When the angels, guised as handsome young lads, arrived at Prophet Lut^-AS house, his followers were very apprehensive. His people were habitual sodomites and it was natural for Prophet Lut^-AS and his disciples to be alarmed for the safety of their innocent guests. They feared that once people discovered them, they would storm the house, molest the guests and the vile act of Allah^-SWT's disobedience would initiate from his very house. This would be very humiliating for a Prophet^-AS's household. As expected, people rushed to his^-AS house and demanded that the boys be handed over to them. Later, the angels disclosed their identity to Prophet Lut^-AS and conveyed to him Allah^-SWT's Message.

 

The Reality of Kashf

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This incident also highlights the reality of Kashf, in that Allah^-SWT may unveil facts whenever and however it pleases Him^-SWT . Even the Prophets^-AS cannot know unless He^-SWT allows them to. In the aforesaid events neither Prophet Ibrahim^-AS nor Prophet Lut^-AS discovered the real identity of the angels. Rather, they got so apprehensive that the angels themselves disclosed their identity. So Kashf is a means of Knowledge from Allah^-SWT and not the Knowledge of the Unseen, which is only a Divine Attribute.

 

The angels confided to Prophet Lut^-AS that they had been sent in the guise of young boys as a trial giving his people a final chance. Even if they obey him now, they would be spared. The time had come to resolve the matter over which they had constantly argued with him, and in fact the angels had come to execute Allah^-SWT's Command. They asked him to leave the city alongwith his followers late in the night for a destination ordained. According to the Commentators, it was Syria. He was instructed to walk at the tail end to ensure that no one was left behind. Moreover, nobody was to turn back to see the fate of the wrongdoers, as Allah^-SWT had decreed their destruction by dawn.

 

The account now turns back to the beginning of this story, when the angels arrived at Prophet Lut^-AS‘s house as handsome young boys. As soon as his people got a wind of it, they rushed to his house dancing and rejoicing over the news. Aware of their intentions, he vehemently appealed to them to spare his guests, as their dishonouring would cause him great embarrassment. They must fear Allah^-SWT and His^-SWT Wrath, he said, and not disgrace him. They not only intended to sin, but were also going to bring humiliation to Allah^-SWT's Prophet^-AS, indeed a crime grave enough to invoke instant doom. However, they did not pay any heed to his words of advice. On the contrary, they impudently remarked why was he acting as the caretaker of the entire world whereas he had already been cautioned not to interfere in their affairs. Prophet Lut^-AS, referring to their women said that they were like his daughters, their legally wedded wives, and that they should satisfy their sexual urge with them lawfully.

 

A Unique Evidence of Holy Prophet^-SW ’s Greatness

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"By your life" Praise be to Allah^-SWT ! He^-SWT is swearing upon the noble life of the Holy Prophet^-SW. This brings out the fact that his^-SW entire life whether prior to or after raising is a unique example of obedience and devotion to Allah^-SWT , as well as a constant endeavour in the pursuit of His^-SWT Pleasure. The like of it can neither be found in any of the exalted angels, nor in any other Messenger^-AS or Prophet^-AS, for Allah^-SWT has not sworn over the life of anyone of them. Swearing upon something means that it will be presented as witness over the matter being discussed. That is why it is not permissible for human beings to swear upon anyone save Allah^-SWT . Despite that, when Allah^-SWT desires to present something as evidence He^-SWT Swears upon it, just as He^-SWT has presented here the noble life of the Holy Prophet^-SW as witness to highlight what indeed is the path of guidance, and how distant are the infidels from that path.

 

The People of Prophet Lut^-AS who were rejoicing in their ignorance, heedless to any word of advice, were taken by an awful cry at sunrise; a blast loud enough to tear their livers apart. But this was not all; the piece of land inhabited by them was overturned. The heavens pelted stones on them. In short, an awful cry which left them confounded was followed by a downpour of stones from the heavens and finally the land was overturned. Indeed, there are many Signs in this anecdote for those who reflect. The places where they lived testify to this destruction todate. It is located in Jordan on the main highway between Saudi Arabia and Syria. A large tract of land, far below the sea level, holds a pool of blackish water. No traces of life can be seen in it. It does not even host a frog or a coral, and is rightly called as the 'Dead. Sea’. Latest researchers have concluded that the oil content in this sea far exceed its water content, making any aquatic life impossible. It also provides evidence to the fact that the land was uprooted from such a depth that oil surfaced, which is normally struck after digging thousands of feet into the sea.

 

Warning Signs

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These places are signs of admonition only for those who believe. That is why whenever the Holy Prophet^-SW passed by such a place he^-SW would lower his^-SW head and increase his^-SW pace in awe. Sadly enough, today such ruins have become places of recreation and have hotels housing tourists, for instance, Mohenjodaro and Taxila in our country. These sites ought to have been drawn a lesson from. But they have been developed as tourist spots instead. Similarly, the "People of the Wood" were also evildoers, unto whom Prophet Shu’aib^-AS was sent. They too were hit by His^-SWT Vengeance and punished for what they did. The ruins of their settlement are also located on a motorway between the Hijaz Valley and Syria.