him against the corrupt people. The deeds of those disbelievers weighed heavily upon Allah, angering Him, and He responded to the call of His prophet Lot.
He sent His noble messengers and mighty angels on a mission. They visited Abraham the Friend (peace be upon him), giving him the glad tidings of a knowledgeable son, and informed him of the great and comprehensive task they were assigned.
"[Abraham] said, 'Then what is your business, O messengers?' They said, 'Indeed, we have been sent to a people of criminals, to send down upon them stones of clay, marked in the presence of your Lord for the transgressors.'" (al-Dhāriyāt 51:31-34)
"And when Our messengers came to Abraham with the good tidings, they said, 'Indeed, we will destroy the people of that city. Indeed, its people have been wrongdoers.' Abraham said, 'Indeed, Lot is in it.' They said, 'We are more knowing of who is in it. We will surely save him and his family, except his wife; she is to be of those who remain behind.'" (al-ʿAnkabūt 29:31-32)
"And when the fright had left Abraham and the good tidings had reached him, he began to argue with Us concerning the people of Lot." (Hūd 11:74)
For Abraham hoped that they would respond to the divine call, or that they would turn to Allah in submission, abandoning their kufr (disbelief). For this reason, Allah the Exalted said:
"Indeed, Abraham was forbearing, grieving, and [frequently] returning [to Allah]. [The angels said], 'O Abraham, give up this [plea]. Indeed, the command of your Lord has come, and indeed, there will reach them a punishment that cannot be repelled.'" (Hūd 11:75-76)
That is, O Abraham! Refrain from arguing with Us about this matter and speak of other things. For the decree concerning them is final.
Their punishment, destruction, and the devastation of their land had become inevitable. "Indeed, the command of your Lord has come." That is, the command for their destruction has been issued by One whose command cannot be reversed, whose punishment cannot be resisted, and whose decree cannot be hindered. "Indeed, there will reach them a punishment that cannot be repelled."
Said ibn Jubayr, al-Suddī, Qatāda, and Muhammad ibn Isḥāq said: After the angels gave Abraham (peace be upon him) the news of the punishment, he asked them:
- Would you destroy a town with 300 believers in it?
- No...
- With 200 believers?
- No...
- With forty believers?
- No...
- With fourteen believers?
- No...
- With only one believer?
- No...
- "But Lot is there."
- "We know best who is there."
According to the sources of the People of the Book, Abraham (peace be upon him) asked, "O Lord! Would You destroy them if there are fifty righteous among them?" He kept reducing the number until he reached ten. Allah said, "If there are ten righteous among them, I will not destroy them."
"And when Our messengers came to Lot, he was distressed for them and felt for them great discomfort. He said, 'This is a trying day.'" (Hūd 11:77) The commentators say that the angels—Gabriel, Michael, and Israfil—after leaving Abraham, went to the town of Lot. To test the people of Lot and establish proof against them, they appeared in the form of handsome young men and arrived in Sodom after sunset as guests of Lot. Thinking they were humans, Lot feared that his immoral people would harm them, so he hosted them in his home. This distressed him greatly. "This is a trying day," he said, meaning a day of severe trial. He said this because, as with others, he would have to protect and defend these guests throughout the night. His immoral people had forbidden him from hosting any men in his home, but he was compelled to do so as there was no other way out.
According to Qatāda, the angels came to Lot while he was working in his field and asked to be his guests. Out of shyness, he accepted and led them to his house, hoping they might leave the town and settle elsewhere. Along the way, he said to them, "By Allah, I have never seen people as wicked as the people of this town." He repeated this statement four times. The angels had been commanded not to destroy the people of the town unless their prophet testified against them.
According to al-Suddī, the angels left Abraham and headed toward Lot’s town, arriving at noon. When they reached the river of Sodom, they met Lot’s daughter, who was fetching water. Lot had two daughters: the elder was named Raysā, the younger Zagarta. The angels asked her, "Young lady, is there a place where we can stay?" Fearing her people would harm them, she said, "Do not leave until I return." She went to her father and said, "Father, two young men are at the city gate asking for you. I have never seen anyone as handsome as them. I fear the townspeople may host them and disgrace them." For the people had forbidden Lot from hosting men in his home, saying, "Let us host the men."
When Lot accepted, his daughter brought the guests to the house. No one but the household saw the guests arrive. His wife went out and informed the people, saying, "There are men in Lot’s house, more handsome than any I have seen!" Upon hearing this, the men rushed to Lot’s house.
"They had been doing evil deeds before."
That is, in addition to this evil, they had previously committed many other grave sins.
Lot said, "O my people! These are my daughters. They are purer for you."
By this, he was directing them toward lawful satisfaction, for their women were, by law, like the daughters of the Prophet Lot. As the Prophet is, according to hadith, like a father to his community. As Allah the Exalted said:
"The Prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves, and his wives are [as] their mothers." (al-Aḥzāb 33:6)
Some of the Companions (ṣaḥāba) and early generations (salaf) have said that the Prophet is the father of his community.
"Do you approach males among the worlds and leave what your Lord has created for you as mates? But you are a people transgressing." (al-Shuʿarāʾ 26:165-166)
The claim of the People of the Book that Prophet Lot offered his daughters to that immoral people is baseless and false.
Though the angels who came to Lot were three, the People of the Book claim there were two, which is another error. They also claim they ate dinner with Lot, which is also incorrect.
"So fear Allah and do not disgrace me concerning my guests. Is there not among you a man of reason?" (Hūd 11:78) He forbade them from committing that abomination unbefitting of humanity. He informed them that there was not a single intelligent or virtuous person among them; rather, all were senseless, immoral, and foolish disbelievers.
These were the words the angels wanted to hear from the Prophet without asking. May Allah’s curse be upon them, they replied to their Prophet who commanded them to righteousness:
"You have already known that we have no claim to your daughters, and indeed, you know what we want." (Hūd 11:79)
May Allah curse them! They said: O Lot! You know well that we have no interest in women, and you know what we desire. They responded to their noble Prophet with this vile statement, not fearing the might of Allah, the Possessor of painful punishment. Thereupon, the noble Prophet said: "If only I had against you some power or could take refuge in a strong support." (Hūd 11:80)
He wished for strength or a tribe to aid him against them, so that he could bring down upon them the punishment they deserved for their vile words.
Al-Zuhrī narrated from Abū Hurayra in a marfūʿ report: "We have more right to doubt concerning the punishment that would descend upon the people of Lot than Abraham did. May Allah have mercy on Lot. He wished to take refuge in a strong place. If I had remained in prison as long as Joseph did, I would have responded to the caller." Muhammad ibn ʿAmr ibn ʿAlqama narrated from Abū Hurayra that the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "May Allah’s mercy be upon Lot, for he sought refuge in a strong place (i.e., Allah, the Possessor of honor and might). After him, all the prophets sent by Allah had large tribes supporting them."
Allah the Exalted said:
"And the people of the city came rejoicing. He said, 'Indeed, these are my guests, so do not disgrace me. And fear Allah and do not shame me.' They said, 'Have we not forbidden you from [protecting] people?' He said, 'If you must act, then [take] these are my daughters.'" (al-Ḥijr 15:67-71)
He warned them against persisting in their evil and urged them to approach their own wives.
They did not desist from their evil, nor did they heed advice. On the contrary, the more Lot warned them, the more they insisted on obtaining his guests. They were unaware of the calamity and the fire of punishment that fate had prepared for them, which would befall them the next morning.
For this reason, Allah the Exalted swore by the life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), saying: "By your life, [O Muhammad], indeed they were, in their intoxication, wandering blindly." (al-Ḥijr 15:72)
"And he had already warned them of Our assault, but they disputed the warning. And they had demanded from him his guests, but We blinded their eyes, [saying], 'Taste My punishment and warning.' And We have certainly made the Qur’an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?" (al-Qamar 54:36-38)
The commentators and others said: Allah’s prophet Lot (peace be upon him) tried to prevent that immoral people from entering, locking the door and striving to protect his guests. But they forced the door, trying to break in. From behind the door, he called out, advising them to desist from their wrongdoing. He repeated his advice insistently. When he was left helpless, he said: "If only I had against you some power or could take refuge in a strong support, and bring down punishment upon you." Seeing this, the angels said: "O Lot! We are messengers of your Lord. They will never reach you." (Hūd 11:81)
It is narrated that Gabriel (peace be upon him) went out and struck the faces of those immoral people with the tip of his wing, blinding them so that their eye sockets became completely closed and flat. Blinded, they groped their way home, threatening the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Lot, saying, "We will deal with him in the morning."
Allah the Exalted said: "And they had demanded from him his guests, but We blinded their eyes, [saying], 'Taste My punishment and warning.' And We have certainly made the Qur’an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?" (al-Qamar 54:37-38)
The angels then advised Lot to set out with his family—except for his wife—during the last part of the night. When he heard the sound of the punishment descending upon his people, he was told, "Let none of you remain behind." He was also advised to walk behind them like a shepherd. "Except your wife..." If read in the accusative, it means: Do not take your wife with you! If read in the nominative, it means: None of you will remain behind except your wife, who will look back. The calamity that befalls the people will befall her as well. The first reading is the stronger opinion. Allah knows best.
Al-Suhaylī said that the name of Lot’s wife was Wāliha; the name of Noah’s wife was Wāliha as well.
The angels, announcing the destruction of these rebellious and deviant people, who were made an example of curse for traitors and doubters, said to Lot:
"Indeed, their appointment is [for] the morning. Is not the morning near?" (Hūd 11:81)
Lot (peace be upon him), with his family—his two daughters—set out at night. No men followed them. Some say his wife went with them, but Allah knows best.
After escaping from the town of the immoral people, at sunrise, Allah’s irreversible command descended upon the disbelieving and immoral people, a punishment impossible to resist.
According to the sources of the People of the Book, the angels suggested Lot ascend the mountain near his town, but he preferred to go to another town. They said, "So be it. Go, and we will wait until you arrive. Once you are there, we will send down the punishment." It is narrated that he went to the town called Shuʿūr, known as Ghūr al-Zaghir. At sunrise, Allah’s punishment descended upon the town he had left.
Allah the Exalted said: "So when Our command came, We made the highest part [of the city] its lowest and rained upon them stones of layered hard clay, [which were] marked from your Lord. And Allah’s punishment is not from the wrongdoers [very] far." (Hūd 11:82-83)
It is said that Gabriel, with the tip of his wing, uprooted the seven cities with their inhabitants—numbering 400 or 4000—and their livestock, and destroyed them. The lands, places, and workplaces attached to these cities were also destroyed. They were all uprooted and lifted up, so high that the crowing of their roosters and the howling of their dogs were heard by the angels in the heavens. Then they were turned upside down and cast down. According to Mujāhid, the highest parts became the lowest.
"We rained upon them stones of layered hard clay." The word "sijjīl" is an Arabicized Persian word meaning hard and solid. "Mandūd" means successive, in a row. Those stones were marked by your Lord; on each stone was written the name of the one to be destroyed. The angels of punishment said: "Indeed, we have been sent to a people of criminals, to send down upon them stones of clay, marked in the presence of your Lord for the transgressors." (al-Dhāriyāt 51:32-34)
"And We rained upon them a rain [of stones], and evil was the rain of those who were warned." (al-Shuʿarāʾ 26:173)
"And He destroyed the towns of the people of Lot, burying them beneath the earth. O man! In which of your Lord’s favors do you doubt?" (al-Najm 53:53-54)
He overturned them, burying them, making their lowest parts their highest, and rained upon them successive, layered stones. On each stone was written the name of the disbeliever to be destroyed, whether present in the town or living elsewhere.
It is narrated that Lot’s wife remained behind with her disbelieving people. Some say she left the city with Lot and his daughters, but when she heard the shriek and saw the city’s destruction, she turned back toward her people, having always opposed her Lord’s command. Upon seeing the punishment descend, she cried, "Woe to my people!" At that moment, a stone fell from the sky and killed her, making her share the fate of her people. For she was of their religion and acted as a spy, informing them of Lot’s guests. As Allah the Exalted said:
"Allah presents an example of those who disbelieved: the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot. They were under two of Our righteous servants but betrayed them, so they [i.e., their husbands] availed them not against Allah at all, and it was said, 'Enter the Fire with those who enter.'" (al-Taḥrīm 66:10)
The betrayal mentioned in this verse refers to religious betrayal, i.e., these two women did not follow the religion of their husbands.
It does not mean that these two women committed adultery, for Allah has never decreed that any prophet’s wife should be unchaste. Ibn ʿAbbās and some of the early and later imams have said: None of the wives of the prophets ever committed adultery. Whoever claims otherwise is gravely mistaken.
During the incident of the slander (ifk) against ʿĀʾisha, Allah rebuked and admonished the believers, declaring the innocence of the Mother of the Believers, the daughter of Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq and wife of the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him), saying: "You thought it was insignificant while it was, in the sight of Allah, tremendous. Why, when you heard it, did you not say, 'It is not for us to speak of this. Exalted are You, [O Allah]; this is a great slander'?" (al-Nūr 24:15-16)
That is, O our Lord! It is impossible for the wife of Your prophet to be in such a situation. We declare You free from such a thing.
"And Allah’s punishment is not from the wrongdoers [very] far." (Hūd 11:82) That is, such punishment is never far from those who commit the vile act of the people of Lot. Based on this verse, some scholars have said that those who commit sodomy, whether married or unmarried, should be stoned to death. For example, al-Shāfiʿī, Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, and a group of imams hold this view. These scholars also cite the hadith narrated by Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal and the authors of the Sunan from Ibn ʿAbbās: The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"Whoever you find doing the deed of the people of Lot, kill the doer and the one to whom it is done."
According to Abū Ḥanīfa, the one who commits this act should be thrown from the highest place and then stoned, as was done to the people of Lot. For Allah the Exalted said: "And Allah’s punishment is not from the wrongdoers [very] far."
Allah the Exalted turned the towns of the people of Lot into a foul-smelling sea. Its water is not used, nor is the surrounding land benefited from, due to its filth and impurity. It became a lesson and admonition for others. It is a sign of Allah’s power to take vengeance on those who disobey His command, deny His prophets, and follow their own desires. It is also a sign of His mercy to His believing servants, rescuing them from danger and bringing them from darkness into light. As Allah the Exalted said: "Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers. And indeed, your Lord – He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful." (al-Shuʿarāʾ 26:8-9)
"So the shriek seized them at sunrise. And We made the highest part [of the city] its lowest and rained upon them stones of hard clay. Indeed in that are signs for those who discern. And indeed, those cities are [situated] on an established road. Indeed in that is a sign for the believers." (al-Ḥijr 15:73-77)
There are lessons for believers of insight and discernment in how Allah the Exalted changed those towns and their inhabitants, destroying their once-thriving populations. In a hadith narrated as marfūʿ by al-Tirmidhī and others, it is said: "Beware the discernment (firāsa) of the believer, for he sees with the light of Allah." After mentioning this hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recited the verse: "Indeed in that are signs for those who discern."
"And indeed, those cities are [situated] on an established road." (al-Ḥijr 15:73)
"And indeed, you pass by them in the morning and at night. Then will you not use reason?" (al-Ṣāffāt 37:137-138)
"And We have certainly left of it a sign as clear evidence for a people who use reason." (al-ʿAnkabūt 29:35)
"So We brought out whoever was in the cities of the believers. And We found not within them other than a [single] house of Muslims. And We left therein a sign for those who fear the painful punishment." (al-Dhāriyāt 51:35-37) That is, for those who fear the punishment of the Hereafter, fear Allah though they have not seen Him, fear standing before their Lord and being held accountable, restrain their nafs (the lower self) from evil desires, and thus refrain from violating divine prohibitions, abandoning sin and fearing resemblance to the people of Lot, We left lessons and admonitions in that ruined land. Whoever resembles a people in any way is counted among them. Some have said:
Even if you are not exactly like the people of Lot, you are not far from them.
The intelligent, understanding, and God-fearing person obeys the commands of Allah, the Possessor of honor and might, and accepts the advice of the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him). For example, he satisfies his desires with the lawful wives and beautiful concubines created for him. He avoids following every corruptor and incurring Allah’s threat, and being included in the scope of the verse: "And Allah’s punishment is not from the wrongdoers [very] far."