New Page 1

The number of people in this mosque today reminds me of a Hadith for Prophet Muhammad (SAWS)[1]. The Prophet (SAWS) was sitting among a large group of his companions and the mosque was full, then three men came. The first man found a small place amongst the audience, so he pushed himself into the group and sat. The second one felt embarrassed to push himself in, so he sat far from the group, and the third one decided to go back home since there was no place for him. As narrated in al-Bukhari, “While Allah’s Apostle was sitting in the mosque (with some people), three men came, two of them came in front of Allah’s Apostle and the third one went away, and then one of them found a place in the circle and sat, while the second man sat behind the gathering and the third one went away. When Allah’s Apostle finished his preaching, he said, ‘Shall I tell you about these three persons? One of them be-took himself to Allah, so Allah accepted him and accommodated him, the second felt shy before Allah so Allah did the same for him and sheltered him in His Mercy (and did not punish him), while the third turned his face from Allah and went away, so Allah turned His face from him likewise.’”

The good thing about the first is that he wanted to be amongst the believers in spite of the awkward conditions. He may have come from far away, but he only came for the sake of Allah (SWT)[2]. The Prophet uses the word awahun (gave an abode), which indicates great mercy and love. This word is used in the Qur’an in the story of Prophet Yusuf (AS) (Joseph), when Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “And soon as they entered to Y‍usuf, (Joseph) he gave an abode to his brother (saying), “Surely I, even I, am your brother; so do not feel chagrined by whatever they were doing.”” (TMQ, 12:69)[3]. This word is often used when meeting someone after a long separation.

The second type of people does not like crowds, or to be accurate, they do not like to push themselves into groups of people. In fact, this is a good kind of shyness. It is left up to the person to decide when it is appropriate to join the group no matter how crowded it is and when not to do so. The first type is better though because it reveals his love for Allah (SWT) and his determination to be among the believers. This second type reveals politeness, thus Allah (SWT) also rewarded him.

The third type does not want to exert any effort; therefore Allah (SWT) excluded him. We hope we are all amongst those whom Allah (SWT) gives abode to and who feel the beauty of the closeness to Allah.

Today we will talk about the story of Prophet Lut (AS). This story has many important morals that we should learn, especially in the last minutes before the destruction of Lut’s people.

The story of Prophet Lut (AS) was mentioned in the Qur’an 17 times. It focuses on the deeds of Lut’s people and how Prophet Lut (AS) tried many times to correct them and help them get back to the right path. The whole story took place during the lifetime of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) (Abraham). We will see many instances in the story where the two prophets meet. It was unusual to have two prophets in the same area - both Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and Prophet Lut (AS) were sent to Palestine. At some instances, you would notice that there was even more than one prophet at the same city and sometimes even at the same village. Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an what can be translated as, “And strike for them a similitude: the companions (i.e., the inhabitants) of the town, as the Emissaries came to it, As We sent to them two (men). Yet they cried them lies, so We reinforced them with a third. Then they said, “Surely we are (sent) to you as Emissaries” (TMQ, 36: 13-14). The presence of three prophets at the same village indicates how Allah (SWT) cares about humans and how he gives them many opportunities to join the right path. This way, no one can say on the Day of Judgment that they were not given a chance to choose the right way. Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “Whoever is guided, surely he is guided only for himself; (i.e., for his own gain) and whoever errs (away), then surely he errs (away) only upon himself; (i.e., to his own loss) and no encumbered self will be encumbered with the encumbrance of another (self); and in no way are We tormenting (anyone) until We have sent forth a Messenger.” (TMQ, 17:15)

We do not exactly know how Prophet Lut (AS) is related to Prophet Ibrahim (AS), if he was his nephew or just a relative of his. Some narrations mention that Lut (AS) is the son of Harn, who is the son of Tarkh, who is the son of Azar, who is also Prophet Ibrahim’s father. We have no evidence about this from either the Qur’an or the Sunnah. We only have an Ayah (verse) that says that Prophet Lut (AS) became a believer when Prophet Ibrahim (AS) talked to him when he was a young boy.

This point is very significant and we should all learn from it. Maybe you do not know a great deal about religion, and you cannot even read Qur’an properly, but Allah (SWT) wants you to play an important role in the revival of Islam. Allah (SWT) will then make those who can teach you available for you to prepare you to be one of those who will go to paradise. You can also become better than those who taught you. This can be achieved through intentions and by being sincere in your deeds. Prophet Lut (AS) had a normal life, giving no clue that he would become that close to Allah (SWT) and would become the prophet for his people. He was a child taught by Prophet Ibrahim (AS). Thus, you should all have ambitions to achieve something unique for your religion.

Individuals built the mosque where we are now. Maybe a woman or a weak man built it. However, it turned into this great achievement. Therefore, none of us should think that they cannot achieve anything of importance. The reason I am saying this is that our youth nowadays are almost always dependent on their parents; they do not believe in themselves and they are always afraid of failure. They also feel that they are not important to their community and that their efforts are not of any significance.

Our youth should all remember that Allah (SWT) changed the roles of nature for a group of youth of nearly seventeen years of age. Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “We, Ever We, narrate to you their tidings with the truth. Surely they were young men who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.” (TMQ, 18:13)

Also, Allah (SWT) talks about Prophet Yahya (AS) (John) when he says what can be translated as, ““O Yahya, (John) take the Book powerfully.” And We brought him judgment (when) a young boy,” (TMQ, 19:12)

Thus, if you do not know much, now is the time to start learning and in a couple of years you will know a great deal. Each time you help a friend of yours learn more about religion, you are learning and gaining more experience. After sometime you will find that you have gained in knowledge.

Through ‘The Stories of the Prophets’ we will try to learn the morals we should use in our everyday life. One third of the Qur’an consists of stories of the prophets. It is not there without a reason. It is there for us to learn from. Allah (SWT) placed these stories there because they directly relate to everyone’s life.

The story of Prophet Lut (AS) is mentioned 17 times in he Qur’an. Prophet Lut (AS) emigrated with Prophet Ibrahim (AS) from one place to another. Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “Then Lû‍t (Lot) believed him; and he (Ibrahim) (Abraham) said, “Surely I am migrating to my Lord; surely He, Ever He, is The Ever-Mighty, The Ever-Wise.” (TMQ, 29:26)

Thus, most of what we discussed about the life story of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) was in the presence of Prophet Lut (AS). Prophet Ibrahim (AS) taught him, until he reached a stage when Allah (SWT) made him a prophet for a city called Sadoom (Sodom), a city in Palestine that lies on the coast. It was said that it was a large city with about 400,000 residents. The people of Sadoom were amongst the worst people on earth at the time. They committed all possible sins. They cheated in business, men dressed and acted like women; they committed adultery and many other sins until they reached the worst of all, homosexuality. The whole city became homosexual.

History is strongly related to the present. People should fear the repetition of what happened to those people as the same sins are being committed again. We shall see how when those people insisted on sin, they started developing more and more sinful deeds, until the whole city became in a state of sinfulness and started losing its humanity. Can you imagine that mankind would reach that extent of malice? Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “And (remember) as your Lord said to the Angels, “Surely I am making in the earth a successor.” They said, “Will You make therein one who will corrupt in it and shed blood (Literally: bloods) while we (are the ones who) extol (with) Your praise and call You Holy? Literally: hallow for you)” He said, “Surely I know whatever you do not know.”” (TMQ, 2:30)

Humans are supposed to be successors of Allah (SWT) on earth, so how could they reach this state of inhumanity?

Do we feel we are Allah’s successors on earth or not? Do you feel that the earth is our responsibility or not? The development of this world is our responsibility. We should take our responsibility as Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) taught us. The Prophet (SAWS) said that we cannot gain people’s love through our money, because there are too many people for us to give money to, but we can gain their love through our smiling faces and our good morals. You are responsible for trying to perfect your work (your factory, your product, your home, and your children) because Allah (SWT) will ask us about our work on the Day of Judgment. Look at the huge differences between those who knew they were responsible for this earth and between the people of Prophet Lut (AS).

About the people of Lut, Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “And (remember) Lûut, (Lot) as he said to his people, “Do you commit (Literally: come up with the obscenity) such obscenity as in no way has anyone in the worlds ever gone before you (perpetrated) it?

Surely you indeed come up with lust to men, apart from (i.e. instead of) women; no indeed, you are an extravagant people.” (i.e., exceeding the limits (of decency)” (TMQ, 7:80-81). Those people were the first to commit this sin from the time humanity started.

The same Ayah was repeated in Surat al-Ankabut. Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “Do you really come up to (obscenity) to men, and cut the way, and come up in your assembly to maleficence?” Yet, in no way was the answer of his people (anything) except that they said, “Come up with the torment of Allah in case you are of the sincere.” (TMQ, 29:29)

It is present in Surat an-Naml as well; Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “Do you (really) come up with lust to men rather than women? No indeed, you are a people who are ignorant.” (TMQ, 27:55)

In Surat ash-Shu'ara, Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “Do you come up to (stout) males of the worlds. And leave behind what your Lord created for you as spouses? No indeed, (but) you are an aggressive people.” (TMQ, 26:165-166)

This Ayah indicates that in spite of the presence of wives, they turned to this sin. Look at how wicked this is: they would leave their wives and look for sins. We also see men leaving their wives behind and looking for other women. This is also demeaning as well. In fact, it is against the fitra (the nature Allah (SWT) created us on). Each man who chooses to cheat on his wife should know that he is a slave of his devil and he cannot control himself.

I know very well that the audience present here is not related to the story of Prophet Lut (AS), in terms of the sin itself. However, we want to take from the story what will be useful to us: when the people of Lut did lots of bad deeds, they fell in a calamity and a major sin, bigger than all sins, and they were punished for it. Moreover, they were the first people to do this sin.

We want to learn from the story that whoever sets a bad norm (start a new bad deed) will be responsible for the sins of all those who will imitate him until the Day of Judgment. Take for example, the first girl who went to college wearing a tight shirt; all those who will imitate her in this college will be added to her bad deeds (will fall in her balance of bad deeds). Also, the first to wear a swimsuit and swim in a certain beach will carry the sins of all those who saw her and imitated her until the Day of Judgment. Can you imagine the amount of bad deeds? Moreover, the first person who started swearing by the fathers and mothers of his friends as a joke will have, added to his bad deeds, everyone who heard him and imitated him up to the Day of Judgment. Perhaps he will die, but generations will be imitating those who heard from him, and all of those are added to his bad deeds. The first to teach his colleagues at work stealing and bribery will have all those who saw him getting rich and decided to imitate him added to his bad deeds. If you insist to do a sin, don’t start one. This is not an encouragement for disobeying Allah (SWT), but a clarification of the dangers of being the first to commit a certain sin.

The opposite is also true, everyone who sets a good norm, will have the good deeds of all those who followed or imitated him until the Day of Judgment. If you take a gentle and nice tape inviting to the religion or guidance, and give it to a friend, and he followed the right path, all his good deeds will be added to your good deeds, as well as all the good deeds of those who were guided by him. If you die, and he also dies, and the guidance is still following from the same path, all those will be added to the good deeds of both of you. Is there anyone who does not need good deeds, or does not want to enter paradise? Is there anyone who does not want to meet Allah (SWT) with lots of good deeds? Is there anyone not afraid to come on the Day of Judgment with his balance full of bad deeds?

The calamity of the people of Lut was not only that they committed an immense sin, but that they were the first ones to innovate this sin. Consequently, all those who imitate them will be added to their bad deeds until the Day of Judgment; men as men, and women as women.

Their calamity is even worse than that. We read in the Qur’an an Ayah where Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “Do you really come up to (obscenity) to men, and cut the way, and come up in your assembly to maleficence? …” (TMQ, 29:29). We understand what they did of having intimate relations with men, and trespassing travelers, but this Ayah is much stronger, that is why Prophet Lut (AS) finished with it. What does it mean? ‘Your assembly’ is like the club we know today. It means the place where people gather. The place where people come together to have fun, play, go out, socialize, discuss their issues, etc. is called an assembly. It is the same concept up to these days. Thus, what does “come up in your assembly to maleficence” mean? It means that you are doing the major sin in front of each other, in public, inside your clubs, and in the streets!

There is a story (with no reference, but we will tell it for general benefit). The story goes that the men used to stand in the streets, each one with a bag of pebbles. Since they used to live in an intermediate location, lots of travelers used to cross the area of Sadoom (Sodom) heading elsewhere. Then each one with pebbles would throw them on the travelers. If a pebble hit one of them, they would take him and commit the sin with him in the streets.

We pointed out that if you commit a sin, never innovate a new sin. Now, I am saying another important issue; if you are a sinner, don’t do your sin in public. This angers Allah (SWT) greatly.

This was all an introduction, as you will see how the people of Lut were perished, and you will find it to be a horrific and terrifying destruction. This introduction is such that you don’t say why did Allah (SWT) do this to them, or think it was too much for them. It is not too much compared to what they did. Furthermore, doing a sin in public is among the things that anger Allah (SWT) the most.

When you do a sin in secret, then go tell your friends about it, this telling angers Allah (SWT) more than the sin itself.

Having no problem standing in the street, checking out girls and making passes at them, this publicity is stronger than the sin committed. Keeping a sin secret and covered, then you are taking cover and shy from the sin while you are committing it, and you hope that nobody sees you. This is much better than committing sins in public, taking into consideration that what you are doing is wrong.

The girl who wears tight clothes, then goes out to the streets, is committing sins in public. Therefore, not wearing the hijab (veil) is a form of committing sins in public. What’s worse than that is not only does she not wear the hijab, but chooses to wear the extreme opposite of hijab (extremely revealing clothes). She is insisting on disobeying Allah (SWT). It is as if you are saying, “Not only am I ready to disobey your order, Lord, but also I will do its opposite!” Therefore, the Prophet (SAWS) said about these types of women, who exaggerate in this type of dressing up, “Two are the types of the denizens of hell whom I did not see: people having flogs like the tails of the ox with them and they would be beating people, and the women who would be dressed but appear to be naked, who would be inclined (to evil) and make their husbands incline towards it. Their heads would be like the humps of the bukht (camel) inclined to one side. They will not enter paradise and they would not smell its odor whereas its odor would be smelt from such and such distance.” (Authentic, Muslim, number 2128). The first type is not related to our story today, while the second type is. Here the Prophet (SAWS) is talking about something other than the veil; here you see the woman and you do not know whether she is dressed or not. This does not mean that they will never enter it, but will enter it very late. Why is that? Because of committing sins in public, and that their corruption results in the corruption of tens of the youth affected negatively by them. They were bold enough to disobey Allah (SWT) with sins in public.

Here arises an important question: how did the people of Lut reach this level? There are three reasons that the scholars reached when they analyzed what happened to the people of Lut. Strangely, psychologists reached the same three reasons that the religious scholars reached:

1. The first reason: excessively practicing adultery until bored: Men no longer desire women, this is a very critical point. The Western civilization tells us that as long as we restrict the relationship between men and women, men will be longing for women, and will do her wrong, so rape incidents will increase. Therefore, if we remove all ties on the relationship between men and women, then there will be fulfillment of desires, and allure will then go away, and any disturbance will end. Thus, the West left the door wide open, but what happened after allowing complete freedom in the relationship between men and women? What happened after all restrictions were removed? What happened in the West? Did you see what happened to the people of Lut because of that? Adultery until boredom, no longer desired women, and then went to look for an alternative to fulfill their desires. Thus, they reached this unnatural decline.

3. The third reason: excessively imitating women. Ibn-Abbas says, “They used to imitate women in accessories, clothes, and the way of walking.” Here comes a point important to us, when they used lots of gold, bracelets, and chains, they got this calamity. Why? Because whoever can change his nature as a man, will lose a lot with this change. Sometimes we find in the Shara’ (law) rules that we do not know their reasons. We found that the Prophet (SAWS) got angry when he found a man wearing gold and said, “One of you is wishing live coal from hell, and putting it on his hand.” (Authentic, Muslim, number 2090). He also forbade men from wearing silk. The Prophet (SAWS) refused this softness. We have to be keen on these meanings. We now see some of these scenes like those who cut their hair like girls, or color their hair blond. I don’t mean that they will end up being homosexuals, don’t take it that way. Instead, look at what happened to the people of Lut, learn from it, and understand the meaning behind the Prophet’s teachings and his Sunnah (way of life). This will make you stop wearing tight clothes, and such things.

I want to go back and talk about our state nowadays. Is the West now very different from the people of Lut and what they did? I am saying these words to many of the young generation who are dazzled by civilizations other than the Islamic civilization. I am not saying that the entire West is like that, they have good things too, but the West is missing some very important ethical concepts. I will tell you some information about what people like the people of Lut are doing in the West, from statistics done in the 1990s:

· There are clubs and restaurants especially for gays. Remember here what Allah (SWT) says in the Ayah which can be translated as “Do you really come up to (obscenity) to men, and cut the way, and come up in your assembly to maleficence? …” (TMQ, 29:29)

What is even stranger is that I read some news in some foreign magazines a couple of days ago, which is not related to gays, but will show you their way of thinking. The story is about a picture of an international tennis champ getting married to an international tennis champ. They are wearing their wedding clothes while carrying their son! They had him three days after the wedding, and it was not a miracle! What is even stranger is that they take this story as good news, and give it their best wishes. Can you imagine how low they went? This civilization can not last.

I was surprised when I was in England in 1989 to see a story on the British television that the parliament of a Scandinavian country assembled for voting for legalizing gay marriage. Voting resulted in passing the law. After this story, the television showed scenes from marriage parties; two men getting married, with their families throwing flowers at them. Can you imagine the extent to which they went against their natural instinct?

Abdul-Malik Ibn-Marawan said, “I did not think that there are people who would do this sin. I would not believe it unless Allah mentioned it in the Qur’an.” When we read this today, we wonder what will happen to the earth and this civilization.

Prophet Lut (AS) started calling them over and over. What was he calling them for? Worshipping or the correct belief? Each Prophet called his people to the belief or to worship. The only heavenly message which lacked this meaning is that of the Prophet Lut (AS). The reason is that they have a calamity, no act of worship or belief is useful before fixing this calamity. Therefore, ethical reform is more important.

I want you to imagine the society that Prophet Lut (AS) is calling. He wanted to reform a whole city. Can you imagine his patience and faith? He did not give up, and tried with them until the last moment. On the other side, you are fed up with calling your friends because they don’t do their prayers for example. Do you have his strength to be able to help your friends? Prophet Lut (AS) kept on calling his people, although he didn’t find it to be of any use. Similarly, you should keep on calling even if you do not see any hope. Your task is to help people to get the reward, to say to Allah (SWT) on the Day of Judgment, “Forgive me Lord, but I did all I could.” You don’t want Allah (SWT), on the Day of Judgment, to say that the building you live in, for example, is full of lost people although there dwells a religious person in the same building, which is you, and then asks His angels to start with you!

You know the story of the man who was a virtuous worshipper and was keen to please Allah (SWT), while the whole village he lived in was lost and full of wicked people. Therefore, Allah (SWT) ordered Jibril (AS) (Gabriel) to destroy that village. Jibril (AS) said, “My Lord, it has your slave who stands in prayer, kneels down and prostrates all the time (i.e. he fulfills the worship duty).” Allah (SWT) said, “O Jibril, start with him.” Jibril (AS) said, “Why My Lord?” Allah (SWT) said, “His face has never turned red from being angry for My sake.” Imagine how worshipping was not enough, because he did not care about the sins committed from those around him. Do you see the importance of guiding people but politely, with no trouble, and with a smile? At least your heart should be in pain from what you see around you. Beware of being the only religious one among many people away from the right path, and still you are happy. You will be surprised with Allah (SWT) saying “start with him, for he did not do anything for the sake of Allah.”

This does not mean that you only talk to them about religion, but you also show them your morals, you befriend them, and give them gifts, tapes, Qur’an, and books. At other times, get to know them, invite them over to your home, and take them to religious lessons. Your position in calling on people is not harder than Prophet Lut (AS), even if you do not have lots of information, don’t you love your religion, and love your Lord? Talk as much as you feel.

After one week of Abu-Bakr’s embracing Islam from the Prophet (SAWS), seven persons embraced Islam from him out of the ten persons given the glad tidings of paradise. Is the information Abu-Bakr (RA) had at the time he embraced Islam more, or the information you have? Al-Tufayl Ibn-Amr al-Dawsy came to the Prophet (SAWS) and embraced Islam. The Prophet (SAWS) told him to go to his people and call them to Islam. He stayed in his city for about thirteen years, and then he came back to the Prophet (SAWS) with all his people to embrace Islam. What did al-Tufayl learn from the Prophet (SAWS) to do this? He just learned about salah (prayers), wudu (ablution), the existence of heaven and hell, the grave, the Day of Judgment, and that Allah (SWT) is the Eternal Owner of Sovereignty and all our earnings are controlled by Him and we all belong to Him.

It is enough that you feel these concepts. If you don’t, you will not be able to call on people. If you care about your parents and really love them, you would wish that they enter paradise before you. The same goes with your neighbor and your friend, if you love people and have these feelings, you will know then how to call on people.

In Surat al-A’raf, Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “And in no way was the answer of his people (anything) except that they said, “Drive them out of your town; surely they are a folk who constantly purify themselves ” (TMQ, 7:82). They confessed that they are impure and also do not accept purity to be present among them; as if it was a crime. When their natural instinct was wiped out, the facts were all turned around as we see; and we will see later how they were perished.

If your friends make fun of you because you became religious, and say, “Look, how silly he became, he walks with his face down not looking at girls,” don’t feel sad for yourself, or feel oppressed, defeated or weak. At the same time, don’t say that your friends are like the people of Lut and cause trouble with them. No, your friends are Muslims and are pure. Their mockery of you will ascend you to the status of the Prophets. At least, take a good example from Prophet Lut (AS).

The first point that we have to pay attention to is that the main goal of the descent of the angels was to destroy the people of Lut, but they descended first to Prophet Ibrahim (AS). In Surat Hud, Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “So, as soon as dread had gone away from Ibrahim (Abraham) and the good tidings came to him, he was disputing with Us concerning the people of Lut (Lot).” (TMQ, 11:74). The angels could have gone to destroy the people of Lut first, then go to give the glad tidings to Prophet Ibrahim (AS). They did not go to him to ask him for his opinion because they descended with the order of destruction. Here scholars suggest a nice meaning, which is that Prophet Ibrahim (AS) is so valued to Allah (SWT); he is an intimate friend of the Compassionate, that Allah (SWT) did not like to do such a great event on earth before letting Prophet Ibrahim (AS) know first. This shows us how Allah (SWT) loves His slaves and cares about them. Now we can understand the meaning of the Ayah in which Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “…And Allah took to Him Ibrahim for a (close) fellow” (TMQ, 4:125). This shows us that when Allah (SWT) loves a slave, He satisfies him and shows him the signs of this satisfaction. Of course, none of us will reach the status of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), but there are other blessings that you can get, like a nice dream, feeling comfortable with some decision, opening your mind to something, making you have insights to the future, having a wide perspective and insight and so on.

[1] Sala-llahu Alaihi Wa-Sallam = All Prayers and Peace of Allah be upon him.

[2] Suhanahu wa Ta'ala = Glorified and Exalted Be He.

[3] TMQ=Translation of the Meaning of the Qur'an. This translation is for the realized meaning, so far, of the stated (Surah: Ayah) of the Qur'an. Reading the translated meaning of the Qur'an can never replace reading it in Arabic, the language in which it was revealed.

AmrKhaled.net © جميع حقوق النشر محفوظة
This Article may be published and duplicated freely for private purposes, as long as the original source is mentioned. For all other purposes you need to obtain the prior written approval of the website administration. For info: dar_altarjama@amrkhaled.net