The People of Lūt — Towns Turned Upside Down
Modern Discovery
The region around the Dead Sea is historically identified as the location of the People of Lūt. Archaeological and geological studies confirm signs of sudden, catastrophic destruction in this area — with cities buried under layers of ash, sulfur, and rock.
Key Historical Facts
The People of Lūt were the first in history to openly practice homosexuality.
They rejected Prophet Lūt (Peace be upon him) despite his warnings.
Qur’ānic Revelation 1400 years ago
“Indeed, you practice such immorality as no people before you have ever committed. Do you really lust after men instead of women? You are a transgressing people.”
(Qur’ān 7:80–81)
Their Punishment
“And We turned the cities ˹of Sodom and Gomorrah˺ upside down and rained upon them stones of baked clay.”
(Qur’ān 15:74)
“And you certainly pass by the ruins of their cities by day and by night. Will you not then understand?”
(Qur’ān 37:137–138)
Why this is a miracle:
The Qur’ān describes with precision the punishment of the People of Lūṭ: their cities overturned, and stones of baked clay raining down upon them.
“When Our command came, We turned the cities upside down and rained down on them clustered stones of baked clay.”
(Qur’ān 11:82)
The Qur’ān also emphasizes in present tense that their ruins remain visible:
"Their ruins still lie along a known route."
"Surely in this is a sign for those who believe."
(Qur’ān 15:76–15:77)
Even more strikingly:
"They have certainly passed by the city ˹of Sodom˺, which had been showered with a dreadful rain ˹of stones˺. Have they not seen its ruins? But they do not expect to be resurrected."
(Qur’ān 25:40)
To this day, the Dead Sea region lies barren, lifeless, and filled with evidence of sudden destruction — exactly as Allāh described. Their ruins stand as a living sign, preserved for all generations, and a direct proof of the Qur’ān’s truth.
The Qur’ān Reveals Their Story
Quran (11:76-83)
11:76
يَـٰٓإِبْرَٰهِيمُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَـٰذَآ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ قَدْ جَآءَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ ۖ وَإِنَّهُمْ ءَاتِيهِمْ عَذَابٌ غَيْرُ مَرْدُودٍۢ ٧٦
˹The angels said,˺ “O Abraham! Plead no more! Your Lord’s decree has already come, and they will certainly be afflicted with a punishment that cannot be averted!”
11:77
وَلَمَّا جَآءَتْ رُسُلُنَا لُوطًۭا سِىٓءَ بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ بِهِمْ ذَرْعًۭا وَقَالَ هَـٰذَا يَوْمٌ عَصِيبٌۭ ٧٧
When Our messenger-angels came to Lut, he was distressed and worried by their arrival. He said, “This is a terrible day.”
11:78
وَجَآءَهُۥ قَوْمُهُۥ يُهْرَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَمِن قَبْلُ كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ ۚ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ بَنَاتِى هُنَّ أَطْهَرُ لَكُمْ ۖ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُخْزُونِ فِى ضَيْفِىٓ ۖ أَلَيْسَ مِنكُمْ رَجُلٌۭ رَّشِيدٌۭ ٧٨
And ˹the men of˺ his people—who were used to shameful deeds—came to him rushing. He pleaded, “O my people! Here are my daughters ˹for marriage˺—they are pure for you. So fear Allah, and do not humiliate me by disrespecting my guests. Is there not ˹even˺ a single right-minded man among you?”
11:79
قَالُوا۟ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا لَنَا فِى بَنَاتِكَ مِنْ حَقٍّۢ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَعْلَمُ مَا نُرِيدُ ٧٩
They argued, “You certainly know that we have no need for your daughters. You already know what we desire!”
11:80
قَالَ لَوْ أَنَّ لِى بِكُمْ قُوَّةً أَوْ ءَاوِىٓ إِلَىٰ رُكْنٍۢ شَدِيدٍۢ ٨٠
He responded, “If only I had the strength ˹to resist you˺ or could rely on a strong supporter.”
11:81
قَالُوا۟ يَـٰلُوطُ إِنَّا رُسُلُ رَبِّكَ لَن يَصِلُوٓا۟ إِلَيْكَ ۖ فَأَسْرِ بِأَهْلِكَ بِقِطْعٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ وَلَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنكُمْ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَكَ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ مُصِيبُهَا مَآ أَصَابَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ مَوْعِدَهُمُ ٱلصُّبْحُ ۚ أَلَيْسَ ٱلصُّبْحُ بِقَرِيبٍۢ ٨١
The angels said, “O Lut! We are the messengers of your Lord. They will never reach you. So travel with your family in the dark of night, and do not let any of you look back, except your wife. She will certainly suffer the fate of the others. Their appointed time is the morning. Is the morning not near?”
11:82
فَلَمَّا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا جَعَلْنَا عَـٰلِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهَا حِجَارَةًۭ مِّن سِجِّيلٍۢ مَّنضُودٍۢ ٨٢
When Our command came, We turned the cities upside down and rained down on them clustered stones of baked clay,
11:83
مُّسَوَّمَةً عِندَ رَبِّكَ ۖ وَمَا هِىَ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ بِبَعِيدٍۢ ٨٣
marked by your Lord ˹O Prophet˺. And these stones are not far from the ˹pagan˺ wrongdoers!
A Challenge for Anyone Reading
Allāh makes a bold statements in the Qur’ān — in present tense:
"Have they not seen its ruins?" (Qur’ān 25:40)
"Their ruins still lie along a known route." ( Qur’ān 15:76)
“And you certainly pass by them in the morning and at night. Will you not then understand?” (Qur’ān 37:137–138)
This is not history being retold — this is Allāh declaring that their ruins still lie there now.
If those ruins were gone, the Qur’ān’s words would be false.
Your challenge: Remove the ruins if you can.
But you cannot — because Allāh has preserved these ruins as a sign, living proof of His word.
And your other option? To erase the verse itself.
But you cannot do that either:
“None can change His words.”
(Qur’ān 6:115)
These ruins have stood as a living reminder — preserved by His will — a sign for those willing to reflect.
“So how was My punishment and My warnings?” (54:16)
˹They were told,˺ “Taste My punishment and My Warnings!” (54:39)
“So We turned the cities upside down and rained upon them stones of baked clay.”
Their ruins still stands today — exactly as the Qur’ān declares now
"Their ruins still lie along a known route." (15:76)
So travel throughout the earth and see the fate of the deniers.
