Despite several chances to change, it became clear that they would not listen. As a result, Allah sent angels who told Lot about the impending destruction of his people.

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

Lot then left his city, with his daughters and they were commanded to not look back, and the punishment began.

When Our command came, We turned the cities upside down and rained down on them clustered stones of baked clay,11:82

marked by your Lord ˹O Prophet˺. And these stones are not far from the ˹pagan˺ wrongdoers!11:83

Gabriel by Allah’s command unrooted the city and the surrounding cities from the ground. There were a total of seven cities. He lifted them into the sky and then threw them upside down. In the above verse, the Arabic word Sijjeel means immensely solid and strong and Mandud means one following another. Musawwamatan means that every stone was marked with the name of its target, upon whom it would fall. He then covered them with a rain of layers of brimstones.

And ˹it was˺ He ˹Who˺ turned the cities ˹of Sodom and Gomorrah˺ upside down.53:53

How overwhelming was what covered ˹them˺!53:54

Some say that the mischievous wife of Lot stayed with her people, whilst others say she went with Lot as he left. Nevertheless, her punishment was written for her and she heard the sound of the blast from the city. The stones then fell upon her.

Allah sets forth an example for the disbelievers: the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot. Each was married to one of Our righteous servants, yet betrayed them. So their husbands were of no benefit to them against Allah whatsoever. Both were told, “Enter the Fire, along with the others!”66:10

So the ˹mighty˺ blast overtook them at sunrise.15:73

And We turned the cities ˹of Sodom and Gomorrah˺ upside down and rained upon them stones of baked clay.15:74

Surely in this are signs for those who contemplate.15:75

Their ruins still lie along a known route.15:76

Surely in this is a sign for those who believe.15:77

The city was on a common route which is passed by many. As mentioned below too.

You ˹Meccans˺ certainly pass by their ruins day37:137

and night. Will you not then understand?37:138

But We only found one family that had submitted ˹to Allah˺.51:36

And We have left a sign there ˹as a lesson˺ for those who fear the painful punishment.51:37

Undoubtedly, this story has many lessons for those with reason. It is not without purpose that Allah destroyed the people of Lot. Allah left that city as a warning for everyone who fears Allah and believes in the Day of Judgement. It serves as a reminder not to disobey Allah or engage in the same actions as the people of Lot. A wise and sensible person always avoids wrongdoing and evil actions, and follows the teachings and commands of Allah. They never engage in prohibited and unlawful relationships. They always strive to choose the right path, which is lawful and permissible.Because he knows that "it (the punishment) is never far from the evildoers." (11:83)