place in the town, then thrown from it headfirst and pelted with stones (1), for this is what Allah did to the people of Lot—though this point is open to question.

Some scholars said instead that he should be stoned until he dies, because Allah Most High sent upon the people of Lot stones of baked clay. As for the claim that He raised their towns and then turned them upside down, this is an Israelite report: it is neither affirmed nor denied. What is established, however, is that Allah Most High sent stones of baked clay upon them and made its highest part its lowest; that is, when the stones came, the buildings collapsed, so that what had been high became low. Thus, they are to be stoned with stones. These are the three views regarding the manner of executing one guilty of the act of Lot.

As for the rational evidence for the necessity of executing him, it is that this is an immense social corruption: it makes men take the place of women, and it cannot be guarded against, since males are constantly together. If, for example, we found a man with a youth, we could not say to him, “Leave the youth. What brought you to him?” But if we found a man with a woman and doubted whether he was one of her close unmarriageable relatives or not, we could investigate and inquire. Since this matter is so horrific, so destructive to society, and impossible to guard against, its punishment is execution in every case. This view is the correct one.

If someone were to ask: Should they be burned, thrown from the highest height, or stoned to death?