Who is Allah?

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Salt formations on the shore of the Dead Sea

Rescued from the cities of the plain

Lot

(peace be upon him)
לוֹטلوطLot · Lūṭ

Abraham's nephew, who sheltered his guests when the city turned on them.

▶ Watch the three tellingsc. 2000–1700 BCE · as tradition places it
Stand-in photograph: Indyblue · CC BY-SA 2.0

The name in three scripts

HebrewלוֹטLotHebrew
GreekΛώτLōtGreek
ArabicلوطLūṭnamed 27 times in the Qur'an

One-minute snapshot

In a minute

c. 2000–1700 BCERead time 1 min
TorahGospelQur'an

Lot (peace be upon him) was Abraham (peace be upon him)'s nephew. He settled near the cities of the plain, Sodom and Gomorrah, whose people were known for cruelty and wickedness. When angels came to him as guests, he tried to protect them from a violent crowd. God rescued Lot and his daughters before the cities were destroyed; his wife looked back and was lost. In the Qur'an Lot is a prophet who warned his people. In Genesis he is a righteous man saved for Abraham's sake.

Watch

Three traditions, three films

Each told by its own community, in its own words, side by side. More on F-ILM.

A Jewish telling

Covenant & Conversation | Vayera | Rabbi SacksThe Rabbi Sacks Legacy · 13 minRabbi Sacks on Vayera: Abraham bargains with God for Sodom; justice and mercy.

A Christian telling

Abraham and Lot (Genesis 12-13)Saddleback Kids · 2 min Shows prophets (a film-maker's portrayal)Kids option: Saddleback Kids, Abraham and Lot part ways (Genesis 12-13).

A Muslim telling

Prophet Lūṭ (AS) | Ustadha Kouthar Muttardy | Prophets of AllahADAMS Center - Official YouTube Channel · 5 minADAMS Center: Prophet Lut (spot-check tone before use).

Side by side

Three tellings

Quotations: Torah and Hebrew Bible, JPS 1917 · New Testament, World English Bible (British Edition) · Qur'an, Pickthall (1930). Translations and sources

Hebrew Bible · Torah

In Jewish tradition's own words.

  • Lot travels with Abram and chooses the well-watered plain of the Jordan.
  • He is taken captive and rescued by Abram; Abraham pleads for Sodom.
  • Two angels come as guests; the men of the city surround the house.
  • The escape at dawn; his wife becomes a pillar of salt.
“And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the Plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot dwelt.”Genesis 19:29 · JPS 1917

In the midrash Sodom outlawed charity, and a girl was put to death for feeding a beggar (Sanhedrin 109b; Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer 25).

Ezekiel 16:49 names Sodom's sin as pride, plenty and failing “the poor and needy”.

Key passages: Genesis 11:27–14:16; 18:16–19:38; Ezekiel 16:49

Is this how your tradition would say it? Tell us →

The Qur'an

In Islamic tradition's own words.

  • Lot is a messenger who warns his people against indecency, highway robbery and wrongdoing in their gatherings.
  • Guests come; the people rush to the house.
  • He and his family are saved, “except his wife”.
  • A rain of stones falls on the cities.
“And unto Lot we gave judgment and knowledge, and We delivered him from the community that did abominations. Lo! they were folk of evil, lewd.”Qur'an 21:74 · Pickthall (1930)

“May God have mercy on Lot; he sought refuge with a strong support” (Bukhari 3375, paraphrased).

Islam affirms Lot's prophethood and the purity of his character.

Key passages: Qur'an 7:80–84; 11:77–83; 15:57–77; 21:74–75; 26:160–175; 27:54–58; 29:26–35; 37:133–138; 66:10

Read the passages Hebrew Bible · Torah · 4

Genesis 19:29 · Hebrew Bible · JPS 1917

29

וַיְהִי בְּשַׁחֵת אֱלֹהִים אֶת־עָרֵי הַכִּכָּר וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים אֶת־אַבְרָהָם וַיְשַׁלַּח אֶת־לוֹט מִתּוֹךְ הַהֲפֵכָה בַּהֲפֹךְ אֶת־הֶעָרִים אֲשֶׁר־יָשַׁב בָּהֵן לוֹט׃

And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the Plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot dwelt.

Ezekiel 16:49 · Hebrew Bible · JPS 1917

49

הִנֵּה־זֶה הָיָה עֲוֺן סְדֹם אֲחוֹתֵךְ גָּאוֹן שִׂבְעַת־לֶחֶם וְשַׁלְוַת הַשְׁקֵט הָיָה לָהּ וְלִבְנוֹתֶיהָ וְיַד־עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן לֹא הֶחֱזִיקָה׃

Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom: pride, fulness of bread, and careless ease was in her and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

Genesis 11:27 · Hebrew Bible · JPS 1917

27

וְאֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדֹת תֶּרַח תֶּרַח הוֹלִיד אֶת־אַבְרָם אֶת־נָחוֹר וְאֶת־הָרָן וְהָרָן הוֹלִיד אֶת־לוֹט׃

Now these are the generations of Terah. Terah begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begot Lot.

Genesis 18:16–19 · Hebrew Bible · JPS 1917

16

וַיָּקֻמוּ מִשָּׁם הָאֲנָשִׁים וַיַּשְׁקִפוּ עַל־פְּנֵי סְדֹם וְאַבְרָהָם הֹלֵךְ עִמָּם לְשַׁלְּחָם׃

And the men rose up from thence, and looked out toward Sodom; and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.

17

וַיהֹוָה אָמָר הַמְכַסֶּה אֲנִי מֵאַבְרָהָם אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי עֹשֶׂה׃

And the LORD said: ‘Shall I hide from Abraham that which I am doing;

18

וְאַבְרָהָם הָיוֹ יִהְיֶה לְגוֹי גָּדוֹל וְעָצוּם וְנִבְרְכוּ בוֹ כֹּל גּוֹיֵי הָאָרֶץ׃

seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

19

כִּי יְדַעְתִּיו לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר יְצַוֶּה אֶת־בָּנָיו וְאֶת־בֵּיתוֹ אַחֲרָיו וְשָׁמְרוּ דֶּרֶךְ יְהוָה לַעֲשׂוֹת צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט לְמַעַן הָבִיא יְהוָה עַל־אַבְרָהָם אֵת אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּר עָלָיו׃

For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him.’

Read the passages The Christian telling · 2

Luke 17:28–32 · New Testament · WEB British Edition

28

Likewise, even as it was in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;

29

but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulphur from the sky and destroyed them all.

30

It will be the same way in the day that the Son of Man is revealed.

31

In that day, he who will be on the housetop and his goods in the house, let him not go down to take them away. Let him who is in the field likewise not turn back.

32

Remember Lot’s wife!

2 Peter 2:6–8 · New Testament · WEB British Edition

6

and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, having made them an example to those who would live in an ungodly way,

7

and delivered righteous Lot, who was very distressed by the lustful life of the wicked

8

(for that righteous man dwelling amongst them was tormented in his righteous soul from day to day with seeing and hearing lawless deeds),

Read the passages The Qur'an · 9

Qur'an 7:80–84 · The Qur'an · Pickthall (1930)

80

وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِۦٓ أَتَأْتُونَ ٱلْفَٰحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُم بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

And Lot! (Remember) when he said unto his folk: Will ye commit abomination such as no creature ever did before you?

81

إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ ٱلرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةًۭ مِّن دُونِ ٱلنِّسَآءِ ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌۭ مُّسْرِفُونَ

Lo! ye come with lust unto men instead of women. Nay, but ye are wanton folk.

82

وَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوٓا۟ أَخْرِجُوهُم مِّن قَرْيَتِكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ أُنَاسٌۭ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ

And the answer of his people was only that they said (one to another): Turn them out of your township. They are folk, forsooth, who keep pure.

83

فَأَنجَيْنَٰهُ وَأَهْلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَهُۥ كَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْغَٰبِرِينَ

And We rescued him and his household, save his wife, who was of those who stayed behind.

84

وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِم مَّطَرًۭا ۖ فَٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ

And We rained a rain upon them. See now the nature of the consequence of evil-doers!

Qur'an 11:77–83 · The Qur'an · Pickthall (1930)

77

وَلَمَّا جَآءَتْ رُسُلُنَا لُوطًۭا سِىٓءَ بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ بِهِمْ ذَرْعًۭا وَقَالَ هَٰذَا يَوْمٌ عَصِيبٌۭ

And when Our messengers came unto Lot, he was distressed and knew not how to protect them. He said: This is a distressful day.

78

وَجَآءَهُۥ قَوْمُهُۥ يُهْرَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَمِن قَبْلُ كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ ۚ قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ بَنَاتِى هُنَّ أَطْهَرُ لَكُمْ ۖ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُخْزُونِ فِى ضَيْفِىٓ ۖ أَلَيْسَ مِنكُمْ رَجُلٌۭ رَّشِيدٌۭ

And his people came unto him, running towards him - and before then they used to commit abominations - He said: O my people! Here are my daughters! They are purer for you. Beware of Allah, and degrade me not in (the person of) my guests. Is there not among you any upright man?

79

قَالُوا۟ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا لَنَا فِى بَنَاتِكَ مِنْ حَقٍّۢ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَعْلَمُ مَا نُرِيدُ

They said: Well thou knowest that we have no right to thy daughters, and well thou knowest what we want.

80

قَالَ لَوْ أَنَّ لِى بِكُمْ قُوَّةً أَوْ ءَاوِىٓ إِلَىٰ رُكْنٍۢ شَدِيدٍۢ

He said: Would that I had strength to resist you or had some strong support (among you)!

81

قَالُوا۟ يَٰلُوطُ إِنَّا رُسُلُ رَبِّكَ لَن يَصِلُوٓا۟ إِلَيْكَ ۖ فَأَسْرِ بِأَهْلِكَ بِقِطْعٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ وَلَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنكُمْ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَكَ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ مُصِيبُهَا مَآ أَصَابَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ مَوْعِدَهُمُ ٱلصُّبْحُ ۚ أَلَيْسَ ٱلصُّبْحُ بِقَرِيبٍۢ

(The messengers) said: O Lot! Lo! we are messengers of thy Lord; they shall not reach thee. So travel with thy people in a part of the night, and let not one of you turn round - (all) save thy wife. Lo! that which smiteth them will smite her (also). Lo! their tryst is (for) the morning. Is not the morning nigh?

82

فَلَمَّا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا جَعَلْنَا عَٰلِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهَا حِجَارَةًۭ مِّن سِجِّيلٍۢ مَّنضُودٍۢ

So when Our commandment came to pass We overthrew (that township) and rained upon it stones of clay, one after another,

83

مُّسَوَّمَةً عِندَ رَبِّكَ ۖ وَمَا هِىَ مِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ بِبَعِيدٍۢ

Marked with fire in the providence of thy Lord (for the destruction of the wicked). And they are never far from the wrong-doers.

Qur'an 15:57–77 · The Qur'an · Pickthall (1930)

57

قَالَ فَمَا خَطْبُكُمْ أَيُّهَا ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ

He said: And afterward what is your business, O ye messengers (of Allah)?

58

قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّآ أُرْسِلْنَآ إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍۢ مُّجْرِمِينَ

They said: We have been sent unto a guilty folk,

59

إِلَّآ ءَالَ لُوطٍ إِنَّا لَمُنَجُّوهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

(All) save the family of Lot. Them we shall deliver every one,

60

إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَهُۥ قَدَّرْنَآ ۙ إِنَّهَا لَمِنَ ٱلْغَٰبِرِينَ

Except his wife, of whom We had decreed that she should be of those who stay behind.

61

فَلَمَّا جَآءَ ءَالَ لُوطٍ ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ

And when the messengers came unto the family of Lot,

62

قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌۭ مُّنكَرُونَ

He said: Lo! ye are folk unknown (to me).

63

قَالُوا۟ بَلْ جِئْنَٰكَ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ فِيهِ يَمْتَرُونَ

They said: Nay, but we bring thee that concerning which they keep disputing,

64

وَأَتَيْنَٰكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَإِنَّا لَصَٰدِقُونَ

And bring thee the Truth, and lo! we are truth-tellers.

65

فَأَسْرِ بِأَهْلِكَ بِقِطْعٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱتَّبِعْ أَدْبَٰرَهُمْ وَلَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنكُمْ أَحَدٌۭ وَٱمْضُوا۟ حَيْثُ تُؤْمَرُونَ

So travel with thy household in a portion of the night, and follow thou their backs. Let none of you turn round, but go whither ye are commanded.

66

وَقَضَيْنَآ إِلَيْهِ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْأَمْرَ أَنَّ دَابِرَ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ مَقْطُوعٌۭ مُّصْبِحِينَ

And We made plain the case to him, that the root of them (who did wrong) was to be cut at early morn.

The passage continues; open it in the player or your own Bible or Qur'an.

Qur'an 21:74–75 · The Qur'an · Pickthall (1930)

74

وَلُوطًا ءَاتَيْنَٰهُ حُكْمًۭا وَعِلْمًۭا وَنَجَّيْنَٰهُ مِنَ ٱلْقَرْيَةِ ٱلَّتِى كَانَت تَّعْمَلُ ٱلْخَبَٰٓئِثَ ۗ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَوْمَ سَوْءٍۢ فَٰسِقِينَ

And unto Lot we gave judgment and knowledge, and We delivered him from the community that did abominations. Lo! they were folk of evil, lewd.

75

وَأَدْخَلْنَٰهُ فِى رَحْمَتِنَآ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ

And We brought him in unto Our mercy. Lo! he was of the righteous.

Qur'an 26:160–175 · The Qur'an · Pickthall (1930)

160

كَذَّبَتْ قَوْمُ لُوطٍ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

The folk of Lot denied the messengers (of Allah),

161

إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ أَخُوهُمْ لُوطٌ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ

When their brother Lot said unto them: Will ye not ward off (evil)?

162

إِنِّى لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌۭ

Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you,

163

فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ

So keep your duty to Allah and obey me.

164

وَمَآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِىَ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

And I ask of you no wage therefor; my wage is the concern only of the Lord of the Worlds.

165

أَتَأْتُونَ ٱلذُّكْرَانَ مِنَ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

What! Of all creatures do ye come unto the males,

166

وَتَذَرُونَ مَا خَلَقَ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّنْ أَزْوَٰجِكُم ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ عَادُونَ

And leave the wives your Lord created for you? Nay, but ye are froward folk.

167

قَالُوا۟ لَئِن لَّمْ تَنتَهِ يَٰلُوطُ لَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْمُخْرَجِينَ

They said: If thou cease not, O Lot, thou wilt soon be of the outcast.

168

قَالَ إِنِّى لِعَمَلِكُم مِّنَ ٱلْقَالِينَ

He said: I am in truth of those who hate your conduct.

169

رَبِّ نَجِّنِى وَأَهْلِى مِمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ

My Lord! Save me and my household from what they do.

The passage continues; open it in the player or your own Bible or Qur'an.

Qur'an 27:54–58 · The Qur'an · Pickthall (1930)

54

وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِۦٓ أَتَأْتُونَ ٱلْفَٰحِشَةَ وَأَنتُمْ تُبْصِرُونَ

And Lot! when he said unto his folk: Will ye commit abomination knowingly?

55

أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ ٱلرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةًۭ مِّن دُونِ ٱلنِّسَآءِ ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌۭ تَجْهَلُونَ

Must ye needs lust after men instead of women? Nay, but ye are folk who act senselessly.

56

۞ فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوٓا۟ أَخْرِجُوٓا۟ ءَالَ لُوطٍۢ مِّن قَرْيَتِكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ أُنَاسٌۭ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ

But the answer of his folk was naught save that they said: Expel the household of Lot from your township, for they (forsooth) are folk who would keep clean!

57

فَأَنجَيْنَٰهُ وَأَهْلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَهُۥ قَدَّرْنَٰهَا مِنَ ٱلْغَٰبِرِينَ

Then We saved him and his household save his wife; We destined her to be of those who stayed behind.

58

وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِم مَّطَرًۭا ۖ فَسَآءَ مَطَرُ ٱلْمُنذَرِينَ

And We rained a rain upon them. Dreadful is the rain of those who have been warned.

Qur'an 29:26–35 · The Qur'an · Pickthall (1930)

26

۞ فَـَٔامَنَ لَهُۥ لُوطٌۭ ۘ وَقَالَ إِنِّى مُهَاجِرٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّىٓ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

And Lot believed him, and said: Lo! I am a fugitive unto my Lord. Lo! He, only He, is the Mighty, the Wise.

27

وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥٓ إِسْحَٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَجَعَلْنَا فِى ذُرِّيَّتِهِ ٱلنُّبُوَّةَ وَٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَءَاتَيْنَٰهُ أَجْرَهُۥ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ فِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ

And We bestowed on him Isaac and Jacob, and We established the prophethood and the Scripture among his seed, and We gave him his reward in the world, and lo! in the Hereafter he verily is among the righteous.

28

وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِۦٓ إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ ٱلْفَٰحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُم بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

And Lot! (Remember) when he said unto his folk: Lo! ye commit lewdness such as no creature did before you.

29

أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ ٱلرِّجَالَ وَتَقْطَعُونَ ٱلسَّبِيلَ وَتَأْتُونَ فِى نَادِيكُمُ ٱلْمُنكَرَ ۖ فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوا۟ ٱئْتِنَا بِعَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ

For come ye not in unto males, and cut ye not the road (for travellers), and commit ye not abomination in your meetings? But the answer of his folk was only that they said: Bring Allah's doom upon us if thou art a truthteller!

30

قَالَ رَبِّ ٱنصُرْنِى عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ

He said: My Lord! Give me victory over folk who work corruption.

31

وَلَمَّا جَآءَتْ رُسُلُنَآ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ بِٱلْبُشْرَىٰ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا مُهْلِكُوٓا۟ أَهْلِ هَٰذِهِ ٱلْقَرْيَةِ ۖ إِنَّ أَهْلَهَا كَانُوا۟ ظَٰلِمِينَ

And when Our messengers brought Abraham the good news, they said: Lo! we are about to destroy the people of that township, for its people are wrong-doers.

32

قَالَ إِنَّ فِيهَا لُوطًۭا ۚ قَالُوا۟ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن فِيهَا ۖ لَنُنَجِّيَنَّهُۥ وَأَهْلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَهُۥ كَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْغَٰبِرِينَ

He said: Lo! Lot is there. They said: We are best aware of who is there. We are to deliver him and his household, all save his wife, who is of those who stay behind.

33

وَلَمَّآ أَن جَآءَتْ رُسُلُنَا لُوطًۭا سِىٓءَ بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ بِهِمْ ذَرْعًۭا وَقَالُوا۟ لَا تَخَفْ وَلَا تَحْزَنْ ۖ إِنَّا مُنَجُّوكَ وَأَهْلَكَ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَكَ كَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْغَٰبِرِينَ

And when Our messengers came unto Lot, he was troubled upon their account, for he could not protect them; but they said: Fear not, nor grieve! Lo! we are to deliver thee and thy household, (all) save thy wife, who is of those who stay behind.

34

إِنَّا مُنزِلُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَهْلِ هَٰذِهِ ٱلْقَرْيَةِ رِجْزًۭا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْسُقُونَ

Lo! We are about to bring down upon the folk of this township a fury from the sky because they are evil-livers.

35

وَلَقَد تَّرَكْنَا مِنْهَآ ءَايَةًۢ بَيِّنَةًۭ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَعْقِلُونَ

And verily of that We have left a clear sign for people who have sense.

Qur'an 37:133–138 · The Qur'an · Pickthall (1930)

133

وَإِنَّ لُوطًۭا لَّمِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

And lo! Lot verily was of those sent (to warn).

134

إِذْ نَجَّيْنَٰهُ وَأَهْلَهُۥٓ أَجْمَعِينَ

When We saved him and his household, every one,

135

إِلَّا عَجُوزًۭا فِى ٱلْغَٰبِرِينَ

Save an old woman among those who stayed behind;

136

ثُمَّ دَمَّرْنَا ٱلْءَاخَرِينَ

Then We destroyed the others.

137

وَإِنَّكُمْ لَتَمُرُّونَ عَلَيْهِم مُّصْبِحِينَ

And lo! ye verily pass by (the ruin of) them in the morning

138

وَبِٱلَّيْلِ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

And at night-time; have ye then no sense?

Qur'an 66:10 · The Qur'an · Pickthall (1930)

10

ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًۭا لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱمْرَأَتَ نُوحٍۢ وَٱمْرَأَتَ لُوطٍۢ ۖ كَانَتَا تَحْتَ عَبْدَيْنِ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا صَٰلِحَيْنِ فَخَانَتَاهُمَا فَلَمْ يُغْنِيَا عَنْهُمَا مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًۭٔا وَقِيلَ ٱدْخُلَا ٱلنَّارَ مَعَ ٱلدَّٰخِلِينَ

Allah citeth an example for those who disbelieve: the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot, who were under two of Our righteous slaves yet betrayed them so that they (the husbands) availed them naught against Allah and it was said (unto them): Enter the Fire along with those who enter.

Common ground

Where they agree

  • Abraham (peace be upon him)'s nephew.
  • A corrupt city, guests who are angels, and a violent crowd.
  • Lot is rescued and the cities are destroyed.
  • His wife is lost.

Said plainly, ranked never

Where they differ

  • In Islam he is a prophet and messenger of blameless character; Genesis portrays him in a more mixed light.
  • The traditions, and readers within each, describe the cities' sin in different ways; Ezekiel 16:49 stresses pride and neglect of the poor.
  • Genesis follows him and his daughters into the hills; the Qur'an does not tell that episode, and Muslim scholars reject it.

Era and place

The world of Lot

Where
The Dead Sea basin, between Jordan and Israel. A Byzantine church at Deir 'Ain 'Abata in Jordan marks “Lot's cave”.
When
Early in the 2nd millennium BCE, with Abraham (peace be upon him).
What archaeology can and cannot say
Bab edh-Dhra and Numeira, Early Bronze Age towns destroyed by about 2350 BCE, were once proposed as Sodom and Gomorrah; Tall el-Hammam has been proposed more recently. No site is securely identified.

Gallery

The world of Lot

Salt crystals on the Dead Sea shore
Salt crystals on the Dead Sea shoreDead Sea Salts, TheBoth, CC BY 2.0
The shore of the Dead Sea, the lowest land on earth
The shore of the Dead Sea, the lowest land on earthThe Dead Sea shores, Jorge Lascar, CC BY 2.0
Dusk over the Dead Sea and the hills beyond
Dusk over the Dead Sea and the hills beyondThe Dead Sea and Judean Desert at dusk with Jordan on the background, Jorge Lascar, CC BY 2.0
The still water of the Dead Sea
The still water of the Dead SeaDead Sea shores - Earth's lowest elevation on land, Jorge Lascar, CC BY 2.0

Go deeper

Go deeper

Midrash and Jewish tradition

The rabbis remember Sodom above all for cruelty to strangers and the poor (Sanhedrin 109). They portray Lot as mixed: hospitable, but drawn to the wealth of the plain.

Christian tradition

Jesus uses Lot's days as a warning to be ready (Luke 17). 2 Peter holds Lot up as a righteous man rescued from a wicked city.

Tafsir and hadith

Ibn Kathir, on 11:77, describes Lot's distress at his guests' danger and the angels' reassurance. The hadith of “a strong support” (Bukhari 3375) is read as praise of his trust in God.

Read the passages Qur'an 11:77

Qur'an 11:77 · The Qur'an · Pickthall (1930)

77

وَلَمَّا جَآءَتْ رُسُلُنَا لُوطًۭا سِىٓءَ بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ بِهِمْ ذَرْعًۭا وَقَالَ هَٰذَا يَوْمٌ عَصِيبٌۭ

And when Our messengers came unto Lot, he was distressed and knew not how to protect them. He said: This is a distressful day.

Sources and further reading
Picture credits

Watch more: Lot

2 films and talks, chosen for this page. They play here.

  • Ramadan 2015 Quranic Gems 15: Prophet Lut's story and its relevance today ~ Dr. Yasir Qadhi

    Yasir Qadhi · 23 min

  • Parashat Vayera: The Sin of Sodom | Weekly Torah Study with Rabbi Margo Hughes-Robinson

    myjewishlearning · 44 min

  • More films and talks on F-ILMWatch free