Wifāq ul Ulāma (SA) ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICAN 'ULAMA
The incident of Lūt ‘Alayhis-Salām and his nation is recurrently mentioned in the Qur’ān Karīm.
Lūt ‘Alayhis-Salām was the nephew of Ibrāhīm ‘Alayhis-Salām. Allāh Ta’āla sent him to the people of Sadūm. They, however, rejected his message. Together with the very severe crime of kufr (disbelief), they were guilty of the abominable act of homosexuality; an act described as abnormal and unprecedented in the Qur’ān Karīm. Lūt ‘Alayhis-Salām vociferously condemned this despicable act and its perpetrators.
Allāh Ta’āla says in the Qur’ān Karīm: “And remember Lūt ‘Alayhis-Salām, when he said to his nation: “Do you pursue a shameful deed that no man has ever committed before?” “You shamefully pursue men with desire instead of women! You are certainly an evildoing nation.”(Al-Qur’ān 7:80/81)
The Qur’ān defines homosexuality as a shameful deed and declares its perpetrators as “evil-doers”. From the time of Adam ‘Alayhis-Salām up to that point, no nation ever perpetrated such an abomination. Shaytaan deceived them and introduced this evil amongst them.
In another place: (Lūt ‘Alayhis-Salām says) “Do you approach fellow men and abandon the wives that Allah Ta’aala had created for you? In fact, you are a transgressing nation!” (Al-Qur’ān 26:165/166).
Allah defines same-sex attraction as transgression. It is not an ordinary human characteristic. It is foreign to the makeup of man. The Qur’ān Karīm is categorical and in no uncertain terms identifies homosexuality, and not rape, as the crime that drew the wrath of Allah Ta’ala.
In yet another place, Allāh Ta’ālā says: “And remember Lūt, when he rebuked his people: “Do you commit this shameful deed while you are aware (that it is evil). Do you really approach men with desire instead of women? You are certainly an ignorant nation.” (Al-Qur’ān 27:54/55).
Here, the Qur’ān Karīm highlights that the perpetrators of this heinous crime were aware that it is evil. Hiding behind the guise of helplessness, they try to promote the notion that it is normal to feel that way. Here, Allah Ta’aala exposes them. When they realised that Lūt ‘Alayhis-Salām was refusing to tolerate their evil, they resorted to threats of expulsion and abandonment. They said: “if you don’t stop, O Lūt, you will definitely be expelled (from our land).” (Al-Qur’ān 26:167). This very thing is happening today. Anyone who denounces this movement is instantly labelled and accused of inciting hate. Special terms are coined to identify people who refuse to accept this evil.
This is called “cancel culture”- a tactic used to suppress any opposition. As a result, many are threatened into silence.
Ironically, those who preach “tolerance” have absolutely no tolerance and respect for those who hold a different opinion. This shows us their hypocrisy and more importantly, the fact that they are hell-bent on promoting a particular agenda.
As Muslims, we follow the example of Nabi Lūt ‘Alayhis-Salām. When threatened with expulsion, Lūt ‘Alayhis-Salām, expressing his disgust, retorted: “I despise your (shameful) deed.” (Al-Qur’ān 26:168)
The punishment that befell this nation was most severe. Allāh Ta’āla snatched their eyesight away. Stones bearing the name of each person were rained down upon them and the land they inhabited was raised and smashed upside down upon them. This obliterated them and no trace remained of them. They were buried with their fitnah deep into the Earth.
The incidents recorded in the Qur’ān Karīm and the difference in the way Allāh Ta’āla relates the incident of Lūt ‘Alayhis-Salām compared to other Ambiyā ‘Alayhimus-Salām are sufficient for us to understand the severity of this crime in the sight of Allāh Ta’āla.
May Allāh Ta’ālā grant us the ability to regard this deed as evil, and grant us the courage to proclaim it as evil as Nabi Lūt ‘Alayhis-Salām did. Āmīn
24 Safar 1444/21 September 2022 A0033/3
