The reasons for the destruction of the people of Lot P;1
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 (24)
The Holy Qur'an mentions the stories of the earlier peoples who were punished by Allah with annihilating punishment. They include the people of Noah, 'Aad, Thamud, the people of Lot, the people of Shu'ayb, Pharaoh and his people, Qarun, those who disobeyed in entering the town, the people of the Sabbath, the people of the secure town mentioned in Surah An-Nahl, the people of Ar-Rass, the people of Tubba', the people of the Elephant. By looking at the periods in which these mentioned people lived, it becomes clear that the divine punishment of annihilation began with the first nation that deviated from the right path, the people of Noah. Then followed the nations that were arrogant, disbelieved, committed injustice, or denied the messengers and strayed from the path of worshiping Allah alone, each following the other, and meeting the same fate. And it continued until the period preceding the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), where the destruction of the People of the Elephant occurred. In the Holy Qur'an's narration of the perished nations, there is an emphasis on mentioning the reasons that led to their destruction. For each of these nations, Allah mentioned the causes of their downfall. In this discussion, we will talk about the reasons for the destruction of the people of Lot, the most significant of which are:
1- Polytheism:
Allah Almighty said: {So We brought out whoever was in them [i.e., the cities] of the believers. (35) And We found not within them other than a [single] house of Muslims. (36)} [Adh-Dhariyat: 35-36].
In these two verses, there is evidence that there was no believer or Muslim in the town of the people of Lot except the family of Lot. If this is the case, then the remaining people must have been either polytheists or disbelievers denying the Creator. If they were polytheists, it is certain that Lot (peace be upon him) called them to monotheism. The call of all the prophets is based on inviting nations and peoples to monotheism and dedicating worship to Allah Almighty. Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) explained that the people of Lot were polytheists in addition to committing the immorality for which they were not preceded by anyone.
Thus, Lot called his people to monotheism and focused his call on forbidding the immorality for which they were notorious.
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, Lot (peace be upon him) and his Mission in Confronting Corruption and Sexual Deviance, pp. 322-323.
- The causes of the destruction of previous nations as stated in the Holy Qur’an, Saeed Muhammad Baba Sila, Dar Ibn al-Jawzi, 2000 AD, p. 458.
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:
