Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

1693 - هودٌ عليه السلام‏

1693. HuD (AS)

1

( وَإِلَى‏ عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُوداً قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَالَكُمْ مِنْ إِلهٍ غَيْرُهُ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ)2

“And to [the people of] Ad, Hud, their brother. He said, 'O my people, worship Allah! You have no other god besides Him. Will you not then be wary [of Him]?” 3

(اُنظر) هود : 50 - 60 والمؤمنون : 13 - 41 والشعراء : 123 - 140 وفصّلت : 13 - 16 والأحقاف : 21 والحاقّة : 4 - 8 والفجر : 6 - 8

(See also: Qur'an 11:50-60, 23:31-41, 26:123-140, 41:13-16, 46:21-26, 51:41-42, 54:18-22, 69:4-8, 89:6-8)

5953. الإمامُ الباقرُ عليه السلام : إنّ نُوحاً عليه السلام لَمّا انقَضَت نُبُوّتُهُ واستَكمَلَت أيّامُهُ أوحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّوجلَّ إلَيهِ أن : يا نُوحُ قد قَضَيتَ نُبُوّتَكَ واستَكمَلتَ أيّامَكَ، فاجعَلِ العِلمَ الّذي عِندَكَ والإيمانَ والاسمَ الأكبَرَ ومِيراثَ العِلمِ وآثارَ عِلمِ النُّبُوّةِ في العَقِبِ مِن ذُرّيَّتِكَ

وبَشَّرَ نُوحٌ ساماً بِهُودٍ عليه السلام ، وكانَ فيما بينَ نُوحٍ وهُودٍ مِن الأنبياءِ وقالَ نُوحٌ : إنّ اللَّهَ باعِثٌ نَبيّاً يُقالُ لَهُ : هُودٌ ، وإنّهُ يَدعو قَومَهُ إلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّوجلَّ فيُكَذِّبونَهُ واللَّهُ عَزَّوجلَّ مُهلِكُهُم بالرِّيحِ ، فمَن أدرَكَهُ مِنكُم فَليُؤمِنْ بهِ وليَتَّبِعْهُ فإنّ اللَّهَ عَزَّوجلَّ يُنَجِّيهِ مِن عَذابِ الرِّيحِ4

5953. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, 'When Noah's prophethood finished and his time came to an end, Allah Almighty revealed to him: 'O Noah, you have fulfilled your prophethood and your days have come to an end, so put the knowledge you have, the faith, the Great Name, the heritage of knowledge and the legacy of the knowledge of prophethood in the offspring of your progeny...'. Noah informed Sam of the coming of Hud (AS), and there were prophets between Noah and Hud. Noah said, 'Allah will send a prophet by the name of Hud. He will invite his people to Allah and they will refute him. Allah Almighty will destroy them with wind, and so those of you who live to see him must believe in him and follow him, for Allah will save you from the punishment of the wind.'5

5954. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : لَمّا بَعثَ اللَّهُ عَزَّوجلَّ هُوداً عليه السلام أسلَمَ لَهُ العَقِبُ مِن وُلدِ سامٍ ، وأمّاالآخَرونَ فقالوا: مَن أشَدُّ مِنّا قُوّةً ؟! فاُهلِكوا بالرِّيحِ العَقيمِ ، وأوصاهُم هُودٌ وبَشَّرَهُم بصالِحٍ عليه السلام6

5954. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'When Allah Almighty sent Hud (AS), the descendants of Sam believed in him. As for the others, they said, 'Who can be stronger than us?' So they were destroyed with the barren wind. Hud exhorted them and informed them of Salih (AS).'7

إشارة إلى قِصّةِ هُودٍ وقَومِهِ عادٍ

Details of the Story of Hud and his People and Ad

الذي يذكره القرآن الكريم من قصّتهم هو أنّ عاداً - وربّما يسمّيهم عاداً الاُولى‏ (النجم : 50) وفيه إشارة إلى‏ أنّ هناك عاداً ثانية - كانوا قوماً يسكنون الأحقاف‏8 من شبه جزيرة العرب (الأحقاف : 21) بعد قوم نوح (الأعراف : 69)...

لم يزل القوم يتنعّمون بنعمة اللَّه حتّى‏ غيّروا ما بأنفسهم ، فتعرّقت فيهم الوثنيّة وبنَوا بكلّ رِيع آيةً يَعبثون

فبعث اللَّه إليهم أخاهم هوداً يدعوهم إلَى الحقّ ويرشدهم إلى‏ أن يعبدوا اللَّه ويرفضوا الأوثان ويعملوا بالعدل والرحمة (الشعراء : 130) فبالغ في وعظهم وبثّ النصيحة فيهم ، وأنار الطريق وأوضح السبيل ، وقطع عليهم العذر ، فقابلوه بالإباء والامتناع

فأنزل اللَّه عليهم العذاب ، وأرسل إليهم الريح العقيم ما تذر من شي‏ء أتت عليه إلّا جعلته كالرميم (الذاريات : 42) ..9

What the glorious Quran mentions about their story is that Ad - and they are also called the former Ad (Quran 53:50), indicating that there was a second Ad - was a group of people living in al-Ahqaf10 in the Arabian peninsula (Quran 46:21) after the people of Noah (Quran 7:69).

...the people were happily enjoying the bounties of Allah until they changed what was in their selves [their behaviour and morals], and paganism became deeply rooted in them and they built a sign on every hill with amusement.

So Allah sent to them their brother Hud to call them to the Truth guiding them to worship Allah, to refute the idols, and to live with justice and mercy (Quran 26:130). He advised them greatly and spread exhortations among them. He enlightened the way, clarified the path, and cut off their excuses from them, and they repaid him with nothing but refusal and denial. So Allah sent punishment down upon them and sent down a barren wind that did not leave anything it came across without rendering it like decayed bones (Quran 51:42).11

1 . Prophet Hud (AS) is not a biblical prophet, and his Christian name is therefore not known (ed.)

Notes

2. الأعراف : 65

3. Quran 7:65

4. الكافي : 8 / 115 / 92

5. al-Kafi, v. 8, p. 115, no. 92

6. كمال الدين : 136 / 5

7. Kamal al-Din, p. 136, no. 5

8. الأحقاف : جمع حِقْف : من الرمل، والعرب تسمّي الرمل المعوّج حقافاً . ، والأحقاف المذكور في الكتاب العزيز وادٍ بين عُمان وأرض مهرة ، قال ابن إسحاق : رمال فيما بين عُمان إلى‏ حضرموت ، وقال قتادة الأحقاف : رمال مشرفة علَى البحر بالشحر من أرض اليمن وقال الضحّاك : الأحقاف جبل بالشام (معجم البلدان : 1 / 115 )

9. تفسير الميزان : 10 / 307

10. Ahqaf is the plural of hiqf, meaning sand dunes, and the ahqaf mentioned in the Holy Book is a valley between Oman and the land of Muhrah. It is also said to be between Oman and Hadramawt. It is a sandy place overseeing the shoreline of the sea. Al-?ahhak has said, 'al-Ahqaf is a mountain in Damascus.' [as stated in the footnote of the sourcebook]

11. Tafsir al-Mizan, v. 10, p. 307

1694 - صالِحٌ عليه السلام‏

1694. SaLIh (AS)

1

( وَإِلَى‏ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَالِحاً قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ إِلهٍ غَيْرُهُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُمْ بَيِّنَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ هَذِهِ نَاقَةُ اللَّهِ لَكُمْ آيَةٌ)2

“And to [the people of] Thamud, Salih, their brother. He said, 'O my people, worship Allah! You have no other god beside him. There has certainly come to you a manifest proof from your Lord. This she-camel of Allah is a sign for you.” 3

(اُنظر) هود 61 - 68 والحِجْر : 80 - 84 والشعراء : 141 - 159 والنمل : 45 - 53 وفصّلت : 17 ، 18 والذاريات : 43 - 45 والقمر : 23 - 32 والحاقّة : 4 ، 5 والفجر : 9 والشمس : 11 - 15

(See also: Qur'an 11:61-68, 15:80-84, 26:141-159, 27:45-53, 41:17-18, 51:43-45, 54:23-32, 69:4-5, 89:9, 91:11-15)

5955. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : أيُّها النّاسُ، إنّما يَجمَعُ النّاسَ الرِّضى‏ والسُّخطُ ، وإنّما عَقَرَ ناقَةَ ثَمودَ رجُلٌ واحِدٌ فعَمَّهُمُ اللَّهُ بالعَذابِ لَمّا عَمُّوهُ بالرِّضا ، فقالَ سبحانَهُ : (فعَقَرُوها فأصْبَحُوا نادِمينَ)4 فما كانَ إلّا أن خارَت أرضُهُم بالخَسفَةِ خُوارَ السِّكَّةِ المُحْماةِ في الأرضِ الخَوَّارَةِ5

5955. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'O people! Satisfaction and discontentment are what gather people [in categories]. And although it was only one man who slaughtered the she-camel of Thamud, Allah included all of them in the punishment because they all accepted his action, as He Almighty said, '“But they hamstrung her, whereupon they became regretful.” 6 So, it was not long before their land declined by sinking [into the earth] as the spike of a plough pierces weak, unploughed land.'7

5956. أبو مَطَرٍ : لَمّا ضَرَبَ ابنُ مُلجَمٍ الفاسِقُ لَعَنهُ‏اللَّهُ أميرَ المؤمنينَ عليه السلام قالَ‏لَهُ الحسَنُ: أَقتُلُهُ ؟ قالَ : لا،ولكنِ احبِسْهُ؛ فإذا مُتُ‏فاقتُلوهُ، وإذا مُتُّ فادفِنوني في هذا الظَّهرِ في قَبرِ أخَوَيَّ : هُودٍ وصالِحٍ8

5956. Abu Matar said, 'When the wicked Ibn Muljam, may Allah curse him, struck the Commander of the Faithful (AS), Imam Hasan (AS) asked [his father], 'Shall I kill him?' The Imam said, 'No, but detain him and if I die, then kill him. When I die, bury me in this place between the graves of my brothers Hud and Salih.'9

إشارة إلى قِصّةِ صالحٍ وقَومِهِ ثَمودَ

Details of the Story of Salih and his People, Thamud

كانت ثمود تعيش على‏ سنّة الشعوب والقبائل ؛ يحكم فيهم سادتهم وشيوخهم وقد كانت في المدينة التي بعث فيها صالح تسعة رهط يفسدون في الأرض ولا يصلحون (النمل : 48) فطغوا في الأرض وعبدوا الأصنام وأفرطوا عتوّاً وظلماً

لمّا نسيت ثمود ربّها وأسرفوا في أمرهم أرسل اللَّه إليهم صالحاً النبيّ عليه السلام ، وكان من بيت الشرف والفَخار معروفاً بالعقل والكفاية (هود : 62 ، النمل : 49) فدعاهم إلى‏ توحيد اللَّه سبحانه ، وأن يتركوا عبادة الأصنام ، وأن يسيروا في مجتمعهم بالعدل والإحسان ، ولا يعلوا في الأرض ولا يسرفوا ولا يطغوا ، وأنذرهم بالعذاب (هود ، الشعراء ، الشمس وغيرها)

ثمّ إنّهم طغوا ومكروا ، وبعثوا أشقاهم لقتل الناقة فعقرها ، وقالوا لصالح : ائتنا بما تعدنا إن كنت من الصادقين ! قال صالح عليه السلام : تمتّعوا في داركم ثلاثة أيّام ، ذلك وعد غير مكذوب (هود : 65)

ثمّ مكرت شعوب المدينة وأرهاطها بصالح، وتقاسموا بينهم : لنُبيّتنّه وأهله ثمّ نقولنّ لوليّه : ما شهدنا مَهلِك أهله وإنّا لصادقون ، ومكروا مكراً ومكراللَّه مكراً وهم لايشعرون (النمل:50) فأخذتهم الصاعقة وهم ينظرون (الذاريات : 44) والرجفة والصيحة فأصبحوا في دارهم جاثمين ، فتولّى‏ عنهم وقال : يا قومِ لقد أبلغتكم رسالة ربّي ونصحت‏لكم ، ولكن لاتحبّون الناصحين (الأعراف: 79 ، هود : 67) وأنجَى اللَّه الذين آمنوا وكانوا يتّقون (فصّلت : 18) ونادى بعدهم المنادي الإلهيّ : ألا إنّ ثمود كفروا ربَّهم ألا بُعداً لثمود10

Thamud used to live according to the traditions of past nations and tribes, and their leaders and elders were ruling them. In the city that Salih was sent to there were nine groups of people who were corrupting on the earth and not reforming. (Quran 27:48). They rebelled in the earth, worshipped idols and exceeded in their unfairness and oppression. When Thamud forgot their Lord and went to extremes in their ways, Allah sent the prophet Salih (AS) to them. He was from a dignified and respected house, known for their intellect and contentment (Quran 11:62, 27:49). He called them to the Oneness of Allah Almighty, to leave the worshipping of statues, and to live with justice and goodness in their society. He told them not exult on the earth, not to waste, and not to rebel. He warned them of punishment (Quran: Surah Hud, Surah Shuara', Surah Shams and others).

Then they rebelled and plotted, and they sent the most evil of them to kill the she-camel and so he slaughtered it. They said to Salih, 'Bring us what you threatened if you are of the truthful.' Salih (AS) said, 'Make merry in your abodes for three days, this is a threat which is not a lie.' (Quran 11:65).

The people of the city plotted and grouped against Salih. They divided the plan among themselves: We will detain him and his family, and then tell his guardian, 'We did not witness the ones who destroyed his family, and we are truthful.' They devised a plot, and Allah devised a plan, but they do not notice (Quran 27:50). A thunderbolt seized them as they looked on (Quran 51:44). The earthquake seized them, and they lay lifeless prostrate in their homes. So he abandoned them, and said, 'O my people! Certainly I communicated to you the message of my Lord, and I advised you, but you did not like advisers.' (Quran 7:78-79, 11:68) And We delivered those who had faith and were Godwary (Quran 41:18). A divine caller called after them, 'Verily, Thamud disbelieved in their Lord. Verily away with Thamud!'11

1 . Prophet Salih is not a biblical prophet, and his Christian name is, therefore, not known (ed.)

Notes

2. الأعراف : 73

3. Quran 7:73

4. الشعراء : 157

5. نهج البلاغة : الخطبة : 201

6. Quran 26:157

7. Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 201

8. بحار الأنوار : 11 / 379 / 4

9. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 11, p. 379, no. 4

10. تفسير الميزان : 10 / 317

11. Tafsir al-Mizan, v. 1, p. 317

1695 - إبراهيمُ عليه السلام‏

1695. ABRAHAM (AS) [Ibrahim]

( وَإِذِ ابْتَلَى‏ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَاماً قَالَ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي قَالَ لا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ)1

“And when his Lord tested Abraham with certain words, and he fulfilled them, He said, 'I am making you the Imam of mankind,' Said he, 'And from among my descendants?' He said, 'My pledge does not extend to the unjust.” 2

(اُنظر) آل عمران : 65 - 68 والنحل : 120 - 123 والبقرة : 125 - 132 ، 258 ، 260 والأنعام : 74 - 84 والتوبة : 114 ومريم : 41 - 48 والأنبياء : 51 - 73 والشعراء : 69 - 87 والعنكبوت : 16 - 18 ، 24 ، 27 والصافّات : 83 - 113 والزخرف : 26 - 28 والممتحنة : 4 ، 5 والنجم : 36 - 38 والأعلى : 18 ، 19 وهود : 69 - 76 وإبراهيم : 35 - 41 والحجّ : 26، 27

(See also: Qur'an 3:65-68, 16:120-123, 2:125-132, 2:258, 2:260, 6:74-84, 9:114, 19:41-48, 21:51-73, 26:69-87, 29:16-18, 29:24, 29:27, 37:83-113, 43:26-28, 60:4-5, 53:36-38, 87:18-19, 11:69-76, 14:35-41, 22:26-27)

5957. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : اُتيَ بإبراهيمَ يَومَ النّارِ إلَى النّارِ ، فلَمّا أبصَرَها قالَ : حَسبُنا اللَّهُ ونِعمَ الوَكيلُ3

5957. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'On the 'day of the fire', Abraham was brought to the fire, and when he saw it he said, 'Allah is sufficient for us and He is the best supporter.'4

5958. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : ما اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ إبراهيمَ خَليلاً إلّا لإطعامهِ الطَّعامَ ، وصَلاتِهِ باللَّيلِ والنّاسُ نِيامٌ5

5958. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Allah took Abraham as a friend only because of his feeding of food [to others] and praying of prayers in the night while people were asleep.'6

5959. حَسّان بنِ عَطِيّةَ : أوّلُ مَن رَتَّبَ العَسكرَ في الحَربِ مَيمَنَةً ومَيسَرَةً وقَلباً إبراهيمُ عليه السلام، لَمّا سارَ لقِتالِ الّذينَ أسَرُوا لُوطاً عليه السلام7

5959. Hassan b. Atiyya said, 'The first person to organise an army for war, with a right, left and middle wing was Abraham (AS), when he journeyed to fight those who imprisoned Lot (AS).'8

5960. الإمامُ الباقرُ عليه السلام : اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ عَزَّوجلَّ إبراهيمَ خَليلاً لأ نّهُ لَم يَرُدَّ أحَداً ، ولَم يَسألْ أحَداً غيرَ اللَّهِ عَزَّوجلَّ9

5960. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, 'Allah Almighty took Abraham as a friend because he did not refuse anyone, and did not ask anyone other than Allah Almighty.'10

5961. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : إنّ اللَّهَ تباركَ وتعالى‏ اتَّخَذَ إبراهيمَ عَبداً قَبلَ أن يَتَّخِذَهُ نَبيّاً ، وإنّ اللَّهَ اتَّخَذَهُ نَبيّاً قَبلَ أن يَتَّخِذَهُ رَسولاً ، وإنّ اللَّهَ اتَّخَذَهُ رَسولاً قَبلَ أن يَتَّخِذَهُ خَليلاً ، وإنّ اللَّهَ اتَّخَذَهُ خَليلاً قَبلَ أنْ يَجعَلَهُ إماماً ، فلَمّا جَمَعَ لَهُ الأشياءَ قالَ : (إنّي جاعِلُكَ لِلنّاسِ إماماً)11

5961. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'Allah Almighty took Abraham as a servant before He took him as a prophet. Allah took him as a prophet before He took him as a messenger. Allah took him as a messenger before He took him as a friend, and Allah took him as a friend before He took him as an Imam. When He gathered all these things in Abraham He said,“I am making you the Imam of mankind.” 12 ,13

قِصّةُ إبراهيمَ عليه السلام فِي القرآنِ الكريمِ

The Story of Abraham (AS) in the Holy Quran

« كان إبراهيم عليه السلام - في طفوليّته إلى‏ أوائل تمييزه - يعيش في معزل من مجتمع قومه ، ثمّ خرج إليهم ولحق بأبيه فوجده وقومه يعبدون الأصنام ، فلم يرتضِ منه ومنهم ذلك

يحاجّ القوم في أمر الأصنام (الأنبياء : 51 - 56 ، الشعراء : 69 - 77 ، الصافّات : 83 - 87) ويحاجّ أقواماً آخرين منهم يعبدون الشمس والقمر والكوكب في أمرها حتّى‏ ألزمهم الحقّ ، وشاع خبره في الانحراف عن الأصنام والآلهة (الأنعام : 74 - 82) حتّى‏ خرج القوم ذات يوم إلى‏ عبادةٍ جامعة خارجَ البلد واعتلّ هو بالسقم فلم يخرج معهم وتخلّف عنهم، فدخل بيت الأصنام فراغ على‏ آلهتهم ضرباً باليمين فجعلهم جُذاذاً إلّا كبيراً لهم لعلّهم إليه يرجعون ، فلمّا تراجعوا وعلموا بما حدث بآلهتهم وفتّشوا عمّن ارتكب ذلك قالوا : سمعنا فتىً يذكرهم يقال له : إبراهيم

فأحضروه إلى‏ مجمعهم فأتوا به على‏ أعين الناس لعلّهم يشهدون ، فاستنطقوه فقالوا : أأنت فعلت هذا بآلهتنا يا إبراهيم ؟ قال : بل فعله كبيرهم هذا فاسألوهم إن كانوا ينطقون ، وقد كان أبقى‏ كبيرَ الأصنام ولم يجذّه ووضع الفأس على عاتقه أو ما يقرب من ذلك ؛ ليشهد الحال على‏ أ نّه هو الذي كسر سائر الأصنام

قالوا : حَرِّقوه وانصروا آلهتكم ، فبنوا له بنياناً وأسعروا فيه جحيماً من النار ، وقد تشارك في أمره الناس جميعاً وألقوه في الجحيم ، فجعله اللَّه بَرداً عليه وسلاماً وأبطل كيدهم (الأنبياء : 57 - 70 ، الصافّات : 88 - 98) .

ثمّ لمّا أنجاه اللَّه من النار أخذ يدعو إلَى الدين الحنيف دين التوحيد ، فآمن له شرذمة قليلة

ثمّ تبرّأ هو عليه السلام ومن معه من المؤمنين من قومهم ، وتبرّأ هو من آزر الذي كان يدعوه أباً ولم يكن بوالده الحقيقيّ‏14 ، وهاجر ومعه زوجته ولوط إلَى الأرض المقدّسة ليدعو اللَّه سبحانه من غير معارض يعارضه من قومه الجفاة الظالمين (الممتحنة : 4 ، الأنبياء : 71). وبشّره اللَّه سبحانه هناك بإسماعيل وبإسحاق ومن وراء إسحاق يعقوب ، وقد شاخ وبلغه كبر السنّ فولد له إسماعيل ثمّ ولد له إسحاق ، وبارك اللَّه سبحانه فيه وفي ولدَيه وأولادهما

ثمّ إنّه عليه السلام بأمر من ربّه ذهب إلى‏ أرض مكّة - وهي وادٍ غير ذي زرع - فأسكن فيه ولده إسماعيل وهو صبيّ ورجع إلَى الأرض المقدّسة ، فنشأ إسماعيل هناك ، واجتمع عليه قوم من العرب القاطنين هناك ، وبُنيت بذلك بلدة مكّة

وكان عليه السلام ربّما يزور إسماعيل في أرض مكّة ، قبل بناء مكّة والبيت وبعد ذلك (البقرة : 126 ، إبراهيم : 35 - 41) ثمّ بنى‏ بها الكعبة البيت الحرام ، بمشاركة من إسماعيل وهي أوّل بيت وُضع للناس من جانب اللَّه مباركاً وهُدىً للعالمين، فيه آيات بيّنات مقام إبراهيم ومن دخله كان آمناً (البقرة : 127 - 129 ، آل عمران : 96، 97) وأذّنَ في الناس بالحجّ ، وشرّع نسك الحجّ (الحجّ : 26 - 30)

ثمّ أمره اللَّه بذبح ولده إسماعيل عليه السلام فخرج معه للنُّسك، فلمّا بلغ معه السعي قال : يا بُنيّ إنّي أرى‏ في المنام أ نّي أذبحك ، قال : يا أبتِ افعلْ ما تُؤمر ستجدني إن شاء اللَّه من الصابرين ، فلمّا أسلما وتَلَّه للجبين نودي أن : يا إبراهيم ، قد صدّقتَ الرؤيا ، وفداه اللَّه سبحانه بذِبح عظيم (الصافّات : 101 - 107)15

Abraham (AS) from his young childhood till his age of puberty was living in seclusion from the community of his people. He then returned to them and joined his uncle, but saw him and his group worshipping idols and did not accept his or their actions. He started to debate with them about the issue of idol worship (Quran 20:51-56, 26:69-77, 37:83-87), and he debated with other people in their beliefs in worshipping the sun, moon, and the stars until he demonstrated the proof to them. News of him and his deviation from these idols and false gods spread (Quran 6:74-82). One day a group went out for congregational worship outside of the city, but he came up with the excuse of being sick. He therefore did not leave with them and he stayed behind. He went to the house where the statues were kept and started demolishing them, reducing them to dust, but he left the big statue for them so that they would refer to it. When they came back and learnt of what had happened to their gods and searched for who the culprit was, they were told: We heard a young person by the name of Abraham mentioning them.

They brought him to their gathering and put him in front of all the people so that they could witness. They ordered him to speak, saying, 'Are you the one who has done this to our gods, O Abraham?' He said, 'No, rather it was the big one of them who did it, so ask them if they can speak.' He had left the biggest of the statues and had not broken it and had put an axe on its shoulder or something similar to that, so that he could demonstrate that it was the big statue that had broken the other statues.

They said, 'Burn him and help your gods!' So, they built a building and ignited it. All the people participated, and they threw him in the fire, but Allah made it cold and safe for him and nullified their conspiracy (Quran 21:57-70, 37:88-98).

Then when Allah had rescued him from the fire, he began to call people to the upright religion, the religion of monotheism, but only a small group of people believed. Abraham (AS) and some of the believers with him then disclaimed all association with their people, and he disassociated himself from Azar whom he used to call a father but who was not his real father.16 He migrated with his wife and Lot (AS) to the sacred land to call to Allah Almighty without any obstacle impeding them from their oppresssive crude people (Quran 60:4, 21:71).

Allah Almighty gave him the glad tidings there of Ishmael and Isaac, and of Jacob after Isaac. Abraham (AS) became very old and he had Ishmael, and then Isaac was born, and Allah blessed him and his two children and their children.

Then, due to a command from his Lord, Abraham went to the land of Makkah - which was an untilled valley - and he left his son Ishmael to live there who was at that time a young child, and he went back to the sacred land. Ishmael grew up there and a group of Arabs gathered around him who were inhabitants there and the city of Makkah was established from then. Abraham (AS) might have visited Ishmael in the land of Makkah before building Makkah and the House and after it (Quran 2:126, 14:35-41). Abraham then built the Kaba in it - the Sacred House - with the help of Ishmael. It was the first house made for the people by Allah Almighty as a blessing and a [source of] guidance for all mankind. In it are signs and evidences, the site (maqam) of Abraham, and whoever enters it will be safe (Quran 2:127-129, 3:96-97). He proclaimed the obligatory pilgrimage to it (hajj) to people and legislated the rituals of hajj (Quran 22:26-30).

Allah then ordered him to slaughter his son Ishmael (AS) [in sacrifice] and so he left with his son to the rituals. When he reached the [place of the] Sai he said, 'My son! I see in a dream that I am sacrificing you. See what you think.' He said, 'Father! Do whatever you have been commanded. If Allah wills, you will find me to be of the patient.' So when they had both submitted [to Allah's will], and he had laid him down on his forehead, it was called out to him, 'O Abraham! You have indeed fulfilled the vision!' And so Allah ransomed him with a great sacrifice. (Quran 101-107).17

Notes

1. البقرة : 124

2. Quran 2:124

3. كنز العمّال : 32288

4. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 32288

5. علل الشرائع : 35 / 4

6. Ilal al-Shara'i, p. 35, no. 4

7. الدرّ المنثور : 1 / 282

8. al-Durr al-Manthur, v. 1, p. 282

9. علل الشرائع : 34 / 2

10. Ilal al-Shara'i, p. 34, no. 2

11. الكافي : 1 / 175 / 2

12. Quran 2:124

13. al-Kafi, v. 1, p. 175, no. 2

14. وقد تقدّم استفادة ذلك من دعائه‏المنقول في‏سورة إبراهيم .(كمافي هامش المصدر )

15. تفسير الميزان : 7 / 215

16. This can be understood from Abraham's supplication which is narrated in Surah Ibrahim [as mentioned in the footnote of the source reference]

17. Taf

1696 - لُوطٌ عليه السلام‏

1696. LOT (AS) [Lut]

( وَلُوطاً إِذْ قالَ لِقَوْمِهِ أَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُمْ بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ)1

“And Lot, when he said to his people, 'What! Do you commit an outrage none in the world ever committed before you?!” 2

(اُنظر) هود : 77 - 83 والحِجر : 51 - 77 والأنبياء : 74 ، 75 والشعراء : 160 - 175 والنمل : 54 - 58 والعنكبوت : 28 - 35 والصافّات : 133 - 138 والذاريات : 24 - 37 والقمر : 33 - 40 والتحريم : 10

(See also: Qur'an 11:77-83, 15:51-77, 21:74-75, 26:160-175, 27:54-58, 29:28-35, 37:133-138, 51:24-37, 54:33-40, 66:10)

5962. الإمامُ الباقرُ عليه السلام : وأمّا القَريَةُ الّتي اُمطِرَت مَطرَ السَّوءِ فهِيَ سَدُومُ قَريَةُ قَومِ لُوطٍ ، أمطَرَ اللَّهُ علَيهِم حِجارَةً مِن سِجِّيلٍ، يقولُ: مِن طِينٍ3

5962. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, 'As for the village that was rained upon with rain of punishment, it was the village of Sodom, the village of the people of Lot. Allah rained rocks of baked earth upon them, meaning clay.'4

5963. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : ما بَعَثَ اللَّهُ نَبيّاً بعدَ لُوطٍ إلّا في عِزٍّ مِن قَومِهِ5

5963. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'Allah did not send a prophet after Lot without having dignity among his people.'6 ,7

إشارة إلى قِصّةِ لوطٍ عليه السلام وقَومِهِ‏

Details of the Story of Lot and his People

« كان لوط عليه السلام من كلدان في أرض بابل ومن السابقين الأوّلين ممّن آمن بإبراهيم عليه السلام، آمن به وقال : (إنّي مُهاجِرٌ إلى‏ ربِّي)8 ، فنجّاه اللَّه مع إبراهيم إلَى الأرض المقدّسة أرضِ فلسطين (الأنبياء : 71) فنزل في بعض بلادها وهي مدينة سَدوم على‏ ما في التواريخ والتوراة وبعض الروايات

وكان أهل المدينة وما والاها من المدائن - وقد سمّاها اللَّه في كلامه ب «المُؤتَفِكات»(التوبة : 70) - يعبدون الأصنام ، ويأتون بالفاحشة : اللواط ، وهم أوّل قوم شاع فيهم ذلك (الأعراف : 80) حتّى كانوا يأتون به في نواديهم من غير إنكار ، ولم يَزَل تشيع الفاحشة فيهم حتّى‏ عادت سُنّة قوميّة ابتلت به عامّتهم ، وتركوا النساء وقطعوا السبيل (العنكبوت : 29).

فأرسل اللَّه لوطاً إليهم (الشعراء : 162) فدعاهم إلى‏ تقوَى اللَّه وترك الفحشاء والرجوع إلى‏ طريق الفطرة، وأنذرهم وخوّفهم ، فلم يَزِدهم إلّا عُتوّاً ، ولم يكن جوابهم إلّا أن قالوا : ائتِنا بعذاب اللَّه إن كنت من الصادقين ! وهدّدوه بالإخراج من بلدتهم ، وقالوا له : (لَئن لَم تَنْتَهِ يا لُوطُ لَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ المُخْرَجينَ)9 و (قالوا أخْرِجوا آلَ لُوطٍ مِنْ قَرْيَتِكُم إنّهُمْ اُناسٌ يَتَطَهَّرونَ)10

حتَّى استقرّ بهم الطغيان وحقّت عليهم كلمة العذاب ، فبعث اللَّه رسلاً من الملائكة المكرّمين لإهلاكهم

فمضَوا إلى لوط في صُوَرِ غِلمان مُرد ودخلوا عليه ضيفاً ، فشقّ ذلك على‏ لوط وضاق بهم ذرعاً؛ لِما كان يعلم من قومه أ نّهم سيتعرّضون لهم وأ نّهم غير تاركيهم البتّة ، فلم يلبث دون أن سمع القوم بذلك وأقبلوا يُهرَعون إليه وهم يستبشرون ، وهجموا على‏ داره ، فخرج إليهم وبالغ في‏وعظهم واستثارة فُتوّتهم ورشدهم حتّى‏ عرض عليهم بناته ، وقال : يا قوم ، إنّ هؤلاء بناتي هنّ أطهر لكم، فاتّقوا اللَّه ولا تخزوني في ضيفي ثمّ استغاث وقال : أليس منكم رجل رشيد ؟ ! فردّوا عليه أ نّه ليس لهم في بناته إربة ، وأ نّهم غير تاركي أضيافه البتّة ، حتّى‏ أيس لوط و قال : (لَوْ أنّ لِي بِكُمْ قُوَّةً أو آوِي إلى‏ رُكْنٍ شَديدٍ).11

قالت الملائكة عند ذلك : يا لوط إنّا رسل ربّك ، طِب نفساً إنّ القوم لن يصلوا إليك فطمسوا أعين القوم فعادوا عمياناً يتخبّطون وتفرّقوا (القمر : 37)

فأخذت الصيحةُ القوم مُشرِقين ، وأرسل اللَّه عليهم حجارة من طين مُسوَّمة عند ربّك للمسرفين ، وقلبَ مدائنهم عليهم فجعل عاليَها سافلَها ، وأخرج من كان فيها من المؤمنين فلم يجد فيها غير بيت من المسلمين وهو بيت لوط ، وترك فيها آية للذين يخافون العذاب الأليم (الذاريات : 37 وغيرها).12

Lot (AS) was from Kildan, from the land of Babylon. He was from among the first and foremost of those to believe in Abraham (AS), and he said,“Indeed I am migrating toward my Lord” 13 Allah rescued him with Abraham to the sacred land, the land of Palestine (Quran 21:71). Lot resided in one of its cities, which was the city of Sodom as is mentioned in history, the Torah and other narrations.

The people of this city and the other cities surrounding it - as Allah named them 'the towns that were overturned' (Quran 9:70) - worshipped idols and committed obscenities, suh as sodomy, and they were the first people to practice this among themselves (Quran 7: 80). They committed this act in their gatherings without denouncing. This outrageous sin continued to spread until it became a national custom that the general public were practicing. They neglected women and cut off procreation (Quran 29:29).

So Allah sent Lot (AS) to them (Quran 26:162) and he called them to have fear in Allah and to relinquish their obscene actions, and to return to the path of nature. He warned them and scared them, but it only increased their rebellion, and their answer was nothing but, 'Bring us the punishment of Allah if you are of the truthful!' They threatened him with expulsion from their city and said to him,“...if you do not relinquish you will surely be banished” 14 and“They said, 'expel Lot's family from your town! They are indeed a puritanical lot.” 15

...until rebellion was firmly established in them and they became deserving of the word of punishment, Allah sent to them messengers from among the eminent angels to destroy them. They came to Lot in the form of youths visiting him as guests. This became hard for Lot and a predicament for their sake, because of what he knew about his people and what they would do to them and that they would certainly not leave them. It was not long before the people heard about them and rushed towards him, charging at his house. He went out to them and excessively advised them and reminded them of their youthfulness and maturity, and he even offered them [to marry] his own daughters, saying: 'O my people, these are my daughters: they are purer for you. Be wary of Allah and do not humiliate me with regard to my guests.' He then asked for assistance saying, 'Is there not a single right-minded man among you?' They replied by saying that they had no need for his daughters and would certainly not leave his guests, until Lot lost hope and said,“If only I had the power to deter you, or could take refuge in a mighty support!” 16

The angels then said, 'O Lot, we are messengers from your Lord, do not worry, the people will not reach you.' They then blinded the eyes of the people and they dispersed them making them insanse and they departed (Quran 54:37). The Cry then took them over at dawn, and Allah sent down upon them stones of clay, marked by your Lord for the profligate. He upturned their cities on top of them and turned them upside down, and He picked out those therein who were faithful, but did not find other than one house of muslims, which was the house of Lot, and He left therein a sign for those who fear a painful punishment (Quran 51:37, and other verses).17

Notes

1. الأعراف : 80

2. Quran 7:80

3. بحار الأنوار : 12 / 152 / 5

4. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 12, p. 153, no. 5

5. بحار الأنوار : 12 / 157 / 8

6. It is narrated in Kanz al-Ummal, no. 32361 from Abu Hurayra: 'Allah did not send a prophet after him without being rich among his people. But the correct version is what has been mentioned in the text.

7. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 12, p. 157, no. 8

8. العنكبوت : 26

9. الشعراء : 167

10. النمل : 56

11. هود : 80

12. تفسير الميزان : 10 / 352

13. Quran 29: 26

14. Quran 26: 167

15. Quran 27: 56

16. Quran 11: 80

17. Tafsir al-Mizan, v. 10, p. 352