anyone else, for they had made him promise not to show hospitality to anyone. Yet he was now faced with a situation he could not evade.
Qatādah relates that the angels came to Lot while he was working in one of his fields. They asked to be his guests, and he felt too embarrassed to refuse. He therefore walked on ahead of them, dropping indirect hints in the conversation in the hope that they would turn away from this town and lodge elsewhere. Among the things he said was: “My friends, I know of no people on earth more depraved than the inhabitants of this place.” He walked a little, then repeated the warning—doing so four times. Qatādah adds that the angels had been instructed not to destroy the people until their own prophet had testified against them (1).
Al-Suddī says: The angels left Abraham and headed toward the people of Lot, arriving around midday. When they reached the River of Sodom they met Lot’s daughter, who was drawing water for her family. He had two daughters—the elder was called Rithā, the younger Zaghratā. They asked her, “Young woman, is there a place where we might stay?” She replied, “Remain where you are; do not enter until I return to you,” for she feared what her people might do to them. She went to her father and said, “Father, there are young men at the city gate seeking you. I have never seen faces more handsome than theirs. Do not let your people seize them and disgrace them.”
His people had forbidden him to host any guests, but he brought the visitors home, and no one knew of it except the members of the household. Lot’s wife then went out and told the townsfolk: “There are men in Lot’s house the like of whose faces I have never seen.” His people came rushing toward him (2).
Concerning Lot’s words, “My people, these daughters of mine are purer for you” (11:78)—despite their many grave sins—he was directing them to lawful relations with their own women, who were his “daughters” in the legal sense, for a prophet stands toward his community as a father, as the ḥadīth states. Allah the Exalted likewise says: “The Prophet has a greater claim on the believers than they have on themselves, and his wives are their mothers” (33:6). Some of the Companions and early scholars added: and he is their father.
This is similar to His words: “Do you approach males among all people and leave the spouses your Lord has created for you? Rather, you are a people who overstep all bounds” (26:165–166). This interpretation was affirmed by Mujāhid, Saʿīd ibn Jubayr, al-Rabīʿ ibn Anas, Qatādah, al-Suddī, and Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq; it is the correct view.
The other opinion is mistaken, borrowed from the People of the Book and corrupted in transmission—just as they erred in claiming that the angels were only two and that they dined with Lot. In this story the People of the Book have blundered repeatedly.
Lot also said, “So fear Allah and do not shame me regarding my guests. Is there not a single right-minded man among you?” (11:78). Here he forbade them the indecency they sought and testified that not one of them possessed sense or goodness; all of them were frivolous, brazen sinners—disbelieving and obtuse.
This was among the very words the angels wanted to hear from him before questioning him. His people—may Allah’s curse be upon them—then replied: