The Holy Quran Text. Translation & Commentary (the Example Commentary in Brief)(volume Three)

The Fate of Thamood (verse No. 61)

We studied the admonitory story of the people of A"d, which is now followed by that of the Thamood. The fate of A"d and Thamood, two mighty peoples of the ancient Arabia, was very awful and shocking. They rejected God's Message and went on their own evil way; and Allah's wrath wiped them out as if they had never existed! Salih too, is called their brother in the above verse for being so compassionate and well-wishing to his citizens, as a brother of them could have been. Salih's message in principle was the same as that of other apostles. It was mainly to believe in the only one true God who

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created them and settled then on the earth to own it and to flourish and prepare it to suit life; and also to get rid of all the idols, fetishes and false gods:ِ ``O, my people! Worship Allah! You have no God other than He, Who made you from the earth and assigned you to built, cultivate and flourish it.'' Worthy of note is here that; Allah has not said to have flourished the earth and then given it to us. On contrary he says that we have to flourish and prepare it for our settlement.

قَالُوا يَا صَالِحُ قَدْ كُنتَ فِينَا مَرْجُوّاً قَبْلَ هَذَا أَتَنْهَانَا أَنْ نَّعْبُدَ مَا يَعْبُدُ آبَاؤُنَا وَإِنَّنَا لَفِي شَكّ مِمَّا تَدْعُونَا إِلَيْهِ مُرِيب(( 62 ))

62- THEY SAID:ِ ``O, SALIH! YOU HAVE BEEN A SOURCE OF HOPE AMONG US SO FAR. DO YOU FORBID US THE WORSHIP OF WHAT OUR FATHERS WORSHIP, WHILE WE ARE SERIOUSLY IN DOUBT CONCERNING THAT TO WHICH YOU CALL US?''

قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ كُنتُ عَلَى بَيِّنَة مِنْ رَبِّي وَآتَانِي مِنْهُ رَحْمَةً فَمَنْ يَنصُرُنِي مِنْ اللهِ إِنْ عَصَيْتُهُ فَمَا تَزِيدُونَنِي غَيْرَ تَخْسِير(( 63 ))

63- HE SAID:ِ ``O, MY PEOPLE! WHAT THEN IF I STAND UPON AN EVIDENCE (CLEAR PROOF) FROM MY LORD, AND THAT HE HAS BESTOWED ON ME A MERCY FROM HIM. WHO WOULD THEN PROTECT ME FROM ALLAH, IF I DISOBEY HIM? THEREFORE YOU ADD NOTHING TO ME EXCEPT LOSS.''

وَيَا قَوْمِ هَذِهِ نَاقَةُ اللهِ لَكُمْ آيَةً فَذَرُوهَا تَأْكُلْ فِي أَرْضِ اللهِ وَلاَ تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوء فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ قَرِيبٌ(( 64 ))

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64ِAND O, MY PEOPLE! THIS IS THE SHE-CAMEL OF ALLAH, WHICH IS A SIGN FOR YOU. SO LEAVE HER TO GRAZE ON ALLAH'S LAND, AND TOUCH HER NOT BADLY (DO NOT HARM HER) LEST YOU BE SEIZED BY A NEAR TORMENT.

فَعَقَرُوهَا فَقَالَ تَمَتَّعُوا فِي دَارِكُمْ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّام ذَلِكَ وَعْدٌ غَيْرُ مَكْذُوب (( 65 ))

65- BUT THEY HAMSTRUNG HER! THEN HE SAID:ِ ``ENJOY YOURSELVES IN YOUR HOUSES FOR THREE DAYS (AND THEN GOD'S PUNISHMENT WILL SMITE YOU). THAT IS A PROMISE NOT TO BE BELIED.

THE COMMENTARY VERSE NO. 62 - 65

The people of Salih tried to pull his leg and throw dust in the eyes of his followers by the use of flattery:ِ ``O, Salih! You have been a source of hope among us so far.'' This clause of the verse reminds us of the brilliant title of AMIN= TRUSTWORTHY, given to Mohammad (AS) in his youth by Qureish and Meccans. His life with the Arabs was so gentle and righteous that, before his prophetic mission they nicknamed him Amin which means trustworthy. So he could easily have been elected a king or a chief of the chiefs if he had only conformed with their caprices and superstitious gods, but he was born for a much higher mission, and God's will was eventually done. And so was the case of Salih who lived a life among Thamood, before his assignment as a Messenger of God. This is why they flattered him saying:ِ ``O, Salih! You have been a source of hope among us so far, and now you

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forbid us to worship the gods that our fathers have been worshipping!'' This great prophet of God, without giving up or falling to despair, in a state of utmost self-possession told them:ِ ``What then if I stand upon evidences and clear proofs from my Lord, and that he has bestowed on me a Mercy from him. How then can I disobey such a Merciful Lord, and who can protect me against his wrath, which is the manifestations of justice, if I disobey Him? O, My People! There is the miraculous she-camel of Allahِa sign of Him for your consideration. So give up your monopoly and let God's gifts on the earth be available to all His creatures. Respect the sign of your Lord, and let her graze in this extensive pasture that God has made for His creatures, and, harm her not.'' As to the SHE-CAMEL= NA"GHIH, which was a miracle disclosed by the prophet Salih, the Holy Qura"n gives no detail. But through some Islamic traditions we come to know that she had come out of the heart of a mountain miraculously! She was drinking a large amount of water, and when she was at the spring the other domestic animals dared not to approach or touch the water!

And as to the reaction of the obstinate Thamood to the logical reasoning of their prophet, they rudely hamstrung God's she-camel and destroyed their own self and soul!:ِ ``They hamstrung her! And Salih said to them:ِ Enjoy yourselves in your houses for three days and then God's wrath will smite youِa promise not to be belied.''

A respite of three days was given them for further consideration and perhaps repentance, that God is the Most Merciful and the Compassionate Forgiver. But they paid no heed, because their hearts were sealed, their eyes veiled, and their ear were deaf! When three days elapsed an awful earthquake preceded by a heavy rolling sound, came by night, and turned their secure and safe homes to their graves and pits of the Hell! In the morning they were lying on their faces and the powerful was rendered powerless! It seemed so that the terrible earthquake had eyes to see, and sight to

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distinguish friend from foe, because no harm was done to Salih and to those who believed with him! The verb hamstring has been used collectively in the above verse, while the traditions imply that only one man from among Thamood hamstrung the she-camel and disabled her. This is because the majority of the people of Thamood approved the action of the individual, and in the sight of Islam, he who agrees by heart with an action of the others, and encourages and enjoins that action, he too has actually taken a part in that, and has his own share of responsibility.

فَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا صَالِحاً وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ بِرَحْمَة مِنَّا وَمِنْ خِزْىِ يَوْمِئِذ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ الْقَوِىُّ الْعَزِيزُ(( 66 ))

66- AND WHEN OUR COMMAND CAME, WE SAVED SALIH AND THOSE WHO BELIEVED WITH HIM BY A MERCY FROM US, FROM THE IGNOMINY OF THAT DAY; THAT YOUR LORD IS MIGHTY POWERFUL.

وَأَخَذَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا الصَّيْحَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا فِي دِيَارِهِمْ جَاثِمِينَ(( 67 ))

67- AND THOSE WHO OPPRESSED, WERE SEIZED BY A (DREADFUL) CRY; AND WHEN MORNING CAME THEY HAD FALLEN UPSIDEِDOWN (ON THEIR FACES) IN THEIR HOMES!

كَأَنْ لَّمْ يَغْنَوْا فِيهَا أَلاَ إِنَّ ثَمُودَاْ كَفَرُوا رَبَّهُمْ أَلاَ بُعْداً لِثَمُودَ(( 68 ))

68- AS IF THEY HAD NEVER DWELT THERE. BEHOLD! THAMOOD DISBELIEVED THEIR LORD. SO, AWAY WITH THAMOOD. (FROM GOD'S MERCY)

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THE COMMENTARY THE FATE OF THAMOOD (VERSE NO. 66 - 68)

Here in these verses the end of Thamood and their awful fate is mentioned which occurred after a respite of 3 days that was given them:ِ Your Mighty and powerful Lord saved Salih and those who believed with him from the ignominy of that terrible day, and the oppressors were seized by a dreadful rolling sound like that of a thunderbolt. The sound was so terrible and so destructive that all of them fell upside down upon their faces and died! Down with Thamood! Away with Thamood!

The punishment of the unbelievers and oppressors is not only physical. They are also punished spiritually, and are afflicted by various psychological and mental diseases, and also by social disgraces and humiliations, while the case of the righteous people is always different. According to some Islamic traditions; Thamood were destroyed by a thunder bolt which was a very great discharge of lightning accompanied by an enormous and heavy rolling sound! Any how, they passed away at once and as if they had never existed!

وَلَقَدْ جَاءَتْ رُسُلُنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ بِالْبُشْرَى قَالُوا سَلاَماً قَالَ سَلاَمٌ فَمَا لَبِثَ أَنْ جَاءَ بِعِجْل حَنِيذ(( 69 ))

69- AND THERE CAME OUR MESSENGERS TO ABRAHAM WITH GLAD-TIDINGS. THEY SAID:ِ PEACE! HE ANSWERED PEACE. THEN IT TOOK NO LONG WHEN HE CAME WITH A ROASTED CALF. (TO ENTERTAIN THEM)

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فَلَمَّا رَأَى أَيْدِيَهُمْ لاَ تَصِلُ إِلَيْهِ نَكِرَهُمْ وَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً قَالُوا لاَ تَخَفْ إِنَّا أُرْسِلْنَا إِلَى قَوْمِ لُوط(( 70 ))

70- BUT WHEN HE SAW THAT THEIR HANDS WENT NOT TOWARDS IT, (THEY DID NOT TOUCH THE ROAST) HE DISLIKED THEM AND CONCEIVED A FEAR OF THEM.

THEY SAID DON'T FEAR. WE ARE SENT AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF LOT.

وَامْرَأَتُهُ قَائِمَةٌ فَضَحِكَتْ فَبَشَّرْنَاهَا بِإِسْحَاقَ وَمِنْ وَرَاءِ إِسْحَاقَ يَعْقُوبَ(( 71 ))

71- AND HIS WIFE WAS STANDING BY. SO SHE LAUGHED. WE THEN GAVE HER THE GLAD-TIDINGS OF (GIVING BIRTH TO) ISAAC AND AFTER ISAAC TO JACOB.

قَالَتْ يَا وَيْلَتَا أَأَلِدُ وَأَنَا عَجُوزٌ وَهَذَا بَعْلِي شَيْخاً إِنَّ هَذَا لَشَىْءٌ عَجِيبٌ(( 72 ))

72- SHE SAID:ِ ``WOE IS ME! SHALL I BEAR A CHILD WHILE I AM AN OLD WOMAN AND THIS MY HUSBAND IS AN OLD MAN!? THIS IS INDEED SOMETHING STRANGE.''

قَالُوا أَتَعْجَبِينَ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللهِ رَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ إِنَّهُ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ(( 73 ))

73- THEY SAID:ِ ``DO YOU WONDER OF ALLAH'S ORDER? THE MERCY OF ALLAH AND HIS BLESSINGS ARE ON YOU, O, PEOPLE OF THE HOUSE, THAT HE IS THE GLORIOUS, THE PRAISE WORTHY.''

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THE COMMENTARY AN EPISODE IN THE LIFE STORY OF THE IDOL BREAKER (VERSE NO. 69 - 73)

The life story of ABRAHAM has been written here and there, in the Holy Qura"n with details and clear explanation; but in the above verses reference is made to that part of his life which is connected with that of his nephew Lot. In fact, the story of Lot has been narrated here with a brief reference to an episode in the life of his uncle ABRAHAM:ِ ``And there came our Messengers to ABRAHAM with glad-tidings.'' Although the narration about the stranger guests of ABRAHAM is given in brief, the few verses are so eloquent and comprehensive, and also self-explanatory, that we can apprehend all the series of events and necessary details that has been taken for granted in it:ِ The arch prophet of God received his unacquainted guests with salutation of peace, and immediately placed before them a meal of roasted calf for their luncheon. But the guests were angels who had turned their outward form to that of young men. When ABRAHAM saw that their hands went not towards it, and they did not touch the roast meat, he disliked it and conceived a feeling of mistrust, mingled with fear concerning the strangers.

This was because, if hospitality is refused in the East, it means that those who refuse it, do no good to the host. The angels got the hint, and soon presented themselves that they were angels and sent down against the wicked people of Lot in the Sodom and Gomorrah. They added to have had a good news for ABRAHAM too, who would become the father and grandfather of two other apostles namely Isaac and Jacob. ABRAHAM was very anxious and annoyed from the evil conducts of the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, and was very eager to have their problem solved some how. So the arrival of the angels was also a good news for him in that relation, which was besides the good news of

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being the fountain head of God's apostles. ABRAHAM'S wife (SA"RAH) who was standing by, could hardly believe the news, that was to bear a child in that old age of no less than a hundred years, and from a husband much older than that. But when she made sure that the strangers were only angels, she became so happy that she laughed. Her laughter might also have been due to wonder and amazement that she said! ``Woe is me! Shall I bear a child while I am an old woman, and this my husband is an old man!?'' Then the angels assured her that God's intention will be done and His Mercy and blessings will touch the people of the house. The Arabic, Ahlul-bait, translated here to people of the house, is a respectful addressing the household of ABRAHAM and Mohammad in Qura"nic language.

فَلَمَّا ذَهَبَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الرَّوْعُ وَجَاءَتْهُ الْبُشْرَى يُجَادِلُنَا فِي قَوْمِ لُوط(( 74 ))

74- THEN WHEN FEAR LEFT ABRAHAM AND THE GOOD NEWS REACHED HIM, HE PLEADED WITH US FOR THE PEOPLE OF LOT.

إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَحَلِيمٌ أَوَّاهٌ مُنِيبٌ(( 75 ))

75- THAT ABRAHAM WAS PATIENT, OFTEN SIGHING, AND RETURNING. (TO ALLAH)

يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَذَا إِنَّهُ قَدْ جَاءَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ وَإِنَّهُمْ آتِيهِمْ عَذَابٌ غَيْرُ مَرْدُود(( 76 ))

76- O, ABRAHAM! PLEAD NOT ON THIS MATTER, THAT YOUR LORD'S DECREE HAS ALREADY BEEN ISSUED; AND THERE WILL COME UPON THEM AN UNREJECTABLE TORTURE.

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THE COMMENTARY VERSE NO. 74 - 76

When Abraham's fear vanished by receiving the good news of having a prophet son and grandson, (ISAAC & JACOB) and made sure that the strangers were God's Messengers who had come to punish the sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorah, he began to plead with God and dispute with the angels for the wicked people of Lot. Abraham was not sure enough that the people of Lot had already been judged, and that, God's decree had been issued. This was why he began to haggle with the angels over the sinful people, for being a Compassionate and a tender-hearted man. But when they told him plead not on this matter that God's decree has already been issued, he ceased arguing and kept quiet, sighing.

وَلَمَّا جَاءَتْ رُسُلُنَا لُوطاً سِىءَ بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ بِهِمْ ذَرْعاً وَقَالَ هَذَا يَوْمٌ عَصِيبٌ(( 77 ))

77- AND WHEN OUR MESSENGERS CAME TO LOT HE WAS ANNOYED AND WAS GRIEVED ON ACCOUNT OF THEM, AND SAID:ِ ``THIS IS A HARD DAY''

وَجَاءَهُ قَوْمُهُ يُهْرَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَمِنْ قَبْلُ كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ هَؤُلاَءِ بَنَاتِي هُنَّ أَطْهَرُ لَكُمْ فَاتَّقُوا اللهَ وَلاَ تُخْزُونِ فِي ضَيْفِي أَلَيْسَ مِنْكُمْ رَجُلٌ رَشِيدٌ(( 78 ))

78- AND HIS PEOPLE WHO WERE DOING EVIL DEEDS BEFORE, CAME RUNNING TOWARDS HIM.

HE SAID:ِ ``O, MY PEOPLE! HERE ARE MY DAUGHTERS. THEY ARE CLEANER FOR YOU (IF YOU MARY THEM). BEWARE OF ALLAH AND DO NOT DISGRACE ME WITH REGARD TO MY GUESTS. IS THERE NOT A RIGHTِMINDED MAN AMONG YOU?''

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قَالُوا لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا لَنَا فِي بَنَاتِكَ مِنْ حَقّ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَعْلَمُ مَا نُرِيدُ(( 79 ))

79- THEY SAID:ِ ``YOU KNOW WELL THAT WE HAVE NO RIGHT (LIKING) TO YOUR DAUGHTERS, AND YOU KNOW WELL WHAT DO WE WANT!''

قَالَ لَوْ أَنَّ لِي بِكُمْ قُوَّةً أَوْ أَوْءَاِوي إِلَى رُكْن شَدِيد(( 80 ))

80- HE SAID:ِ ``O, WOULD THAT I HAD POWER AGAINST YOU, (I WISH I COULD SUPPRESS YOU) OR COULD TAKE REFUGE IN A STRONG SUPPORT.''

THE COMMENTARY THE INDECENT LIFE OF THE PEOPLE OF LOT (VERSE NO. 77 - 80)

According to some Islamic traditions, Lot was working in his farmland, when he saw some handsome young men coming to him. The strangers requested to be his guests for a couple of days. Morally he was obliged to entertain any guest, and knew it a religious duty; but here the case was differentِThe extraordinary beauty of the young stranger boys, and the addiction of his people to the evil passion of homosexuality, would be so difficult to handle; and such considerations filled him with anxiety and stress. So he said to himself:ِ ``To-day is a hard and troublesome day!'' Lot had no other option but to take his guests at home from a way that they could not be seenِperhaps in the dark of the night. In their way home, Lot informed the young strangers of the evil perversion of his people who sought sexual satisfaction in aberrant ways.

It is narrated that Allah had instructed the angels not to punish

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the town's folk before three witnesses testify their guilt. When Lot and his guests reached home safely his wife who was a disbeliever gave some signals to the chiefs of the rascals, informing them of what was going on in their house! So the heads of the homosexuals rushed towards the house of Lot. The apostle found himself very helpless when he saw his house besieged by the devils who were inflamed with the evil passion of homosexuality. He went out and said to them:ِ ``O, my people! Disgrace me not in front of my guests. Is there not a right-minded man among you? Here are my daughters; they are cleaner for you.''

``HERE ARE MY DAUGHTERS''

Lot had no more than three daughters and most probably the intruders were the chiefs of the mischief makers, and were not very many, that Lot offered to sacrifice his daughters in order to save the chastity of his young guests. Some commentators have taken the offer of his daughters otherwise, which is not a strong reasoning. They say:ِ ``My daughter or my son in the tongue of a venerable man like the apostle of God, who is in fact the spiritual father of people, may mean any young girl or young man of the town; and thus Lot encouraged them to go after the girls instead of the boys, and keep on with chastity.'' But in answer to their prophet, the wicked people said:ِ ``You know that we have no interest and liking in your daughters, and you well know what do we want!''

What else could he do in that critical situation? He told them that he wished he had enough power to crush the rascals and smash them, or at least he could have a reliable support to rely on. But soon it was proved that the most powerful and the most reliable support was there, and everywhere, and even ready to protect His faithful servants. Then his guests declared themselves to be angels, and Messengers of God, who were sent down to punish the people of Lot. They assured Lot not to fear any more, that, these rascals can not even touch you!

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قَالُوا يَا لُوطُ إِنَّا رُسُلُ رَبِّكَ لَنْ يَصِلُوا إِلَيْكَ فَأَسْرِ بِأَهْلِكَ بِقِطْع مِنْ اللَّيْلِ وَلاَ يَلْتَفِتْ مِنْكُمْ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ امْرَأَتَكَ إِنَّهُ مُصِيبُهَا مَا أَصَابَهُمْ إِنَّ مَوْعِدَهُمُ الصُّبْحُ أَلَيْسَ الصُّبْحُ بِقَرِيب(( 81 ))

81- THEY SAID:ِ ``O, LOT! WE ARE YOUR LORD'S MESSENGERS. THEY SHALL NEVER TOUCH YOU. SO SET FORTH WITH YOUR KINSFOLK IN THE DEAD OF THE NIGHT, AND LET NONE OF YOU LOOK BEHIND. EXCEPT YOUR WIFE, THAT SHE HAS TO SUFFER THE FATE OF THE OTHERS. THEIR APPOINTED TIME IS THE MORNING. IS THE MORNING NOT NEAR?''

فَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَمْرُنَا جَعَلْنَا عَالِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهَا حِجَارَةً مِّنْ سِجِّيل مَنْضُود(( 82 ))

82- THEN WHEN OUR DECREE WAS ISSUED WE TURNED ITS HIGHEST TO ITS LOWEST AND RAINED UPON IT BAKED CLAY (AS HARD AS STONE) ONE UPON ANOTHER.

مُسَوَّمَةً عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ وَمَا هِيَ مِنْ الظَّالِمِينَ بِبَعِيد(( 83 ))

83- (THE RAIN OF BAKED CLAY WAS) MARKED BY YOUR LORD, AND IT IS NOT FAR FROM THE OPPRESSORS.

THE COMMENTARY THE END OF THIS GROUP OF OPPRESSORS (VERSE NO. 81 - 83)

At last when the angels saw that Lot was mentally in a great stress and is in trouble about the existing situation, they disclosed themselves and declared their mission as the Messengers of God, saying:

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``O, Lot! We are your Lord's Messengers. So don't worry, that, they will never touch you.'' As it is revealed in the S 54:33, Lot did warn his wicked people of God's wrath and the coming of an awful day for their punishment, but they paid no heed to the warning and proceeded to take away his handsome guests! As they came forth suddenly their eyes were all blinded and in that darkness they heard a voice saying:ِ ``Now taste you my wrath and believe the warnings! This was the beginning of their dreadful chastisement....'' However, recognizing the angels who were in the guise of young beautiful man, revived Lot and infused a new blood into his veins, and felt a happiness in the depth of his heartِhis beloved Lord and friend had come to his help.

Then the angels told Lot:ِ ``Set forth with your house-hold and the others who have believed with you in the dark of the night, and let none of you look behind, except your wife who has to share the fate of those who are doomed. She will not follow your instruction and will lag behind among those who perish.'' When Lot and those who believed with him left the town behind, the terrible event began! The cities and the suburbs were agitated with irregular vibratory motions due to an awful earthquake, and by morning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were all overturned, so that its highest points became its lowest points, and after that a shower of pellets made of baked clay and hard as stones, rained upon the inhabitants and piled up on them.

SIJJIL is a compound Persian word Arabicised composed of SANG, and GILL, which might have been very hard pellets of baked clay.

HOMOSEXUALITY

The people of Lot were so awfully chastised for being homosexuals. Homosexuality among men and woman is unlawful in Islam, and it is counted among mortal and capital sins, and has retaliatory punishment, which is death for men, and a hundred whips for women.

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To prove the act is not that easy in our religion. There must be four just and virtuous men to witness and to testify that they have seen the indecent act; or the accused has to confess that he has done so, not once or twice, but at least four times and in different conditions and states. When the sin has clearly been proved, he is condemned to death, and she is to be whipped a hundred lashes.

*****

PEDERASTY

(Not only Islam, but almost all the religions, and in particular that of the Jews and Christians have condemned the pederast to death. The people of Lot were lost on account of pederasty and this is clearly stated in the Holy Qura"n S 7:80ِ84 as follows:ِ ``And also make a mention of Lot in the Book, when he said to his people:ِ Do you commit lewdness such that no one in the world ever committed before you!? You have sexual intercourse with men instead of women! You are indeed a degenerated people.'' In answer to him Lot's people said:ِ ``Banish him and his followers from your town that they are men who seek to keep clean.'' Pederasty in the Law of Moses, which is the law of Christians too; has been declared as a heinous and major sin, and the pederast is condemned to death. With reference to LEVITICUSِ20:13 we read:ِ

``If a man has sexual relations with another man or a boy, they have done a disgusting thing and both of them shall be put to death. They are responsible for their own death.'' TRANSLATOR'S NOTE)

WHY HOMOSEXUALITY IS UNLAWFUL?

Although sex aberration prevails widely in the West, so that its impudence and inviolability has generally been violated, and in some countries like England, it has officially been declared as lawful, yet its increase will not decrease its ugliness and evil consequences in man's society.

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Some may reason that they do not see any medical objection in that sort of sexual intercourse; while most of the doctors of Medicine have come to it as the source of the mysterious disease of Aids which nowadays is the general topic of conversation. Anything which is perverted from its natural way will go wrong and reach a cul-de-sac, or point of Fall. He who continues with such evil deeds will soon lose his affections to the opposite sex and this sort of a disease is indeed a calamity in the physical and spiritual life of both sexes. And also as another consequence of this evil act, man will obtain the feelings of woman and vice versa. Such people are eventually attracted to alcoholic beverages, and then captivated by intoxicants.

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LOT IN THE BIBLE

The above story of Lot and the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah, has also been narrated in the Bible, but in a primitive tongue and literature, and in some cases abusing to God and His apostles! Comparing the two narrations will easily prove to our dear reader that the difference is not that of a learned narrator and an unlearned writer. It rather is the difference between God and man! GOD APPEARS TO ABRAHAM IN GUISE OF MAN! GENESIS ِ 18 ABRAHAM hurried into the tent and said to Sa"rah:ِ ``QUICK! Take a sack of

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your best flour and bake some bread. Then he ran to the herd and picked out a calf that was tender and fat, and gave it to a servant who hurried to get it ready.'' There under the tree he served them and they ate! Then they asked where is your wife Sa"rah? She is there in the tent; answered he. One of them said:ِ ``Nine months from now I will come back and your wife Sa"rah will have a son!''

Sa"rah was behind the door of the tent listening. ABRAHAM and SA"RAH were very old, and Sa"rah had stopped having her monthly period. So she laughed to herself and said:ِ ``Now that I am an old woman and worn out, can I still enjoy sex?'' 13ِThen the Lord asked ABRAHAM:ِ ``Why did Sa"rah laugh and say can I really have a child when I am so old? Is anything too hard for the Lord? As I said, nine months from now I will return and Sa"rah will have a son.'' Sa"rah was afraid and she denied to have laughed! But the Lord said, yes you did laugh.