This treatise examines and analyses verses 80 to 84 of Surah Al-A'raf from the Holy Quran, which are devoted to the story of Prophet Lot (peace be upon him) and his confrontation with the moral corruption of his people. These verses, articulated in a concise yet profound manner, depict the moral and spiritual degeneration of a people who, despite the invitation of their prophet to purity and piety, not only resisted but ostracised him and his followers on account of their chastity. Relying on exegetical lectures and deep analyses, this text endeavours to present Quranic concepts in a fluent language and structured format for audiences interested in religious knowledge. By utilising literary allusions and semantic connections, this treatise seeks to elucidate the instructive messages of these verses in light of contemporary issues.
Verses 80 to 84 of Surah Al-A'raf recount the mission of Prophet Lot (peace be upon him), who admonished a people engaged in vice. These verses, with succinct expression, refer to the unprecedented sin of the people of Lot, their insolent response, the deliverance of the prophet and his family, and finally, the divine punishment. The text of these verses is as follows:
وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ أَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُمْ بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةً مِنْ دُونِ النِّسَاءِ ۚ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُسْرِفُونَ وَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِ إِلَّا أَنْ قَالُوا أَخْرِجُوهُمْ مِنْ قَرْيَتِكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ فَأَنْجَيْنَاهُ وَأَهْلَهُ إِلَّا امْرَأَتَهُ كَانَتْ مِنَ الْغَابِرِينَ وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ مَطَرًا ۖ فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ
And [mention] Lot, when he said to his people, Do you commit an immorality that no one has preceded you with from among the worlds? Indeed, you approach men with desire, instead of women. Rather, you are a transgressing people. And the answer of his people was not but that they said, Expel the family of Lot from your city. Indeed, they are people who keep themselves pure. So We saved him and his family, except his wife; she was of those who remained behind. And We rained upon them a rain [of stones], and see how was the end of the criminals.
The story of Prophet Lot (peace be upon him) in the Quran is a narrative concerning a people who, in an unspecified land, probably in the Levant region, fell into moral deviation. According to the Quranic verses, this people committed an unprecedented sin in human history. This sin, described as "immorality" in the verses, refers to the act of men engaging with men instead of women, an act that disrupts the natural order of creation. Lot (peace be upon him), as a divine prophet, was tasked with deterring his people from this corruption, but he was met with resistance and denial.
Lot (peace be upon him) reproached his people for committing immorality. This immorality, described in verse 81 of Surah Al-A'raf as "إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةً مِنْ دُونِ النِّسَاءِ", is an act that is not only morally reprehensible but also disrupts the natural order of creation. Instead of generating offspring and preserving the continuity of humankind, it leads to the wastage of seed and the cessation of the life cycle. This deviation, like severing the roots of life, drives the society towards ruin.
In response to the prophets admonition, the people of Lot not only defended their sin but also mocked and expelled him and his followers on account of their chastity: "أَخْرِجُوهُمْ مِنْ قَرْيَتِكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ". This response, like a mirror, reveals the depth of moral and spiritual corruption of the people who not only rejected purity and piety but ridiculed them.
The Holy Quran states in verse 83: "فَأَنْجَيْنَاهُ وَأَهْلَهُ إِلَّا امْرَأَتَهُ كَانَتْ مِنَ الْغَابِرِينَ". God saved Lot and his family except his wife, who was among those left behind. The term family here refers to the faithful relatives of Lot, not merely his biological family. Lots wife, due to her intellectual or practical deviation, was deprived of divine mercy.
Verse 84 of Surah Al-A'raf states: "وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ مَطَرًا ۖ فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ". This rain was not a mercy but a heavenly punishment that annihilated the sinful people. This punishment, like a destructive flood, was the natural consequence of sin and disobedience to divine command.
The sin of the people of Lot, especially the immorality, signals a decline in faith. When sin takes root in a society, faith and God-worship fall away like withered leaves from the branches of existence. This deviation not only disrupts social order but also empties hearts of the light of faith.
These verses, like a mirror, reveal similarities with contemporary issues. The spread of behaviours contrary to human nature, as witnessed in the people of Lot, leads to the dissolution of marriage and a decline in population. This condition, sometimes rooted in poverty and social problems, serves as a warning to modern societies straying from the path of nature and ethics.
Some within religious communities exploit rituals for material gain, such as the misuse of offerings in water-dispensaries (saqqa-khaneh). This conduct, contrasting with the sincerity of the people of Lot in their sin, signals a deviation in religious knowledge that transforms guidance into commerce.
Unlike previous prophets who emphasised monotheism, Lot (peace be upon him) concentrated on forbidding vice. Without engaging in theological debates on monotheism, he sought to restrain his people from immorality that disrupted the natural order. This role indicates the severity of corruption that left no room for faith discussions.
The discussed verses compress years of history into a few sentences. This exemplary style, akin to a summary of a lengthy story, is designed to awaken and instruct the audience rather than to provide exhaustive narration.
Verses 80 to 84 of Surah Al-A'raf illuminate the path of truth and piety like a beacon in darkness. The story of Prophet Lot (peace be upon him) serves as a warning to humanity that sin and corruption, even if accompanied by sincerity, lead to destruction. These verses, articulated in a concise and profound manner, demonstrate the relationship between corruption and the decline of faith, inviting the audience to avoid deviation and strengthen piety. Reflecting on these verses is like a journey into the depths of history, providing eternal lessons for constructing a pure and spiritual society.
Supervised by Sadegh Khademi
