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.

[وَتَأْتُونَ فِى نَادِيكُمُ الْمُنْكَرَ]

(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.

[فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِ إِلاَّ أَن قَالُواْ ائْتِنَا بِعَذَابِ اللَّهِ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّـدِقِينَ]

(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:

[رَبِّ انصُرْنِى عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْمُفْسِدِينَ]

(My Lord! Give me victory over the people who are corrupt.)

[وَلَمَّا جَآءَتْ رُسُلُنَآ إِبْرَهِيمَ بِالْبُشْرَى قَالُواْ إِنَّا مُهْلِكُو أَهْلِ هَـذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ إِنَّ أَهْلَهَا كَانُواْ ظَـلِمِينَ - قَالَ إِنَّ فِيهَا لُوطاً قَالُواْ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن فِيهَا لَنُنَجِّيَنَّهُ وَأَهْلَهُ إِلاَّ امْرَأَتَهُ كَانَتْ مِنَ الْغَـبِرِينَ - وَلَمَّآ أَن جَآءَتْ رُسُلُنَا لُوطاً سِىءَ بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ بِهِمْ ذَرْعاً وَقَالُواْ لاَ تَخَفْ وَلاَ تَحْزَنْ إِنَّا مُنَجُّوكَ وَأَهْلَكَ إِلاَّ امْرَأَتَكَ كَانَتْ مِنَ الْغَـبِرينَ - إِنَّا مُنزِلُونَ عَلَى أَهْلِ هَـذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ رِجْزاً مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَفْسُقُونَ - وَلَقَد تَّرَكْنَا مِنْهَآ ءَايَةً بَيِّنَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ ]

(31. And when Our messengers came to Ibrahim with the glad tidings they said: "Verily, we are going to destroy the people of this town; truly, its people have been wrongdoers.'') (32. Ibrahim said: "But there is Lut in it.'' They said: "We know better who is there. We will verily, save him and his family - except his wife, she will be of those who remain behind.'') (33. And when Our messengers came to Lut, he was grieved because of them, and felt straitened on their account. They said: "Have no fear, and do not grieve! Truly, we shall save you and your family except your wife: she will be of those who remain behind.'') (34. "Verily, we are about to bring down on the people of this town a great torment from the sky, because they have been rebellious.'') (35. And indeed We have left thereof an evident Ayah for a folk who understand.)