Exegesis of Surat Qaf, verse (14), and other selected verses, and what is derived from them.
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The Shaykh : Allah the Exalted said: [Qaf 50:12-14] We have concluded, according to the words of our brother Musa, up to the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He: The brothers of Lut, meaning the people of Lut. Lut (peace be upon him) was sent to them because they, may Allah protect us from that, used to approach males and leave women. That is, one would have intercourse with a male and leave the women. As he (peace be upon him) said to them: [Ash-Shu'ara 26:165-166] He called them to Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and warned them, frightening them of this vile act. But they persisted in it, so Allah sent down [Adh-Dhariyat 51:33-34] meaning marked; every stone had a mark, meaning a sign, indicating upon whom it would descend and strike them. And this vile trait is among the ugliest of traits. Therefore, its prescribed punishment in Islamic law is execution in all cases. That is, it is greater than unlawful sexual intercourse. If the one committing unlawful sexual intercourse has not previously married, he is to be flogged one hundred lashes and exiled from the city for a full year. But if he is a married man, meaning one who has married and had intercourse with his wife, he is to be stoned until he dies. As for sodomy, its prescribed punishment is execution in all cases. That is, if a man, meaning an adult person, commits sodomy with another adult by their mutual choice, it is obligatory to execute both the active and passive parties. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1456Hasan (Darussalam)
The Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him), meaning Ibn Taymiyyah, said: "The Companions agreed upon executing him, but they differed on how he should be executed. Some said: He should be burned in fire because of the magnitude of his crime, may Allah protect us from that. Others said: He should be stoned with stones. And others said: He should be thrown from the highest place in the city and followed by stones."
The point is that he (may Allah have mercy on him), meaning Ibn Taymiyyah, transmitted the consensus of the Companions on executing him. And the consensus of the Companions is a proof, so it supports the hadith:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1456Hasan (Darussalam) And because this great sin, may Allah protect us from it, is a sin that corrupts society, for it would turn a male society into a female society. It is also impossible to guard against it. Unlawful sexual intercourse can be guarded against; if a woman is seen with a man in a place of suspicion, they can be questioned. But if a male is seen with a male, how can they be questioned? The original state is that men gather with men and do not separate. Therefore, the statement that it is obligatory to execute both of them is the truth.
As for the people of Lut, you know that Allah the Exalted sent down upon them stones of baked clay, marked, and He destroyed them completely, overturning the upper part of their city to the lower part.
Then He, the Exalted, said:[Qaf 50:12-13] Yes, The people of the Aikah, meaning the tree. Allah the Exalted sent Shu'ayb to them, so he called them to Allah, reminded them of Him, and warned them against short-changing the measure and the scale. But they, may Allah protect us from that, remained in their disbelief and stubbornness.
[Ash-Shu'ara 26:189] And this punishment is said to be that Allah the Exalted sent down upon them severe heat, and they found no escape from it except that a wide, cool cloud was sent down. So they pushed each other toward its shade, seeking shelter under it. Then Allah sent down fire upon them, which burned them. In this, He, the Exalted, says: [Ash-Shu'ara 26:189]
He, the Exalted, said: Also among those who denied the messengers were the people of Tubba', who was a king among the kings of Yemen. Allah sent a messenger to them, but they denied him and did not submit to him. So He, the Glorious, says: [Qaf 50:14] So the promise of Allah with His punishment and retribution became due upon them. We ask Allah for protection and well-being for us and for you. Indeed, He is capable of all things. Now, we move to the question period.
The questioner : ... Question.
The Shaykh : Fine.
(12) The people of Noah denied before them, and the companions of the well and Thamud (13) And 'Aad and Pharaoh and the brothers of Lot (14) And the companions of the thicket and the people of Tubba'. All denied the messengers, so My threat was justly fulfilled.
كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ وَأَصْحَابُ الرَّسِّ وَثَمُودُ * وَعَادٌ وَفِرْعَوْنُ وَإِخْوَانُ لُوطٍ * وَأَصْحَابُ الْأَيْكَةِ وَقَوْمُ تُبَّعٍ كُلٌّ كَذَّبَ الرُّسُلَ فَحَقَّ وَعِيدِAnd the brothers of Lut
وَإِخْوَانُ لُوطٍ(165) Do you approach males among the worlds (166) And leave what your Lord has created for you as mates? But you are a people transgressing."
أَتَأْتُونَ الذُّكْرَانَ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ * وَتَذَرُونَ مَا خَلَقَ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ قَوْمٌ عَادُونَ(33) To send down upon them stones of clay, (34) Marked in the presence of your Lord for the transgressors."
عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةً مِنْ طِينٍ * مُسَوَّمَةًWhomever you find doing the actions of the people of Lut then kill the one doing it, and the one it is done to.
من وجدتموه يعمل عمل قوم لوط فاقتلوا الفاعل والمفعول بهThe Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him), meaning Ibn Taymiyyah, said: "The Companions agreed upon executing him, but they differed on how he should be executed. Some said: He should be burned in fire because of the magnitude of his crime, may Allah protect us from that. Others said: He should be stoned with stones. And others said: He should be thrown from the highest place in the city and followed by stones."
The point is that he (may Allah have mercy on him), meaning Ibn Taymiyyah, transmitted the consensus of the Companions on executing him. And the consensus of the Companions is a proof, so it supports the hadith:
Whomever you find doing the actions of the people of Lut then kill the one doing it, and the one it is done to.
من وجدتموه يعمل عمل قوم لوط فاقتلوا الفاعل والمفعول بهAs for the people of Lut, you know that Allah the Exalted sent down upon them stones of baked clay, marked, and He destroyed them completely, overturning the upper part of their city to the lower part.
Then He, the Exalted, said:
and the companions of the well and Thamud (13) And 'Aad
وَأَصْحَابُ الرَّسِّ وَثَمُودُ * وَعَادٌAnd the people of the Aikah
وَأَصْحَابُ الْأَيْكَةِso the punishment of the day of the black cloud seized them
فَأَخَذَهُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمِ الظُّلَّةِAnd they denied him, so the punishment of the day of the black cloud seized them. Indeed, it was the punishment of a terrible day.
فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَخَذَهُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمِ الظُّلَّةِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍHe, the Exalted, said:
And the people of Tubba'
وَقَوْمُ تُبَّعٍAll denied the messengers, so My threat was justly fulfilled.
كُلٌّ كَذَّبَ الرُّسُلَ فَحَقَّ وَعِيدِThe questioner : ... Question.
The Shaykh : Fine.