*FIRST REMINDER*. Wednesday. *_THE WARNING AND PUNISHMENT OF ALLAH TO THE PEOPLE OF PROPHET LUT alaihi salaam_*. *BismilLah* Most of the information for the Reminders today has been obtained from: “A History of the Prophets of Islam”, Volume I, by Suzanne Haneef and “Stories of the Prophets”, by Sheikh Ibn Kathir (Translation by Rashad Ahmad Azami). "AS" used means may peace be upon him which is to be used whenever we mention the name of any past Prophet or Messenger of ALLAH. Prophet Lut AS was the nephew of the Prophet Ibrahim AS. The story of his people and the punishment they were afflicted with was a shocking incident in the life of Ibrahim AS. Lut AS, went with Ibrahim AS and settled in Palestine. Nothing authoritative is known of Lut’s AS earlier life. What is evident is that at some point after his settling, Allah appointed him as prophet to communities on the shore of what is now the Dead Sea, not far from Ibrahim’s AS home. Lut AS went to the city of Sodom after Ibrahim AS had asked him to do so. It was the main city of that region with suburbs and satellite villages, prosperous and well-populated. In the region where Lut AS settled, there were 5 cities, referred to in the Qur’an as Al-Mu’tafikat (Qur’an 9:70; 53:53, 69:9), meaning “the Overturned Cities”. Sodom was the largest of these. The people of Sodom were of the most immoral and insolent nature. Although they were guilty of many vices, one stands out glaringly among all the rest – homosexuality or sodomy – they were the first people in human history to practice homosexuality. It is reported that these people would commit perverted deeds openly in their gatherings, and they cut the access of travellers to their roadways, robbing and killing them, after perhaps first forcing them engage in unnatural acts. And it was not only some or even a majority of Lut’s AS people who engaged in such practice; rather it was the entire population. Allah in His Mercy, caused Lut AS to settle among them so they might perhaps be guided. Lut AS called them to heed Allah’s command and to worship Him alone, without associating any partner with Him. And he forbade them from their indecent practice and abhorring act. But they ignored and rejected his appeal, and continued in their erroneous unnatural acts. As a result, Allah destroyed them by a severe punishment. LUT AS WARNS HIS PEOPLE “Will you not fear Allah?” he said, appealing to them to reflect on their accountability to their Creator. And assuring his people of his absolute reliability, he added, “Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger. So fear Allah and obey me. And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds.” (Qur’an 26:161-164). As if holding up a mirror in front of his people, Lut AS tried to make them look at the awfulness of their perverted habits and criminal behaviours. Do you commit immorality while you are seeing? Do you indeed approach men with desire instead of women? Rather, you are a people behaving ignorantly.”  (Qur’an 27:54-55). But the response of his people, already extraordinarily hardened and callous, was only that they said, “Expel the family of Lut from your city. Indeed, they are people who keep themselves pure.” (Qur’an 27:56). Lut’s AS admonition became stronger: “Do you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds?” (Qur’an 7:80), he asked. The people simply replied with the same words as before, asking to drive Lut AS and his family out. But ignoring their enmity and threats, Lut AS faithfully continued to preach and warn, reiterating his message, emphasizing the error and ingratitude of turning away from the sources whom Allah had granted for the natural fulfillment of their needs. *To be continued in Shaa Allah*. *_May Allah keep guiding us all and protect us from His disobedience_*. Aameen.