The call of Lot (peace be upon him) to worship Allah alone, and to forbidding evil deeds
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 (21)
Anyone who reads the stories of the prophets in the Holy Quran and examines what transpired between them and their people will find that the cause of monotheism and the call to worshiping Allah alone is the fundamental cause that all the prophets came with. There is no prophet except that he called his people to monotheism, to worshiping Allah alone, and to rejecting polytheism. Despite each nation having specific other wrongdoings, prominent in their lives, more than others, such as economic corruption among the people of Shuaib, and the prevalence of sorcery among the people of Moses, the call to monotheism and the rejection of polytheism remain the cornerstone of their messages (peace be upon them).
Lot (peace be upon him) called his people to worship Allah alone, to abandon polytheism, immoral behavior, and heinous acts. In Surah Ash-Shu'ara, Allah Almighty elucidated that Lot called his people to fear Allah and obey His messenger Lot (peace be upon him). Undoubtedly, the essence of piety (taqwa) is monotheism and the rejection of associating partners with Allah. Allah Almighty says: {When their brother Lot said to them, "Will you not fear Allah? (161) Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger. (162) So fear Allah and obey me. (163)} [Ash-Shu'ara: 161-163].
In Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Allah Almighty made it clear that the people of Lot were infidels by saying: {And We found not within them other than a [single] house of Muslims.} [Adh-Dhariyat: 36], And this is a clear and evident matter.
There is no doubt that the people of Lot (peace be upon him) were disbelievers and worshipped idols. They rejected the messenger of Allah, Lot (peace be upon him). Some interpreters have mentioned that they were disbelievers and that he called them to worship Allah alone. Imam al-Tabari said: "Allah sent Lot to the people of Sodom, and they were people of disbelief and committing shameful acts".
Imam Al-Qurtubi said in his interpretation of Surah Al-A’raf regarding the words of Allah Almighty: {Rather, you are a transgressing people} [Al-A'raf: 81]. and his counterpart said: {But you are a people transgressing".} [Ash-Shu'ara: 166]. That is; in gathering to polytheism, this immorality. He also commented on the verse: {They said, "Indeed, we have been sent to a people of criminals,} [Al-Hijr: 58]; That is, polytheists. Ibn Kathir said: And in addition to this, they disbelieved in Alah and denied His Messenger. Al-Saadi said: “And with their polytheism, they combined committing immorality with males and cutting off the path”.
These statements from the scholars of interpretation are clear and explicit, indicating that the people of Lot were indeed disbelievers and worshipped beings other than Allah, the Exalted.
Lot (peace be upon him) called his people to faith, forbade them from disbelief, invited them to monotheism, encouraged them to do good and uphold virtue, and deterred them from indecency. He fulfilled his duties in the best possible manner and discharged his message as he should. Moreover, he was receptive to the call of Abraham (peace be upon him) even before prophethood. In fact, the story of Abraham (peace be upon him) and his approach to calling people to monotheism was the same path followed by Lot (peace be upon him).
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, Lot (peace be upon him) and his Mission in Confronting Corruption and Sexual Deviance, pp. 85-87.
- The story of our master Lot, peace be upon him, Fath al-Rahman Othman, pp. 37-40.
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:
