the wife of lot (or lut)

8/13/2019 The wife of Lot (or Lut)

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A Clarification on the Punishment of The Wife of Lot (peace be upon him)

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Introduction

In the name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful. To Allah belongs all praise.

I firmly believe that Allah enabled me to undertake this project, without His

help I could never have done this. May Allah accept this from me and may the

readers benefit, ameen.

Recently some friends and I were talking about the prophet Lot (peace be

upon him). Since childhood we were taught that the wife of Lot was punished

because she looked behind as her as her family fled from a sinful nation upon

which Allah was to send punishment, but I wondered if we were just blindly

following this version. During our conversation I wondered how many other

Muslims and even Non-Muslims believed this account of Lots wife.After doing

some desk based research I realised that the popular beliefs are based on the

Judeo-Christian version of the story of Lot (peace be upon him), and that the

Islamic version differs quite considerably with some basic information being

similar between all three. This article is not an extensive treatise. My aim is to

focus on the wife of Lot (peace be upon him). I intend on clarifying these

issues in this article.

In this article I have three simple objectives:

1- To understand where the belief of the wife turning around etc came from

and why she was punished (pages 2-3).

2- To understand if the above beliefs are in conformity with the Islamic account

(pages 3-6).

3- To reach an accurate conclusion as to what exactly happened to the wife

and why (pages 6-7).

For the source of all Quranic citations see Bibliography.

Amber Imran

30.12.13


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Judeo-Christian Beliefs

The belief that the wife of Lot turned around and was turned to stone comes

from Jewish and Christian beliefs.

According to Jewish beliefs, the wife of Lot (peace be upon him) was no

different to the people of Sodom. The Sodomites and the wife of Lot (peace be

upon him) were uninviting people and so when the wife found out about Lots

guests [who were angels in the form of men], she wanted them gone. To

achieve this she let the sinful sodomites know (Chein, 2013). Jewish tradition

relates that whilst she didnt suffer the full upheaval of Sodom, she was still

punished by being made into a salt stone (Kadari, 2009). Kadari (2009)

asserts a few possibilities behind why the wife may have turned into a salt

stack. One is that when the guests [angels] came to visit Lot (peace be upon

him), she was unhappy at Lots (peace be upon him) hospitality and so slipped

out of her home and went to her neighbours, asking for salt as pretence for

creating uproar. Thus she was punished by salt as well (Kadari, 2009; Chein,

2013). The other explanation given is that she looked back as she pitied two of

her four daughters left behind in Sodom (Kadari, 2009; Jewish Encyclopaedia,

2013). Christian beliefs are very similar to the Jewish ones on this topic. In

Genesis (New International Version, Gen. 19:26) it says quite explicitly how

the wife looked behind and turned into a pillar of salt. This was a punishment

for her disobedience of the angels who said not to look back. It was also a

punishment because her heart missed the life of Sodom (Zondervan, 1988;

Bibleinfo, 2013). As we see Judo-Christianity spread this belief that the wife of

Lot turned around and was turned into a salt stone.

To believe in this account of Lots wife would also bring in the possibility

of believing what is related later on in the same book of Genesis. According to

Genesis (New International Version, Gen. 19:30-38) after reaching safety, the

two daughters of Lot became worried about how their bloodline would

continue. Subsequently, the daughters gave their father wine to drink so that

they could become pregnant and that way their blood line would be preserved.

Firstly, there is no such account in Islam. Lot (peace be upon him) was a

messenger of Allah [26:162], and in Islam prophets and messengers are

viewed as rightful people, sent to various communities for their social, moral

and religious rectitude, so any implication of a drunken messenger cannot be

accepted by any sane Muslim. In fact this only validates the Islamic

perspective that the Gospel and Torah which we have with us today have


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been distorted [5:13-15; 3:78]. As Muslims we believe that the Quran is the

final testament [3:85] and that it clarifies and completes the scriptures which

came before it which include the Torah and Gospel. Further it is narrated by

'Ubaidullah bin 'Abdullah that

'Abdullah bin 'Abbas said, "O the group of Muslims! How can you ask

the people of the Scriptures about anything while your Book which

Allah has revealed to your Prophet contains the most recent news

from Allah and is pure and not distorted? Allah has told you that the

people of the Scriptures have changed some of Allah's Books and

distorted it and wrote something with their own hands and said, 'This

is from Allah, so as to have a minor gain for it. Won't the knowledge

that has come to you stop you from asking them? No, by Allah, wehave never seen a man from them asking you about that (the Book

Al-Quran)which has been revealed to you (Sahih Bukhari, 2013)

Therefore we need to look at what Allah reveals in the Quran to understand

this topic accurately.

Islamic Beliefs

Allah says in Surah Al-Ankaboot

And (remember) Lut (Lot), when he said to his people: "You

commit Al-Fhishah (sodomy the worst sin) which none has

preceded you in (committing) it in the 'Alamn (mankind and

jinn)." (28) "Verily, you practise sodomy with men, and rob the

wayfarer (travellers)! And practise Al-Munkar (disbelief and

polytheism and every kind of evil wicked deed) in your

meetings." But his people gave no answer except, that they

said: "Bring Allh's Torment upon us if you are one of the

truthful." (29) He said: "My Lord! Give me victory over the

people who are Mufsidn (those who commit great crimes and

sins, oppressors, tyrants, mischief-makers, corrupters). (30)And

when Our Messengers came to Ibrhim (Abraham) with the glad

tidings they said: "Verily, we are going to destroy the people of this

[Lut's (Lot's)] town (i.e. the town of Sodom in Palestine); truly, its

people have been Zlimn [wrong-doers, polytheists, disobedient to

Allh, and who belied their Messenger Lut (Lot)]." (31) Ibrhim


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(Abraham) said: "But there is Lut (Lot) in it." They said:"We know

better who is there, we will verily save him [Lut (Lot)] and his

family, except his wife, she will be of those who remain behind

(i.e. she will be destroyed along with those who will be

destroyed from her folk)." (32)And when Our Messengers came to

Lut (Lot), he was grieved because of them, and felt straitened on

their account. They said: "Have no fear, and do not grieve! Truly, we

shall save you and your family, except your wife, she will be of

those who remain behind (i.e. she will be destroyed along with

those who will be destroyed from her folk). (33) Verily, we are about

to bring down on the people of this town a great torment from the sky,

because they have been rebellious (against Allh's Command)."

(34) And indeed We have left thereof an evident Ayh (a lesson and

a warning and a sign the place where the Dead Sea is now in

Palestine)[] for a folk who understand. (Surah Al-Ankaboot, 29:35)

From the above verses we learn that the people of Lot (peace be upon him)

were warned but they mocked the prophet. We also learn that the wife of Lot

didn't leave with him and his daughters as is the Judaeo-Christian belief;

rather she remained behind with the rest of the people of Sodom. Prophet Lot

and his family (except his wife) were told to leave the area at night and were

also told not to look back. More detail of this incident is related below

..."And we have brought to you the truth (the news of the

destruction of your nation) and certainly, we tell the truth.

(64) "Then travel in a part of the night with your family, and you

go behind them in the rear, and let no one amongst you look

back, but go on to where you are ordered." (65)And We made

known this decree to him, that the root of those (sinners) was to be

cut off in the early morning. (66) And the inhabitants of the city came

rejoicing (at the news of the young men's arrival) (67) [Lut (Lot)] said:

"Verily! these are my guests, so shame me not. (68) "And fear Allh

and disgrace me not." (69)They (people of the city) said: "Did we not

forbid you to entertaining (or protecting) any of the 'Alamn (people,

foreigners, strangers from us)?" (70) [Lut (Lot)] said: "These (the girls

of the nation) are my daughters (to marry lawfully), if you must act

(so)." (71)Verily, by your life (O Muhammad SAW), in their wild


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intoxication, they were wandering blindly. (72) So As-Sahah

(torment - awful cry) overtook them at the time of sunrise;

(73) And We turned (the towns of Sodom in Palestine) upside

down and rained down on them stones of baked

clay.(74)Surely! In this are signs, for those who see (or understand

or learn the lessons from the Signs of Allh). (75) And verily! They

(the cities) were right on the highroad (from Makkah to Syria i.e. the

place where the Dead Sea is now)[] (76) Surely! Therein is indeed a

sign for the believers. (Surah Al-Hijr, 15:77)

From the above verses we learn like the Judeo-Christian belief, Lot (peace be

upon him) was told to leave with his family at night. Ibn Kathir explains this as

meaning when you hear the people screaming from their torment, do not turn

around to look at them; leave them to face whatever punishment and

vengeance is coming to them (Ibn Kathir, 2006a). We are then told that the

punishment to be given was 1) An awful cry; 2) The upheaval of Sodom and 3)

The raining down of baked clay stones. We need to read this with the following

verse to comprehend what exactly the punishment of the wife was

So travel with your family in a part of the night, and let not any of you

look back, but your wife (will remain behind), verily, the punishment

which will afflict them, will afflict her.Indeed, morning is their

appointed time. Is not the morning near?" (Surah Hud, 11:81)

If in 15:77were told that the punishment upon the Sodomites was 1) An awful

cry; 2) The upheaval of Sodom and 3) The raining down of baked clay stones,

and the turning into salt stone is nowhere to be seen, and then in 11:81Allah

explicitly relates to us that the wife of Lot will suffer the same punishment as

the rest of the people, then from this we can conclude that the wife of Lot

remained behind in the city and was punished as the rest of the people and

she did not become stone. This is what the evidence leads to and Allah knows

best. The next question which arises is why was she punished?


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reject what is contradictory to the Islamic account as it is an integral part of our

belief that the Quran is the last and unchanged word of Allah.

With regards to the prophet Lot (peace be upon him), then we're told in

various Quranic chapters about his story [29:28-35...15:58-77...66:10... 26:161-174...51:37...11:76-82...37:133-136...54:33-39].I've only

expanded on the main ones in this article relevant to his wife. The evidence

consistently implies that she did not leave at night with Lot and their

daughters, rather she ...remained behind[7:83; 37:135; 29:32; 15:60;

26:171]and suffered the same fate as the rest of the people of Sodom [11:82].

Only the prophet Lot and his daughters were saved. The reason for her

destruction was that she didn't believe [66:10]. Further, the Quran and its

interpretation by IbnAbbas as related in Ibn Kathir suggests that she betrayedher husband by telling the people about guests he had over for the people to

then come and commit sin [54:37],like she did with the guests [who were

angels in the form of men] in Surah Al-Hijr [15:67-77].Thus she not only

rejected his call, but helped the evil doers against him.

And Allah knows best.


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References

Zondervan (1988) LotsWife. Bible Gateway [Internet] Available from:

http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/all-women-bible/Lot-8217-s-Wife

Bible Info (2012) What was Lot's wife's name? [Internet] Available from:

http://www.bibleinfo.com/en/questions/what-was-lots-wifes-name

Chein (2013) Why Did Lot's Wife Turn into Salt? [Internet] Available from:

http://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/1686007/jewish/Why-Did-Lots-

Wife-Turn-into-Salt.htm#footnote11a1686007

New International Version Bible (2013) Genesis 19 [Internet] Available from:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+19&version=NIV

Jewish Encyclopaedia (2013) LOT [Internet] Available from:

http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/10122-lot

Kadari, T. (2009) "Lot's Wife: Midrash and Aggadah." Jewish Women: A

Comprehensive Historical Encyclopedia. Jewish Womens Achive. [Internet]

Available from:http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/lots-wife-midrash-and-

aggadah.

Quran. Interpretation of the Meanings of The Noble Quran.Al-Hilali and

Muhsin Khan Translation: 16thRevised Edition. Riyadh: Darussalam.

Sadia, H., Badshah, N., Khan, J., Begum, S. and Nasrulla (2011) Prophet Lot

(L) In the Bible and the Holy QuranInterdisciplinary Journal of

Contemporary Research In Business, 3(8), 1030-1040.[Internet] Available

from:http://www.journal-archieves13.webs.com/1030-1040.pdf

Sahih Bukhari (2013) Volume 9, Book 93, Number 614. [Internet] Available

from:http://www.sahih-bukhari.com/Pages/Bukhari_9_93.php

Sunnah Online (2013) Story of Lut (Lot) [Internet] Available

from:http://sunnahonline.com/library/stories-of-the-prophets/297-story-of-

prophet-lut
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/all-women-bible/Lot-8217-s-Wifehttp://www.bibleinfo.com/en/questions/what-was-lots-wifes-namehttp://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/1686007/jewish/Why-Did-Lots-Wife-Turn-into-Salt.htm#footnote11a1686007http://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/1686007/jewish/Why-Did-Lots-Wife-Turn-into-Salt.htm#footnote11a1686007http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/10122-lothttp://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/lots-wife-midrash-and-aggadahhttp://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/lots-wife-midrash-and-aggadahhttp://www.journal-archieves13.webs.com/1030-1040.pdfhttp://www.journal-archieves13.webs.com/1030-1040.pdfhttp://www.sahih-bukhari.com/Pages/Bukhari_9_93.phphttp://sunnahonline.com/library/stories-of-the-prophets/297-story-of-prophet-luthttp://sunnahonline.com/library/stories-of-the-prophets/297-story-of-prophet-luthttp://sunnahonline.com/library/stories-of-the-prophets/297-story-of-prophet-luthttp://sunnahonline.com/library/stories-of-the-prophets/297-story-of-prophet-luthttp://www.sahih-bukhari.com/Pages/Bukhari_9_93.phphttp://www.journal-archieves13.webs.com/1030-1040.pdfhttp://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/lots-wife-midrash-and-aggadahhttp://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/lots-wife-midrash-and-aggadahhttp://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/10122-lothttp://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/1686007/jewish/Why-Did-Lots-Wife-Turn-into-Salt.htm#footnote11a1686007http://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/1686007/jewish/Why-Did-Lots-Wife-Turn-into-Salt.htm#footnote11a1686007http://www.bibleinfo.com/en/questions/what-was-lots-wifes-namehttp://www.biblegateway.com/resources/all-women-bible/Lot-8217-s-Wife


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Tafsir Ibn Kathir (2006) Tafsir Ibn Kathir [Internet] Available from:

http://mquran.org/content/section/1/2/

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (2006a) Lut is ordered to leave with His Family during the

Night [Internet] Available from:http://mquran.org/content/view/7606/2/

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (2006b) The Disbeliever shall never benefit from His Believing

Relative on the Day of Resurrection [Internet] Available from:

http://mquran.org/content/view/8868/2/
http://mquran.org/content/section/1/2/http://mquran.org/content/view/7606/2/http://mquran.org/content/view/8868/2/http://mquran.org/content/view/8868/2/http://mquran.org/content/view/7606/2/http://mquran.org/content/section/1/2/

the wife of lot (or lut)

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