بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Islamic historians explain sura Al-Feel (The Elephant 105) with a story about a Governor of Yemen named Abraha who tried to destroy Kaaba, the Allah’s house in Makkah, and brought a big army with war elephants through the Arabian desert. In order to counter them, Allah sent hoards of little birds carrying small stones which were dropped on the army destroying it completely.

The story apparently has been devised to explain Sura Al-Feel. However, it does not sound plausible as to why such a difficult logistic expedition would have been under-taken of moving a big army and war elephants through harsh Arabian desert for more than thousand kilometer. The logistics of food and drinks for the elephants would be very difficult when there should be no need for it. This big an army was not expecting any sizeable resistance in Makkah and did not really need war elephants to accomplish their purpose. So we will search Quran for getting further explanation about the event mentioned in the Sura. We will search with the key phrase used in this sura to see who are referred as ‘companions of the elephant’ and what is the reason for using this reference.

In Sura Al-Feel (105), Allah informs that stones with marking were showered on the companions of the elephant and they were annihilated.

105-1-5 أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِأَصْحَابِ الْفِيلِ أَلَمْ يَجْعَلْ كَيْدَهُمْ فِي تَضْلِيلٍ وَأَرْسَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ طَيْرًا أَبَابِيلَ تَرْمِيهِم بِحِجَارَةٍ مِّن سِجِّيلٍ فَجَعَلَهُمْ كَعَصْفٍ مَّأْكُولٍ

Did you not see how your Lord dealt with the companions of the elephant? Did He not make their scheme go astray? and He sent on them flights of Ababeel, (waves or flocks), they threw at them with stones with markings. Thus He made them like eaten up straw.

The companions of elephants were thrown ‘stones with marking’ /’حِجَارَةٍ مِّن سِجِّيلٍ’ at them. We will see where else Quran mentions a nation showered with marked stones. In below ayahs we find that the nation of prophet Lut a.s was showered stones with markings.

15-74-75 فَجَعَلْنَا عَالِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةً مِّن سِجِّيلٍ

And We turned (the dwellings) upside down, and rained down on them stones with markings

7:80 وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ أَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُم بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّنَ الْعَالَمِينَ

And (remember) Lut, he said to his people. “Ye do commit lewdness, such as no people in worlds (ever) committed before you.

Al-Quran tells us that the nation of prophet Lut (a.s) had exceeded all nations in acts of ‘Fahisha’/lewdness/debauchery. We need to see what that nation used to do, to be declared ‘most debauched nation ever’ and what could be their connection with ‘elephant’ reference.

17:32 وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنَا ۖ إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَسَاءَ سَبِيلًا

Don’t come near to ‘Zina’, it is a fahisha/lewdness, opening the road (to other evils).

Illegal fornication (Zina) is a part of ‘Fahisha’/lewdness. So, those people most probably were committing it but what distinguished that nation to earn the title of ‘most debauched nation ever’, that needs to be investigated.

We can get an idea of the debauchery, the nation of Lut was involved in, from below ayat.

7:81 إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةً مِّن دُونِ النِّسَاءِ ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُّسْرِفُونَ

“Verily ye approach the men with desire instead of the women, ye are indeed a people of transgression.”

The nation of Lut approached men with sexual desires. The nation comprises both men and women so Al-Quran is telling that both men and women of that nation approached men as sexual objects. Although Allah has made women beautiful by nature to be desired (3:14). Traditionally this ayat is thought to be about homosexual relations among men of that nation. However the problem is majority of people are hetrosexual by nature and a small minority would have homosexual tendency in any nation. It is extremely difficult for a straight person to force himself to do homosexual acts, lets say assuming societal pressure, therefore for a whole nation to be involved in homosexual behavior is nearly impossible and against nature. Morever, Quran says that the wife of prophet Lut (a.s) was also partner in punishment for that nation and all the women of that society were punished as well. There is no reason why women should support the homosexual behavior of men in that society or be punished for the evil acts of the men of the society. This made people conjecture that the women of the nation were also involved in lesbian/homosexual behavior on a large scale. A question arises if those people, both men and women were homosexual then this nation could not have survived any way with a very poor population growth rate as a consequence. Moreover, Quran categorically states about men being approached sexually and not women. So, in what way the women were involved in the acts of transgression? For this question we will have to investigate the reference of ‘the elephant’.

We observe that elephants have matriarchal family structure. The family bonds are strong with the related females in a house hold unit. The males leave the family unit as soon as they attain maturity. The head of the family and the clan is always a female at the top of the social structure. So females occupy power-ful position of command in an elephant social structure. This gives us an idea that the nation of Lut was a female dominated society with women holding powerful status in the structure of the society. While it is not actually a bad thing, but the women would use their power to approach men of the society with sexual desires. The picture below would describe how women of that society could be using their power to approach men sexually in that society (for illustrative purpose only):

66:10 ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا امْرَأَتَ نُوحٍ وَامْرَأَتَ لُوطٍ ۖ كَانَتَا تَحْتَ عَبْدَيْنِ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا صَالِحَيْنِ فَخَانَتَاهُمَا فَلَمْ يُغْنِيَا عَنْهُمَا مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا وَقِيلَ ادْخُلَا النَّارَ مَعَ الدَّاخِلِينَ

Allah sets forth, for an example to the Unbelievers, the wife of Nooh and the wife of Lut. they were (respectively) under two of our righteous servants, but they cheated on their (husbands), and they profited nothing before Allah on their account, but were told. “Enter ye the Fire along with (others) that enter!”

29:29 أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ وَتَقْطَعُونَ السَّبِيلَ وَتَأْتُونَ فِي نَادِيكُمُ الْمُنكَرَ ۖ فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِ إِلَّا أَن قَالُوا ائْتِنَا بِعَذَابِ اللَّهِ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ

“Do ye indeed approach men, and cut off the way?- and practice wickedness in your settings?” But his people had no answer but this, that they said. “Bring us the punishment of Allah if you are from the truthfuls.”

Prophet Lut (a.s) said to his nation that you approach men and you cut off any other way i.e leave no option for people but to follow your wicked practices in order to survive in this society. Could be that the young men in the society had to offer themselves sexually to powerful-clientele if they wanted to survive and build their careers. The society made it a norm and would brainwash people not to feel any shame in these activities and did this debauchery in group settings e.g orgies.

12:32 قَالَتْ فَذَٰلِكُنَّ الَّذِي لُمْتُنَّنِي فِيهِ ۖ وَلَقَدْ رَاوَدتُّهُ عَن نَّفْسِهِ فَاسْتَعْصَمَ ۖ وَلَئِن لَّمْ يَفْعَلْ مَا آمُرُهُ لَيُسْجَنَنَّ وَلَيَكُونًا مِّنَ الصَّاغِرِينَ

She said. “There before you is the man about whom ye did blame me! I did seek to seduce him from his nafs, lf but he did firmly save himself ….and now, if he does not do what I order him, he shall certainly be cast into prison or otherwise be humiliated”.

Ayat 12:32 is referring to the wife of Aziz of Egypt exerting pressure on prophet Yusuf a.s to comly to her sexual desires. The above ayat could be the like of pressure, authoritative females figures would have been exerting on attractive males in the nation of Lut, leaving them almost no option but to oblige.

26:165-168 أَتَأْتُونَ الذُّكْرَانَ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ وَتَذَرُونَ مَا خَلَقَ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّنْ أَزْوَاجِكُم ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ عَادُونَ قَالُوا لَئِن لَّمْ تَنتَهِ يَا لُوطُ لَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُخْرَجِينَ قَالَ إِنِّي لِعَمَلِكُم مِّنَ الْقَالِينَ رَبِّ نَجِّنِي وَأَهْلِي مِمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ

“Of all the world, do ye approach males, “And leave those whom Allah has created for you to be your pairs? Nay, ye are a people transgressing (all limits)!” They said. “If you don’t desist, O Lut! you will assuredly be cast out!” He said. “I do detest your doings”. “O my Lord! deliver me and my family from such things as they do!”

They would even be bringing in attractive males from foreign countries for their orgies. Women were polygamous, not limiting to their fixed partners (elephant reference). The young attractive men could help create the frenzied environment in the orgies and then the nation would indulge in polygamous acts of debauchery in groups. They made the debauchery a social norm so that when prophet Lut a.s asked them to fear Allah, they warned him not to be too pious for them, otherwise, he would be thrown out of the nation.

(أَتَأْتُونَ الذُّكْرَانَ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ وَتَذَرُونَ مَا خَلَقَ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّنْ أَزْوَاجِكُم) This statement is directed to both males and females in that nation as ‘Azwajikum’ means spouses to both men and women. In case of women it would mean that they were polygamous and were reaching out to other attractive males leaving out their spouses. This is also stated in ayat 66:10, that the wife of prophet Lut cheated on him. In terms of man and wife relationship, the word ‘cheating’ for the wife would mean that she had extra marital relations. For males, if they were mostly homosexuals in that nation they should not have female wives. There could be a few bisexual men as in all societies who would have wives but still got attracted to males.

When Allah decided to punish the nation, He sent angels in the guise of young men to that nation. On hearing the news of male guests at prophet Lut (a.s) place, the inhabitants of the dwelling rushed there. They were frenzied with excitement. Prophets Lut requested not to do any un-appropriate act with his guests as he is with family and his daughters are also present. It is basic decency not to allude to un-appropriate acts in presence of a noble family. However the people were in so much frenzied state that they seemed not to care about the dignity of Prophet Lut’s household.

15:67-71 وَجَاءَ أَهْلُ الْمَدِينَةِ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ قَالَ إِنَّ هَٰؤُلَاءِ ضَيْفِي فَلَا تَفْضَحُونِ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُخْزُونِ قَالُوا أَوَلَمْ نَنْهَكَ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ قَالَ هَٰؤُلَاءِ بَنَاتِي إِن كُنتُمْ فَاعِلِينَ  

The inhabitants of the city came in joyously (at the news of young men at Lut’s house). Lut said. “These are my guests, thus do not disgrace me. Fear Allah, and don’t make me ashamed”. They said. “Did we not forbid/prevent you about the worlds ?” He said. “There are my daughters, if you must act.

Prophet Lut a.s, said don’t you see that my daughters are so pure for you to compare with your lewd acts and realize your depravity. Why don’t you see my daughters purity and see your debauched behavior and clearly see how a depraved nation you have become. Isn’t there a person in you who can see the difference, reason and mend your ways so that they can be like them. You are completely making me ashamed in front of my guests.

11:38 وَجَاءَهُ قَوْمُهُ يُهْرَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَمِن قَبْلُ كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ ۚ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ هَٰؤُلَاءِ بَنَاتِي هُنَّ أَطْهَرُ لَكُمْ ۖ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُخْزُونِ فِي ضَيْفِي ۖ أَلَيْسَ مِنكُمْ رَجُلٌ رَّشِيدٌ

And his people came rushing towards him, and they had been long in the habit of practicing depravity. He said. “O my people! Here are my daughters, they are purer for you (pure souls) So, fear Allah, and cover me not with shame about my guests! Is there not among you a single right-minded man?”

The people of Lut were already so deep in their habits that they were unable to change despite the example of purity of character of prophet Lut’s daughters in front of them. They stated that there is nothing for them from any Haq/right/truth in Lut’s daughters. In their minds these exemplary people were too cleansed and purified for them to follow them and they would be better off expelling them from their dwelling.

11:79 قَالُوا لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا لَنَا فِي بَنَاتِكَ مِنْ حَقٍّ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَعْلَمُ مَا نُرِيدُ

They said  “Well you know very well, there is no Haq/right/truth for us in your daughters. Indeed you know quite well what we want!”

7:82 وَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِ إِلَّا أَن قَالُوا أَخْرِجُوهُم مِّن قَرْيَتِكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ

and the response of his nation was that they said, “Drive them out of your dwelling, they indeed are people who purify themselves”

They were in a such a frenzied state not able to control themselves, that Allah swears on prophet’s life for their extreme frenzy resembling animals in heat.

15:72 لَعَمْرُكَ إِنَّهُمْ لَفِي سَكْرَتِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ

Verily, by your life (O Prophet), they were wandering in their wild frenzy

21:74 وَلُوطًا آتَيْنَاهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْقَرْيَةِ الَّتِي كَانَت تَّعْمَلُ الْخَبَائِثَ ۗ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمَ سَوْءٍ فَاسِقِينَ

And to Lut, We gave Authority/judgment and knowledge, and We saved him from the dwelling which practiced depravity, truly they were vile transgressors.

Prophet Lut a.s was bestowed knowledge and sound judgment and he was finally delivered from the nation which was engaged in heinous activities.

The below ayahs state that stones with marking were showered on the nation of prophet Lut (a.s) as their punishment.

11:81-82 قَالُوا يَا لُوطُ إِنَّا رُسُلُ رَبِّكَ لَن يَصِلُوا إِلَيْكَ ۖ فَأَسْرِ بِأَهْلِكَ بِقِطْعٍ مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ وَلَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنكُمْ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا امْرَأَتَكَ ۖ إِنَّهُ مُصِيبُهَا مَا أَصَابَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ مَوْعِدَهُمُ الصُّبْحُ ۚ أَلَيْسَ الصُّبْحُ بِقَرِيبٍ فَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَمْرُنَا جَعَلْنَا عَالِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهَا حِجَارَةً مِّن سِجِّيلٍ مَّنضُودٍ 

(The Messengers) said. “O Lut! We are messengers from your Lord! By no means shall they reach thee! now travel with your family while a part of the night remains, and let not any of you look back, but your wife (will remain behind). To her will happen what happens to the people. Morning is their time appointed. Is not the morning nearby?” When Our order came, We turned (the dwelling) upside down, and rained down on them stones with marking, layer upon layer,-

The stones with marking were made of clay and marked for the transgressors. A sign is left in the dwelling of nation of Lut for those who fear grievous punishment. The angel messengers looked for any believer to take out before the punishment started, but sadly only one household in the dwelling was of the submitters.

51-32-37 قَالُوا إِنَّا أُرْسِلْنَا إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍ مُّجْرِمِينَ لِنُرْسِلَ عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةً مِّن طِينٍ مُّسَوَّمَةً عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُسْرِفِينَ فَأَخْرَجْنَا مَن كَانَ فِيهَا مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَمَا وَجَدْنَا فِيهَا غَيْرَ بَيْتٍ مِّنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَتَرَكْنَا فِيهَا آيَةً لِّلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ الْعَذَابَ الْأَلِيمَ

They (the angel messengers) said, “We have been sent to a people who are criminals, to bring on, to them, (a shower of) stones of clay, marked from your Lord for those who trespass beyond bounds.” So, we evacuated from the dwelling (to be doomed) those of the believers who were there, but We found there, not any but one house only of the submitters. And We left there a Sign for those who fear the grievous penalty.

The nation of Lut were cognizant of the fact that what they were doing is evil, but they were not submitting (being Muslim) to the order of Allah, while realizing its wrong what they do.

27:54 وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ أَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ وَأَنتُمْ تُبْصِرُونَ

And Lut, when, He said to his people, “Do ye come to debauchery while seeing/knowing (fully well it is evil)”

Thus marked stones were pelted on them and they were destroyed This destroyed dwelling is on a established route to be a Sign for the believers.

15-74-78 فَجَعَلْنَا عَالِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةً مِّن سِجِّيلٍ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّلْمُتَوَسِّمِينَ وَإِنَّهَا لَبِسَبِيلٍ مُّقِيمٍ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

And We turned (the dwellings) upside down, and rained down on them stones with markings. Behold! in this are Signs for those who observe (scrutinize). And the (dweling is) right on a established way. Verily! in this is a sign for those who believe.

21:71 وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ وَلُوطًا إِلَى الْأَرْضِ الَّتِي بَارَكْنَا فِيهَا لِلْعَالَمِينَ

And We delivered him (Ibrahim) and Lut to the land which We have blessed for all worlds.

This ‘ayat’/sign’ of their dwelling is near the place of land which is blessed for all worlds, i.e Makkah.

Notes:

Question about why prophet Lut (a.s) offered his daughters to a frenzied mob:

1. One explanation given by traditionalist is that Prophet Lut did not offer his daughters but referred to the females of the nation as ‘pure’ for the males, that they should resort to them instead of looking for males for sexual relationship. The problem with this reasoning is that if prophet Lut did not offer his daughters’ to the mob how can he offer daughters of others to the mob, on which he would not have that much right. Second objection would be that the women of that nation were also punished which means that they were also at fault. So then prophet Lut would not be referring them as ‘pure’ if they were not so and later punished by the Lord for their transgression.

2. Another explanation given is that prophet Lut offered his daughters as a measure of desperation to save his guests. He saw no other option and as a last ditch attempt offered them to the mob. However problem with this explanation is that if we see ayahs 15:62-67 we would know that the angels had already informed prophet Lut that they were angels and they were there to punish the nation for their transgression before the crowd came to him. So there is no point in Prophet Lut’s to offer out of desperation his daughters to the lascivious crowd. Therefore the plausible explanation would be that he gave an example of the purity of his daughters that females of the nation should be following:

15:62-67 فَلَمَّا جَاءَ آلَ لُوطٍ الْمُرْسَلُونَ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ مُّنكَرُونَ قَالُوا بَلْ جِئْنَاكَ بِمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَمْتَرُونَ وَأَتَيْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ فَأَسْرِ بِأَهْلِكَ بِقِطْعٍ مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ وَاتَّبِعْ أَدْبَارَهُمْ وَلَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنكُمْ أَحَدٌ وَامْضُوا حَيْثُ تُؤْمَرُونَ وَقَضَيْنَا إِلَيْهِ ذَٰلِكَ الْأَمْرَ أَنَّ دَابِرَ هَٰؤُلَاءِ مَقْطُوعٌ مُّصْبِحِينَ وَجَاءَ أَهْلُ الْمَدِينَةِ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ

Thus when the messengers reached to people of Lut, He said. definitely you are stranger people’. They said. “instead, we have come to you (thee) (to accomplish) with what they doubt in’. ‘We have brought to thee with Haq/Truth, and assuredly we are the truthfuls.”Then travel by night with your household, within a portion of the night, and you (thou) follow their backs and let no one amongst you look back, but pass on as you are ordered.’ And We made known this decree to him, that the tail of those (sinners) would be cut off by the morning. And the inhabitants of the city came in joyously (at the news of young men at Lut’s house).

Ababeel

• The term ‘طَيْرًا أَبَابِيلَ’ is an interesting one. ‘Ababeel’ is not a well known word. ‘Teran’ gives an indication of something flying, so the meaning were assumed to be flying birds or creatures by almost all translators.

Elephant Behavior:

https://factsanddetails.com/asian/cat68/sub431/item2471.html

The above link is of an article about the social structure and mating behavior of elephants. Elephants have a matriarchal social structure. The head of a family unit and clan is the most experienced female. Related females live together in the family unit and males leave the clan after reaching puberty. While the matriarchal system is good for elephants as Allah has made it their nature, this is not prescribed for human beings. Allah has made man the head of house-hold as a norm. There could be exceptions of the rule due to absence of a sensible man in the house-hold, but not the norm.

Mating behavior of Elephants:

Males can become so lovesick they stop eating. Females tend be more rational. They are often very choosy about who they pick for mate, often waiting four years before they pick a partner.

After copulation the male African elephant stays near the female, guarding her, while she emits deep, low-frequency, rumbling noises that can be heard five miles away. If a sexually-active male hears the sound he immediately begin making tracks in the direction of the female. Sometimes males arrive from quite far away.

If the new-arriving male is smaller than the male guarding the female, the new arrival will back off. If the new-arriving male is larger than the guarding male, the guarding male is driven off If the two elephants are about the same size and strength they may fight.

Ultimately a dominate male guards the female. He mates with the female every few hours until the period of estrus ends. Often many males come around and many copulations take place but the egg is usually not released and conception does not take place until the end of the female receptive period when largest male around is guarding her.

Fahisha:

The word ‘Fahisha’ has a broad scope and encompasses all acts of indecency, be it indecent talks, proactive gestures and gait, public display of nudity, pornography or illegal fornication etc.

Quran does not support any form of ‘Fahisha’ (ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَأْمُرُ بِالْفَحْشَاءِ) and advises believers to stay well clear of it and adopt a life style of dignity and decency.

24:19 إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُحِبُّونَ أَن تَشِيعَ الْفَاحِشَةُ فِي الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

Those who love to see Fahisha (Indecency/depravity etc) be promoted among the believers, will have a grievous penalty in this life and in the Hereafter. Allah knows, and you do not know.

One important take relevant to us from above ayst is to take care and not to forward any indecent material with our mobile and computer.

Avoid doing any act which can potentially lead to illegal fornication in the end. As human beings are created weak (خُلِقَ الْإِنسَانُ ضَعِيفًا), therefore if some one is initiating an act which can result in ‘Zina’ in the end, thinking he/she could back off any time, there could come a point where it will not be possible to control one self and back off, therefore it is advised not to initiate any such thing i.e not to go near it.

17:32 وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنَا ۖ إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَسَاءَ سَبِيلًا

Don’t come near to Zina,  it is a ‘fahisha’/debauchery, opening the road (to other evils).

Homosexuality and religion:

Homosexuality is something which is frowned upon by all religious people. A major reason behind is their belief that homosexuality is by choice.

We observe diversity and exceptions in Allah’s creation. While most of the people are hetrosexuals, there are a few people who are not. In their body or mind they don’t have normal sexual orientation. There are complex factors involved in developing a person’s sexual orientation. Genetics play a factor from 8 to 25% and rest is during the brain development of the individual which starts before birth and continues during the childhood period. For many people who are homosexual, it is not by their choice and therefore logically cannot be blamed or punished for something which is not their doing. They could be meant to be this way by the Creator. They are subjected to a tougher exam in the world by the Creator as they are bound to face hatred and discrimination in the world as people have a tendency to fear those who are different. Many of the homosexuals upon realizing their difference with the norm early in thier life, question ‘Why me’ and try at first to be like normal heterosexuals’ to avoid the consequences but realize later that its not possible for them to go against their nature.

The people who are not homosexual by their choice but are created this way, their case is for example like a person who is incapable of acting upon an order. For example, Allah has ordered ‘salat’ and ‘zakat’ on people. However, he has also created certain people who are not physically and mentally capable of acting on these orders, so they are not to be blamed for their in-capacity to act upon the order, which is not their fault. It doesn’t make sense that Allah made a person homosexual and then punishes him for something which he did not do. Forcing a homosexual person to do hetrosexual act is same like forcing a straight person do homo-sexual acts.

Dealing with two persons doing debauchery:

Then there are others who are not born homosexuals but engage in homosexual act by their choice. They feel sexual attraction towards both sexes. One reason of this behavior is extreme segregation where finding an opposite sex mate is very difficult, could be other reasons as well.

For two persons who do Fahisha the below ayat applies:

4:16 وَاللَّذَانِ يَأْتِيَانِهَا مِنكُمْ فَآذُوهُمَا ۖ فَإِن تَابَا وَأَصْلَحَا فَأَعْرِضُوا عَنْهُمَا ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ تَوَّابًا رَّحِيمًا

If two among you commit the same (obsenity), persecute them both. Then If they repent and amend themselves, then leave them; for Allah is Oft-returning, Most Merciful.

The above ayat says two among you either two men or one man and a woman i.e a couple. The above ayat excludes two women from its scope (case of more than 2 women doing ‘Fahisha’ is dealt in ayat 4:15). ‘Fahisha’ is a superset which includes ‘Zina’ as well (17:32). Ayat 4:16, states those two among you (either two men or a man and woman), who do Fahisha/lewdness/debauchery, are to be persecuted (within the framework of the law of the land) with the target to have them repenting and not going back on the act of lewdness. When they repent from doing this act and do correction on themselves then they are to be left alone.

For the couple i.e man and woman this ‘Fahisha’ in above ayat is for the case when they have not progressed to the stage of being ‘Zani’. ‘Zani’ is a person who has been so hardened in the act of illegitimate fornication that that this becomes a part of their personality and they cannot hide it. They and their close circle know that they are ‘Zani’. So, when the act of ‘Fahisha’ progresses to the stage of becoming ‘Zani’ then the the prescribed punishment is hundred lashes together in public as per 24:2.

4:15 وَاللَّاتِي يَأْتِينَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مِن نِّسَائِكُمْ فَاسْتَشْهِدُوا عَلَيْهِنَّ أَرْبَعَةً مِّنكُمْ ۖ فَإِن شَهِدُوا فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ فِي الْبُيُوتِ حَتَّىٰ يَتَوَفَّاهُنَّ الْمَوْتُ أَوْ يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ لَهُنَّ سَبِيلًا

And those from your women who come with obscenity then take four witnesses amongst you on them, then if they testify so detain them in the houses until the death is complete on them or Allah sets a way for them.

The above case is for 3 or more women doing act of ‘Fahisha’ i.e doing Fahisha in a group setting. This is not the case of a couple which is dealt in Ayat 24:2. When the act of ‘Fahisha’ committed by these women is confirmed then take 4 witnesses. The witnesses in above ayat is not a witness who actually observed the act of the ‘Fahisha’ as this process starts only after the act of ‘Fahisha’ is confirmed either by self confession of women or by manifest proof. The witness is like the one who is mentioned in Sura Yusuf where in the case of prophet Yusuf a.s and the wife of Aziz of Egypt suggested to check if prophet Yousuf a.s, shirt is torn from front or back (12:26 قَالَ هِيَ رَاوَدَتْنِي عَن نَّفْسِي ۚ وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَا إِن كَانَ قَمِيصُهُ قُدَّ مِن قُبُلٍ فَصَدَقَتْ وَهُوَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِين). These are the established people who can advise what needs to be done in this particular case considering the law of the land and appropriate action for correction e.g a lawyer, a councilor, respected member of society, etc. So if they all agree on the course of action then the movement of the women outside the house to be restricted so that not to provide opportunities for them to engage in the lewd acts until Allah makes a way for them or death comes on them.

3:135 وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُوا فَاحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُوا اللَّهَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا لِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَن يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَلَمْ يُصِرُّوا عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلُوا وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ

And those who, having done a ‘Fahisha’ act, or wronged their ‘nafs’, earnestly remember Allah and ask for forgiveness for their sins,- and who can forgive sins except Allah?- and they don’t persist over their (wrong) doings knowingly.

For those who realize their act of ‘Fahisha’ and wish to return to Allah, then the condition for the forgiveness by Allah is not to make self justifications for persisting on the act.

The honorable guests of Ibrahim (a.s)

The description in Quran of the guests of prophet Ibrahim (a.s) who destroyed the people of Lut, and reactions of different people on seeing them is quite thought provoking.

51:24 هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ ضَيْفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْمُكْرَمِينَ

Has the story reached you, of the honourable guests of Ibrahim?

Allah calls the guests of Ibrahim as noble and honorable.

When prophet Ibrahim (a.s) saw these guests he felt a certain fear from them and found them to be strangers, a somewhat different looking people.

51:25 إِذْ دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا سَلَامًا ۖ قَالَ سَلَامٌ قَوْمٌ مُّنكَرُونَ

When, they entered his presence, and said. “Peace!” He (Ibrahim) said, “Peace!, unknown people”

15:52 إِذْ دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا سَلَامًا قَالَ إِنَّا مِنكُمْ وَجِلُونَ

When they entered his presence and said, “Peace!” He said, “We feel afraid of you!”

51:28 فَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوا لَا تَخَفْ ۖ وَبَشَّرُوهُ بِغُلَامٍ عَلِيمٍ

He (Ibrahim) conceived a fear of them. They said, “Fear not,” and they gave him glad tidings of a son endowed with knowledge.

But when prophet Ibrahim’s wife saw the guests she couldn’t help control her laughter.

11:71 وَامْرَأَتُهُ قَائِمَةٌ فَضَحِكَتْ فَبَشَّرْنَاهَا بِإِسْحَاقَ وَمِن وَرَاءِ إِسْحَاقَ يَعْقُوبَ

And his wife was standing and she laughed then We gave her the good news with Ishaq and after Ishaq, Yaqoob.

When prophet Lut saw the guests he however felt very sad on their sight.

11:77 وَلَمَّا جَاءَتْ رُسُلُنَا لُوطًا سِيءَ بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ بِهِمْ ذَرْعًا وَقَالَ هَٰذَا يَوْمٌ عَصِيبٌ

When Our messengers came to Lut, he was grieved on their account and felt discomforted for them. He said. “This is a distressful day.”

But when the evil doers of Lut’s nation, saw the guests they were overjoyed on their sight.

15:67 وَجَاءَ أَهْلُ الْمَدِينَةِ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ

The inhabitants of the city came in joyously (at the news of guests at Lut’s house).

So, we see 4 different type of reactions when people saw the honorable guests from fear, giggle, sadness and joy. For prophet Ibrahim (a.s) who was a very mature and forbearing person it was a bit of fear, for an old lady, it was a giggle, for prophet Lut who was focused on a difficult task it was sadness and for evil doers it was a moment of joy.

Ababeel:

The word ‘Ababeel’ originally means ‘flocks’. Does not mean birds of a certain kind. طَيْرًا أَبَابِيلَ would mean flocks of flying (creatures).

The word ‘تَرْمِيهِم’ in Arabic, means to throw using force. A bird dropping stone from height would not fit in the meaning, as the stone should be thrown with force to fit the meaning of Arabic word.

Ibrahim and Lut:

Lut is an Arabic name (fully declinable in Arabic) and Ibrahim is non-Arabic name. So, they probably were not blood related. Lut converted into a believer on Ibrahim’s preaching:

فَآمَنَ لَهُ لُوطٌ ۘ وَقَالَ إِنِّي مُهَاجِرٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّي ۖ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

29:26 And Lut believed him (Ibrahim). He said. “I am migrating towards my Lord, verily He is Exalted in Might, and Wise.”