Prophet Lot, who was the nephew of Prophet Ibrahim, went to the city of Sodom as instructed by Ibrahim. Sodom was a major city where people engaged in homosexuality, which was the first of its kind in human history. Lot called upon his people to worship only Allah and not engage in homosexuality, but they ignored his warnings and continued their indecent behaviour. When Lot called them to the way of Allah they wanted to expel him.

But his people’s only response was to say, “Expel Lot’s followers from your land! They are a people who wish to remain chaste!”27:56

When Lot saw their ever-increasing insolent attitude, he made his prayer to Allah and asked His help against his people. Allah accepted his prayer and showed His anger towards them. Allah sent His angels to punish them (these angels also passed by Ibrahim on their way giving good news of Ibrahim's son and news of their journey to punish the people of Lot (read more on this here).

When Our messenger-angels came to Abraham with the good news ˹of the birth of Isaac˺, they said, “We are going to destroy the people of this city ˹of Sodom˺, for its people have persisted in wrongdoing.”29:31

He said, “But Lot is there!” They responded, “We know best who is there. We will certainly save him and his family—except his wife, who is one of the doomed.”29:32

Interpreters of the texts say that when the angels left Ibrahim, they approached Sodom in the form of good looking youths as a test. Lot offered to host them, unaware they were angels, to protect his people from further sin. When they arrived it was sunset time. He was grieved and distressed at their arrival thinking he could not protect them. He knew that it would be very difficult to protect them at night, due to past times this had happened.

When Our messenger-angels came to Lot, he was distressed and worried by their arrival. He said, “This is a terrible day.”11:77

Qatadah said that at the time of the arrival of the angels Lot was working on his land. They asked him to host them and he felt embarrassed to refuse their request. He took them to his house and tried to convince them it would be best not to stay in this town, saying; "By Allah, I have never come across such wicked people on the face of this earth as I have in this town." He told them this four times.

Suddi said that after the angels left Ibrahim, they arrived about noon time to the river of Sodom. There they came across the daughter of Lot who was taking water for her family. Lot had two daughters, the eldest was called Ritha and the youngest, Zaghrata. The angels asked her if there was any nearby shelter. She told them to stay where they were and not enter the town until she came back. She feared for them knowing the wickedness of her people and went to her father explaining what had happened. She described their beauty and, knowing that previously the people of Lot had said he was not to host anyone. They wanted male guests to stay with them instead. So, Lot brought them home and nobody appeared to notice but his wife went to all the people telling them of the guests and their beauty. The people came rushing.

And ˹the men of˺ his people—who were used to shameful deeds—came to him rushing. He pleaded, “O my people! Here are my daughters ˹for marriage˺—they are pure for you. So fear Allah, and do not humiliate me by disrespecting my guests. Is there not ˹even˺ a single right-minded man among you?”11:78

Lot tried to turn their attention to the women of his community (perhaps the single women or lustful men's wives), referred to in this verse as his 'daughters'. Lot was the father of the community, as prophets inherent such status (similar reference in 33:6). If they were to marry them, their relations would be purer for them. However, The People of The Book altered this story unacceptably.

Nevertheless, Lot's efforts to guide his people into purity rather than blindly following their desires was met with dismissal.

They argued, “You certainly know that we have no need for your daughters. You already know what we desire!”11:79

They insisted on forcefully being lustful and intimate with Lot's guests.

And there came the men of the city, rejoicing.15:67

Lot pleaded, “Indeed, these are my guests, so do not embarrass me.15:68

Fear Allah and do not humiliate me.”15:69

They responded, “Have we not forbidden you from protecting anyone?”15:70

He said, “O my people! Here are my daughters ˹so marry them˺ if you wish to do so.”15:71

Allah swears by the life of our Prophet ﷺ on their misguidance.

By your life ˹O Prophet˺, they certainly wandered blindly, intoxicated ˹by lust˺.15:72

Exegists explain that Lot was trying to stop them from entering the house when the door was closed. However, they were determined to enter. Lot pleaded with them from behind the door, and when it became challenging to keep them out, he said the following, asking Allah for support.

He responded, “If only I had the strength ˹to resist you˺ or could rely on a strong supporter.”11:80

The angel guests responded saying they would support him.

The angels said, “O Lot! We are the messengers of your Lord. They will never reach you. So travel with your family in the dark of night, and do not let any of you look back, except your wife. She will certainly suffer the fate of the others. Their appointed time is the morning. Is the morning not near?”11:81