Hammad Ahmad

RLST 110: Intro to the Old Testament

Mr John Haas

Insight Paper 4

Studies in hospitality: The three visitors and the destruction of the Plain (Gen 18-19)

Amongst people in the Middle East, hospitality towards guests was a well-known trait. Greek

Historians who wrote geographies of the Middle East specifically identify the region by virtue of

their hospitality.

Upon 3 angels appearing to Abraham in the form of men, he prompts his wife to quickly prepare

a meal for them, the Quran specifically mentioning a calf. Islamic exegetes describe these three

angels being the three major angels: Gabriel, Michael and Israfil themselves. When he saw their

hands not extending towards the meal, he deemed it strange and felt afraid of them. Upon

voicing his concern, the angels told him not to fear. And then revealed their purpose “We are

sent to a sinful people, except the followers of Lot, we will certainly save them all. Except his

wife, it has been decreed she will be of those who stay behind.” (15:57-60) Sarah was given

news of conceiving a son named Isaac and laughed in wonder of having an offspring despite old

age. Abraham spoke to God via the angels voicing his concern for Lot. Abraham asked for mercy

for the sinning nation despite not knowing them; God put ten people as the minimum for

preventing the punishment, with the conversation ending that only the transgressors will be

destroyed. This showing Abraham’s concern and sympathy for his nephew, who was also a

Prophet responsible over a nation, as well as God’s mercy and criteria of punishing a nation.
Prophet Lot was the nephew of Abraham and was sent to guide the people of Sodom away from

their sins, a major one being homosexuality. In the Quran: “And when Lot said to his people:

“Indeed, you commit such abomination as none have ever committed from the worlds! Do you

approach males, rob the wayfarer, and practice indecency even in your assemblies?!” (29:28-29)

And so, he preached to the point of tiredness, after which the angels came to punish the nation.

Upon their visiting, they came in the form of handsome young men asking for shelter. Lot’s

daughter was collecting water from a well on the outskirts of town, and so told them to wait until

they can be escorted, and so the people saw them in the company of Lot. His people told him not

to host men in his house, but Lot feared for these youth due to the perversion of the people. He

wished to display hospitality and protection for his guests, but the people had noticed the

handsome young men and desired them. Later, the people surrounded the house and were trying

to scare him with threats to let the 3 men come out. Lot was distressed about the honor of his

guests to the point he offered “his daughters” for the people to marry, which the Quran mentions

in plural figurative rather than literal dual unlike the book of Genesis; Lot told them to marry the

women within the nation instead, not to rape his daughters. Lot was forcefully pushing the

people outside admonishing them, and said in distress “Would that I had the power to set you

(people) right, or I could find some strong support for refuge (of the guests)” after which the

angels revealed themselves “O Lot! We are messengers of your Lord, by no means they shall

reach you.” (11:80-81)

And so, Gabriel went outside to the people and blinded their eyes, scaring them. They went back

tracing the walls and threatened “severe consequences”, much to the ignorance of what was to

befall them. The angels then informed Lot and signaled him to prepare and leave in haste

“Morning is their appointed time, is not the morning near?!” (11:81). Lot then escaped with his
family late at night, when dawn struck and the punishment started, Lot’s wife looked back and

exclaimed “Oh my people!” and is said to have turned into stone (the Quran does not mention

this explicitly). Some exegetes say she was a spy for the people and thus punished along with

them.

The angels are said to have “overturned” the cities upside-down, and then rained sulfur as hard

as baked clay. The Quran uses the remains of the city as a reminder to the disbelievers, that they

may be divinely punished if they keep transgressing. “And We have left therein a sign for those

who fear a painful punishment.” Traders from the Arabs frequently used to pass a route in which

the remains of the nation of Lot could be seen. “And indeed, you pass by them in the morning

and by night. Will you not understand?” (37:137-138) “Surely in this are signs for those who

reflect. And the city is right on a highroad. And surely in that is a sign for those who believe.”

(15:75-77) Only a single household of believers was spared, being the house of Lot himself.

Islam denies

A geographical observation of the area found high concentrations (more than ninety percent) of

sulfur in the rocks, almost impossibly rare.

As for the nature of homosexuality, it is agreed to be a despised sin amongst Orthodox groups

within the three Abrahamic religions. This however does not necessitate homophobia, nor legal

punishment of homosexuals in regions where penal punishments for the act is not carried out. In

our modern times, one can believe it is bad, but that does not necessitate harming people who

perform the action. In Islam, such a Muslim is guided to be given therapy, and is responsible for

not carrying out illegal intercourse despite his desires. A main principle is: Despite any

disagreement, co-existence is the vital stance to take.