Prophet Lut (Lot)

Who was Prophet Lut?

Lut (Lot) was a prophet of Allah and the nephew of the Prophet Ibrahim. He believed in Ibrahim and migrated with him, and was then sent as a prophet to the people of Sodom, a community sunk in grave immorality and the open commission of an act of indecency that no nation had committed before them.

His Story

Lut called his people to abandon their corruption and to fear Allah, but they mocked and threatened him, telling him to leave if he was so righteous. They persisted in their transgression and rejected his warnings. When Allah's decree came, angels visited Lut in the form of guests; his people came demanding them, and Lut, in great distress, tried to protect his guests and wished he had the strength to repel them. The angels revealed their identity and reassured him, instructing him to leave by night with his believing family — except his wife, who was among those who stayed behind. At dawn, the town was overturned and destroyed by a rain of stones, a lasting sign for those who reflect, while Lut and his followers were saved.

Lut in the Quran

• "And [We sent] Lut, when he said to his people: Do you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds?" (7:80)
• "And We saved him and his family, except his wife; she was of those who remained behind." (7:83)
• "Indeed, in that is a sign, but most of them were not believers." (26:174)

Lessons from His Life

Lut's story is a warning against open immorality, transgression of the limits set by Allah, and the rejection of sincere counsel. It shows that no lineage or proximity to a prophet saves a person without faith — even the wife of a prophet was destroyed because of her disbelief. It also models the prophet's patience and the believer's duty to enjoin good and forbid evil, even amid hostility, while trusting in Allah's deliverance of the righteous.

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the people of Lut punished for?

The Quran describes them as committing an act of grave indecency openly and without shame — approaching men instead of women — alongside other transgressions and rejection of their prophet. After persistent defiance and rejection of Lut's warnings, Allah destroyed them, saving Lut and the believers with him.

Why was Lut's wife not saved?

Although she was the wife of a prophet, she did not share his faith and sided with his people. The Quran presents her, alongside the wife of Nuh, as an example that closeness to a righteous person cannot benefit someone who themselves rejects faith.