On the true identity of the men who destroyed Sodom and Gomorah: Views of Muhammad, the companions and scholars

The Quran and the Bible are unanimous that those men who visited the proph­et Abraham and Lot, on whom be peace, and then destroyed the sinful city of Sodom and Gomorah were God’s An­gels. Views of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, the Companions and Islamic Scholars are presented in this article on the true identities of those men.

When three handsome and noble looking men visited Abra­ham one afternoon at Mamre (Gn 18:1-2), he mistakenly considered them as ordinary human beings. But when they showed utter indif­ference to the well prepared food presented to them his perception about them as human beings changed completely to some cre­ations of God not from this earth. He then conceived fear of them (Quran 11:71). From their “in hu­man” behaviour of those men to the food and great courtesy shown them by Abraham and his wife he concluded that they did not par­take of food, hence could not be humans. This was because they did not even care to stretch their hands to the food an – indication that they did not eat food. If a Muslim is presented with food containing pork, he will not stretch his hand towards it as an indication of the fact that he does not partake of pork. What deepened Abraham’s suspicions about them as some creations from some alien world was the fact that they kept mute and offered no excuses, whatever, for their cold attitude towards the food and courtesy. A true human being would offer an excuse and explanation in order not to embar­rass his guests.

When they noticed the great fear on the face of Abraham they uttered the words: “Fear not for we have been sent to the people of lot”(Quran),meaning that they were not there to cause any harm to him, but rather have been sent by God to punish the people of Lot for their sinful ways. Instantly he realised that he was dealing with Angels sent by God for an im­pending purpose. Messengers sent to Prophets of God are always Angels. In short the Holy Quran is replete with verses all of which are sure indicators that those men, who visited Abraham and Lot, were none but God’s Angels. But most importantly it is a historically established fact that God always send Angels to punish

Let me therefore devote the rest of the article to presenting the views of Muhammad and his Companions (Disciples) and eminent Islamic scholars on the subject. According to Um Hani, daughter of Abass who was an uncle of Muhammad. ‘’I asked the messenger of Allah (Muham­mad) concerning the verse: “And you commit abomination in your meetings” (Quran 29:30). He replied; “The people of Sodom would sit on highways and seize travellers and make jest of them. The prophet Lot used to invite them to the worship of God. He would also try to prevent them, using God’s order (commandment to him), from committing acts and indecencies that God, the Great and Majestic, disliked like highway robbery and the committing of other abominations as well as the approach of fellow men from the back (sodomy). He would then threaten them with painful divine punishments not withstanding their insistence on the evils that they habitually committed and their refusal to repent. These threats never weaned them from the evils. His admonitions rather increased them in rebellion and in the committing of extremities as well as their urging him to expedite God’s punishments on them. They did all those things in denial to his threats saying: “Bring on us the punishments if you are truthful” (Ankabut :29).

The state of affairs continued till Lot finally asked his Lord for help against them after the period of their disobedience, rebellion and enmity had prolonged. Allah, the Most High, finally decided to humiliate and destroy them as help to his Messenger Lot. He sent Gabriel, Michael and Israfil to them. They came to them on foot in the shape of men of youthful age’’ (Tabari),

The same Hadith has also been recorded in Qisas Al-Anbiya (Araa­is Al- Majalis) by Tha’labi, where it is also stated: “Then his Lord an­swered his prayers and sent Gabri­el, Michael and Israfil, on them be peace, to destroy them and also to give Abraham glad tidings of the birth of a son. They came on foot in the shape of men, who were beardless and handsome looking”. From the above it is established that the Holy Prophet Muhammad, on who be peace, identified the men as the three top-most Angels of God, namely: Gabriel, Michael and Israfil.

Companions (Disciples):

The following are also the views of his Companions: According to Ibn Abass, Murrat Al- Hamdani and Ibn Mas’ud: God sent Angels to destroy the people of Lot. They came on foot in the shape of men of youthful age till they reached Abraham and lodged with him” (Tabari, p297). According to Sa’iid: “When Gabriel and those with him (Michael and Israfil) came to Abraham they told him, “We shall destroy the people of this town (Sodom). Surely, its people are sinful’’ (Tabari, 297). According to bn Abass: “The Angels said to Abraham, ‘If there are only five men who offer prayers the punish­ment would be lifted from them” (Tabari, 298). According to Qatada: “The Angels came to Lot, while he was on his farm” (Tabari, p299). According to Suddi: “When the Angels left Abraham they walked towards Sodom” (Tha’labi, p89). From the above quotations it is crystal clear that the Companions of Muhammad, on them be peace, were unanimous that those men were God’s Angels.

The Bible (Genesis 19:1-26)

The Incidence of the destruc­tion of Sodom and Gomorah is recorded in Gen 19:1-26. In Gen 19:1 it is stated that it were two Angels who came to destroy the cities, while in Gen 19:5 the Bible refers to them as men. Similarly, in Gen 19:8 they are described as men. In Gen 19:12 they are referred to as men. In Gen 19:15 they are described as Angels. Finally, in gen 19:16 the Bible describes them as men. From the above Biblical quotations in which Angels and Men have been used interchangeably, all that the Bible wishes to convey is that those two Angels came in the human form, like how the Prophet and his Companions described them as Angels who manifested in the human form. In the same vein all the Islamic commentaries, without any exception, are unanimous that they were angels in human forms and not humans. These commen­taries include: Ibn Kathir, Al- Razi, Tabari and Zamakshari, just to mention some few. Pertinent to note that the Angels in the Islamic traditions have been described as handsome, to serve as a bait to attract the homosexual. Thus just as heterosexuals love young beautiful ladies, so do homosexuals love handsome, young and strong youths. The Angel who killed Lekhram of Peshawar in India manifested as a strongly built youth (man) with the further enticement that he was a Muslim who wanted to convert to Hinduism. On hear­ing that Lekhram made him his personal secretary, thereby making him easily accessible to the Angel.

Warns Hadrat Ahmad in Barakat Dua: “If an interpretation of the Holy Prophet becomes available to a Muslim you are duty bound to accept it instantly. Otherwise you will be deemed to be weak in faith”. In the same vein he stipu­lated that the third criterion for the writing of an accurate commentary are views of the companions.

Conclusion:

The Holy Prophet, Muhammad, Companions, the Bible and Islamic Commentaries and History are unanimous that those men who came to Abraham and Lot and de­stroyed Sodom and Gomorah were Angels in human forms.

“

The Holy Prophet, Muham­mad, Companions, the Bible and Islamic Commentaries and History are unanimous that those men who came to Abraham and Lot and de­stroyed Sodom and Gomorah were Angels in human forms.

“

BY KHALID KOFI AHMAD