(160–175) “The people of Lot denied the messengers.”

To the end of the account. He said to them, and they responded as those before them had responded. Their hearts resembled one another in disbelief, and so their words were alike. Along with their idolatry, they committed an obscenity that no one in the world had committed before them: they chose sexual relations with males—a vile and repugnant act—and turned away from the spouses created for them, owing to their excess and transgression. He continued to forbid them until “they said” to him, “If you do not desist, O Lot, you will surely be among those driven out”—that is, expelled from the town.

When he saw that they persisted in it, “he said, ‘Indeed, I am among those who detest your deed’”—that is, those who hate it, forbid it, and warn against it.

“My Lord, save me and my family from what they do”—from the deed itself and its punishment. Allah therefore answered his prayer.

“So We saved him and his entire family, except an old woman among those who remained behind”—that is, among those who remained to suffer the punishment. She was his wife.

“Then We utterly destroyed the others, and We rained upon them a rain”—that is, stones of baked clay. “How evil was the rain of those who had been warned!” Allah destroyed every last one of them.