in the Valley of Zughar (Zoar). There he acted as the imam of that settlement, whose lands, farms, and affiliated villages were inhabited by people among the most morally depraved and brazenly unbelieving of mankind—vile in intention, the worst in both their inner character and outward conduct. They waylaid travellers, committed abominations in their assemblies, and never tried to restrain one another from the evil they practiced; what an appalling record of deeds!

They invented an obscenity that no descendant of Adam had ever pioneered before them: approaching males out of lust and abandoning the women whom Allah had created for His righteous servants. Lot therefore called them to worship Allah alone, without partner, and he forbade them these unlawful deeds, these outrageous abominations, these loathsome acts. Yet they persisted in their misguidance and arrogance, remaining steeped in debauchery and ingratitude. Consequently Allah loosed upon them a chastisement none could avert—one they had never imagined—and He made them an example for all peoples, a lesson from which the perceptive might take heed. For that reason the Exalted has recounted their story in several places of His manifest Book.

Thus, in Sūrat al-Aʿrāf He says:

“Lot, when he said to his people, ‘Do you commit an obscenity such as no one in all the worlds has ever preceded you in?
You approach men out of lust instead of women. Indeed, you are a people who exceed all bounds.’
But the only answer of his people was, ‘Expel them from your town; they are people who keep themselves pure!’
So We saved him and his family—except for his wife; she was among those who stayed behind—
and We rained upon them a rain. See, then, how was the end of the criminals.”
(7:80–84)

And in Sūrat Hūd He says:

“Our messengers certainly came to Abraham with good tidings. They said, ‘Peace.’ He replied, ‘Peace,’ and before long he brought a roasted calf.
When he saw that their hands did not reach for it, he grew suspicious of them and conceived a fear. They said, ‘Do not be afraid; we have been sent to the people of Lot.’
His wife, standing by, laughed; so We gave her the glad news of Isaac, and, after Isaac, Jacob.
She said, ‘Alas for me! Shall I bear a child when I am an old woman and this husband of mine is an old man? This is truly an astonishing thing!’
They said, ‘Do you marvel at Allah’s decree? The mercy of Allah and His blessings are upon you, people of the house. Surely He is Praiseworthy, Glorious.’
When Abraham’s alarm had subsided and the good news had reached him, he began to plead with Us concerning the people of Lot—
for Abraham was forbearing, tender-hearted, ever turning to Allah.
‘Abraham, turn away from this. Your Lord’s command has gone forth, and there is coming upon them a punishment that cannot be repelled.’
When Our messengers came to Lot, he was distressed on their account and felt powerless, and he said, ‘This is a grievous day.’
His people came rushing toward him; they had long been committing wicked deeds. He said, ‘My people! Here are my daughters; they are purer for you. So fear Allah and do not disgrace me regarding my guests. Is there not a right-minded man among you?’
They said, ‘You know very well we have no claim on your daughters, and you know exactly what we want.’
He said, ‘If only I had strength to resist you or could take refuge in some mighty support!’
They said, ‘Lot, we are messengers of your Lord; they will never reach you. Depart with your family in a part of the night, and let none of you look back—except for your wife; she will suffer what befalls them. Their appointed time is the morning. Is the morning not near?’
Then, when Our command came, We turned their town upside down and rained upon it stones of baked clay, heaped up,
marked by your Lord; such punishment is never far from the wrongdoers.”
(11:69–83)

And in Sūrat al-Ḥijr He says:

“Tell them about the guests of Abraham:
when they entered upon him and said, ‘Peace,’ he said, ‘We are afraid of you.’
They said, ‘Do not fear; we bring you good news of a knowledgeable boy.’
He said, ‘Do you give me such news when old age has overtaken me? What good news, then, do you bring?’
They said, ‘We bring you true news, so do not be among those who despair.’
He said, ‘And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord except those who are astray?’
He said, ‘So what is your business, O messengers?’
They said, ‘We have been sent to a people who are guilty—
except for the family of Lot; we shall save them all,
except his wife. We have decreed that she is to be among those who stay behind.’
When the messengers came to the family of Lot,
he said, ‘Indeed, you are a people unknown.’
They said, ‘No. We have come to you with that about which they used to doubt,
and we bring you the truth.’”
(15:51–63)