Lut

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Introduction

The story of Lot (لوط, Lūṭ) from the Hebrew Bible, is also to be found in the Qur'an, albeit retold with a few differences. Amongst other things, the Qur'anic rendition links the destruction of Sodom specifically to the homosexual activities of its inhabitants.

The Story of Lot

Salient Points

The story of Lot is repeated several times in the Qur'an, most of which can be read here. For the purpose of this article, we will be going over the key points which are:

All the men of Lot became homosexual:

Would ye really approach men in your lusts rather than women? Nay, ye are a people (grossly) ignorant!

Homosexuality was something that did not exist prior to the people of Lot:

And (remember) Lut: behold, he said to his people: "Ye do commit lewdness, such as no people in Creation (ever) committed before you.

Lots wife was said to be Complicit with his People:

Allah sets forth, for an example to the Unbelievers, the wife of Noah and the wife of Lut: they were (respectively) under two of our righteous servants, but they were false to their (husbands), and they profited nothing before Allah on their account, but were told: "Enter ye the Fire along with (others) that enter!"

All were annihilated except for the family of Lot:

We rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): and evil was the shower on those who were admonished (but heeded not)!

Well, almost all the family of Lot:

But we saved him and his family, except his wife: she was of those who legged behind.

Lot also offered his daughters to the homosexual men:

And his people came unto him, running towards him - and before then they used to commit abominations - He said: O my people! Here are my daughters! They are purer for you. Beware of Allah, and degrade me not in (the person of) my guests. Is there not among you any upright man?

Analysis

1. Scientifically it is impossible for all the men of the town to be homosexuals, as homosexuality exists only in low percentages, from 2-7%. These numbers are based on many scientific studies:

  • ACSF Investigators (1992). AIDS and sexual behaviour in France. Nature, 360, 407–409
  • Billy, J. O. G., Tanfer, K., Grady, W. R., & Klepinger, D. H. (1993). The sexual behavior of men in the United States. Family Planning Perspectives, 25, 52–60.
  • Binson, D., Michaels, S., Stall, R., Coates, T. J., Gagnon, & Catania, J. A. (1995). Prevalence and social distribution of men who have sex with men: United States and its urban centers. Journal of Sex Research, 32, 245–254.
  • Bogaert, A. F. (2004). The prevalence of male homosexuality: The effect of fraternal birth order and variation in family size. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 230, 33–37.
  • Fay, R. E., Turner, C. F., Klassen, A. D., & Gagnon, J. H. (1989). Prevalence and patterns of same-gender sexual contact among men. Science, 243, 338–348.
  • Johnson, A. M., Wadsworth, J., Wellings, K., Bradshaw, S., & Field, J. (1992). Sexual lifestyles and HIV risk. Nature, 360, 410–412.
  • Laumann, E. O., Gagnon, J. H., Michael, R. T., & Michaels, S. (1994). The social organization of sexuality: Sexual practices in the United States. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  • Sell, R. L., Wells, J. A., & Wypij, D. (1995). The prevalence of homosexual behavior in the United States, the United Kingdom and France: Results of national population-based samples. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 24, 235–248
  • Wellings, K., Field, J., Johnson, A., & Wadsworth, J. (1994). Sexual behavior in Britain: The national survey of sexual attitudes and lifestyles. London, UK: Penguin Books

These studies prove conclusively that the number of homosexuals in a society will not exceed 7%. Thus claiming that all of the people of Sodom became homosexuals is unrealistic, to say the least.

2. The claim that the People of Lot were the first to experience homosexuality is purely a myth. Homosexuality has been recorded in ancient cultures far before the time of Lot and Abraham (1948–2123 BC). For example the ancient Egyptians who existed 6000 years before Christ. Not to mention the Chinese and Indian cultures which existed 7000 years BC. There are many recorded tales which portray homosexuality, such as the story between Seth and Horus.

Thus the Qur'an is historically inaccurate when it claims that homosexuality did not exist prior to the people of Lot.

3. The claim that the wife of Lot was complicit with Lots people is absurd, as homosexual men lust for men not women, so why would Lots wife be accused of being complicit with them? Muslims may claim they were bisexuals, but Allah clearly labels them as homosexuals.

4. Terminating the People of Lot was unnecessary. If Allah left them alone, they would have been extinct in a matter of one generation. Exclusively homosexual activity, for quite obvious reasons, prevents giving birth to any offspring. Therefore, since all were homosexuals, none would have given birth. Eventually, the people of Lot would have disappeared without God having to commit genocide. If God was the homophobic author of the story, he could have simply left them to themselves, and it could have been construed as a wise lesson; you have the freedom to do as you please, but be prepared to bear the consequences.

5. Finally, why did Lot offer his daughters to wicked men? (Quran 15:67-71 and Quran 11:77-79)

In Islam, Lot is seen as a prophet and all prophets in Islam are supposed to be shining examples to mankind. So should we follow the example of Allah's prophet and offer our daughters to wicked men? Must all Muslims offer their daughters to homosexuals? What if the wicked man is a bisexual? He will take the girl.

Conclusion

Scientifically, historically and morally, this story is absurd. It is one of many tales within the Qur'an which openly denies modern scientific knowledge and documented history, and by doing so, it proves the author of those verses was ignorant of reality, thus proving the verses were not divinely revealed.

This page is featured in the core article, Islam and Homosexuality which serves as a starting point for anyone wishing to learn more about this topic
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See Also