Lot (peace be upon him) in The Procession of Prophets and Messengers
Selections from the Book Lot (peace be upon him) and his Mission in Confronting Corruption and Sexual Deviance …
Written by Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi...
Episode (6)
The Holy Quran presents the magnificent procession of faith led by the group of messengers, from Noah to Abraham to the Seal of the Prophets (peace and blessings be upon them all). The context showcases this continuous, connected procession without adhering to a strict historical sequence in its presentation. This approach is because the focus is on the procession in its entirety, not its chronological order. The Almighty said: {And that was Our [conclusive] argument which We gave Abraham against his people. We raise by degrees whom We will. Indeed, your Lord is Wise and Knowing (83) And We gave to him [i.e., Abraham] Isaac and Jacob - all [of them] We guided. And Noah, We guided before; and among his descendants, David and Solomon and Job and Joseph and Moses and Aaron. Thus do We reward the doers of good (84) And Zechariah and John and Jesus and Elias - and all were of the righteous (85) And Ishmael and Elisha and Jonah and Lot - and all [of them] We preferred over the worlds (86) And [some] among their fathers and their descendants and their brothers - and We chose them and We guided them to a straight path (87) That is the guidance of Allah by which He guides whomever He wills of His servants. But if they had associated others with Allah, then worthless for them would be whatever they were doing (88) Those are the ones to whom We gave the Scripture and authority and prophethood. But if they [i.e., the disbelievers] deny it, then We have entrusted it to a people who are not therein disbelievers (89) Those are the ones whom Allah has guided, so from their guidance take an example. Say, "I ask of you for it [i.e., this message] no payment. It is not but a reminder for the worlds" (90)} [Al-An'am: 83-90].
- And Allah Almighty said: {When their brother Lot said to them, "Will you not fear Allah? (161) Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger (162)} [Ash-Shu'ara: 161-162].
- Allah Almighty said: {And indeed, Lot was among the messengers} [As-Saffat: 133].
In the Quran's discourse about the procession of prophets and messengers in the verses of Surah Al-An'am, the comments on this blessed procession in the Holy Scripture are found in the following words of Allah Almighty:
- {Thus do We reward the doers of good} [Al-An'am: 84].
- {and all [of them] We preferred over the worlds} [Al-An'am: 86].
- {and We chose them and We guided them to a straight path} [Al-An'am: 87].
All these comments affirm the righteousness of this noble procession, Allah's selection of it, and His guidance to the straight path. Reviewing the image of this great procession is all a prelude to the subsequent affirmations: {That is the guidance of Allah by which He guides whomever He wills of His servants. But if they had associated others with Allah, then worthless for them would be whatever they were doing} [Al-An'am: 88]. This confirms the sources of guidance on earth, as the guidance of Allah for humanity is embodied in what the messengers brought, and there is no other giver of guidance, for Allah Almighty is the One who has decreed it and guided His servants to it.
And if these rightly guided servants were to deviate from the monotheism of Allah, stray from the source of their guidance, or engage in polytheism in belief, worship, or reception, their fate would be that their deeds would become null and void; that is, their deeds would be wasted and perish.
In the verse; {Those are the ones to whom We gave the Scripture and authority and prophethood. But if they [i.e., the disbelievers] deny it, then We have entrusted it to a people who are not therein disbelievers} [Al-An'am: 89]. this is the second declaration. The first declaration established the source of guidance and confined it to the guidance of Allah brought by the messengers. The second declaration confirms that the messengers mentioned, and those referred to, are the ones to whom Allah has given the Book, wisdom, authority, and prophethood.
The word {authority} can mean both wisdom and authority, and both meanings are plausible in this verse. Some of these messengers received the Book, such as the Torah with Moses (peace be upon him), the Psalms with David (peace be upon him), and the Gospel with Jesus (peace be upon him). Some were given authority, like David and Solomon (peace be upon them). All of them were granted authority in the sense that the religion they brought was Allah's judgment, and the religion they conveyed carried Allah's authority over souls and affairs. Allah sent the messengers to be obeyed by His permission and revealed the Book to judge between people with justice, as mentioned in other verses. They all received authority and prophethood, carried Allah's religion to people, adhered to it, believed in it, upheld it, and preserved it. If the idolaters of Arabia disbelieved in the Book, authority, and prophethood; Allah's religion is not in need of them. These honourable messengers and their believers are sufficient for this religion.
It is an ancient truth with deep roots and widespread branches, a continuous procession with interconnected links, and a singular message carried by the Messenger of Allah and believed by him. This statement instills tranquility in the heart of the believer and in the hearts of the Muslim group, regardless of their number. This group is not alone; it is not cut off from a tree but is a branch emerging from a tree whose roots are firmly planted and whose branches reach the sky. It is a link in a noble, continuous procession connected to Allah and His guidance. Any believer, in any part of the world, is a branch of this sturdy tree, deeply rooted in the essence of human nature since the earliest times.
- {Those are the ones whom Allah has guided, so from their guidance take an example. Say, "I ask of you for it [i.e., this message] no payment. It is not but a reminder for the worlds"} [Al-An'am: 90]. This is the third declaration: these noble individuals who lead the procession of faith are those whom Allah has guided. Their guidance comes from Allah, and the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and those who believe with him are to follow this guidance alone. This guidance is what he calls people to, proclaiming to those he invites; {I ask of you for it [i.e., this message] no payment. It is not but a reminder for the worlds}. This guidance is not exclusive to any specific people, race, or group, whether near or far; it is Allah's guidance meant to remind all of humanity. Thus, no compensation is sought for it, as the reward is with Allah.
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, Lot (peace be upon him) and his Mission in Confronting Corruption and Sexual Deviance, pp. 44-47.
- In the Shadows of the Qur’an, Sayyid Qutb, 2/1144-1145.
For further information and review of the sources for the article, see:
The Book of ‘’Lot (peace be upon him) and his Mission in Confronting Corruption and Sexual Deviance’’ on the official website of Sheikh Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi:
