Transliteration:( Wa Lootan iz qaala liqawmiheee innakum la ta'toonal faahishata maa sabaqakum bihaa min ahadin minal 'aalameen )
"And when Lut said to his people [65], 'Indeed, you commit indecency which none among the entire world has done before you' [66]."
Though Prophet Lut (peace be upon him) was not originally from the community he was sent to—he came from Iraq, whereas his people resided in the Syrian region—the Qur'an still refers to them as his people. This usage of “Qaum” signifies those to whom a prophet is sent, regardless of tribal or national origin. It highlights the universal responsibility of prophets toward their assigned nations.
The act denounced here is sodomy, a grievous sin which, according to Islamic tradition, no nation or creature before the people of Lut had ever committed. This emphasizes the unprecedented level of moral degradation among his people.
Even among animals, such behavior is absent—hence, the Qur’an calls it “fāḥishah” (indecency), indicating an act that is naturally and intellectually repulsive. Every person with sound judgment can recognize its inherent obscenity, and Islam condemns it as more vile than the instinctual behavior of beasts.
This verse thus serves both as a historical reminder and a moral warning, condemning the normalization of unnatural practices.
28. And (remember) Lut, when he said to his people: “You commit immoral sins which none has preceded you in (committing) it in all creatures.” 29. “Verily, you practice sodomy with men, and rob the wayfarer! And practice Al-Munkar in your meetings.” But his people gave no answer except that they said: “Bring Allah’s torment upon us if you are one of the truthful.” 30. He said: “My Lord! Give me victory over the people who are corrupt.”
Allah tells us that His Prophet Lut, peace be upon him, denounced his people for their evil deed and their immoral actions in having intercourse with males, a deed which none of the sons of Adam had ever committed before them. As well as doing this, they also disbelieved in Allah and rejected and opposed His Messenger, they robbed wayfarers, they would lie in wait on the road, kill people and loot their possessions.
(And practice Al-Munkar in your meetings.) This means, `in your gatherings you do and say things that are not befitting, and you do not denounce one another for doing such things.’ Some said that they used to have intercourse with one another in public; this was the view of Mujahid. Some said that they used to compete in passing gas and laughing. This was the view of `A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, and Al-Qasim. Some of them said that they used to make rams fight one another, or organize cockfights. They used to do all of these things, and they were even eviler than that.
(But his people gave no answer except that they said: “Bring Allah’s torment upon us if you are one of the truthful.”) This is indicative of their disbelief, scornful attitude and stubbornness. So Allah’s Prophet asked for help against them, and said:
(My Lord! Give me victory over the people who are corrupt.)
(29:28) We sent Lot[50] and he said to his people: “You commit the abomination that none in the world ever committed before you.
50. For comparison, see (Surah Al-Aaraf, Ayat 80-84); (Surah Hud, Ayat 69-83); (Surah Al-Hijr, Ayat 57-79); (Surah Al-Anbiya, Ayat 71-75); (Surah Ash-Shuara, Ayat 160-175); (Surah An-Naml, Ayat 54) (Surah An-Naml, Ayat 59); (Surah As-Saffat, Ayat 133-138); (Surah Al-Qamar, Ayat 33-40).
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