In the Name of God, the Lord of Grace, the Most Merciful
(Abraham’s) people’s only answer was: “Kill him, or burn him!” But God saved him from the fire. In this there are signs for people who believe. And he said: “You have taken for worship idols instead of God for no reason other than to have a bond of love between yourselves, in the life of this world. But, then, on Resurrection Day, you shall disown one another and curse one another; and your abode shall be the fire, and you will have none to support you.” Lot believed in him. He said: “I shall immigrate for the sake of my Lord. He alone is Almighty, Wise. We gave him Isaac and Jacob, and caused prophethood and revelation to continue among his offspring.” We granted him his reward in this world; and, in the life to come, he will certainly be among the righteous. And Lot said to his people: “You certainly commit abominations such as none in all the worlds has ever committed before you.”
(The Spider, Al-Ankaboot: 29: 24-28)
We discussed last week the verses that explain how Abraham advocated the divine message among his people. They were stubborn in their rejection of everything he said. Even when he destroyed their idols to show them that these which they worshipped were powerless to prevent the assault of one man, they would not open their eyes to the truth. Their answer was to light up a huge fire in which they threw him. However, God foiled their designs and saved him from burning. He turned the fire cool and peaceful for him. Even then, they would not believe.
Hence, Abraham despairs at those who saw the great miracle with their own eyes for they will never believe in God’s oneness. He tells them, in plain terms, the truth of their situation before abandoning them: “And he said: You have taken for worship idols instead of God for no reason other than to have a bond of love between yourselves, in the life of this world. But, then, on Resurrection Day, you shall disown one another and curse one another; and your abode shall be the fire, and you will have none to support you.”
Abraham tells them that they worshipped idols without actually being convinced that such worship was right. They only did this out of courtesy for one another so that they could be together. Even though they may be aware of the truth, people generally follow what their friends worship only to keep their friendship. Thus friendship is given priority over the truth and true faith. This happens in communities that do not take religion seriously. To them, avoiding disagreement with a friend is more important than religion. They do not realize that it is faith that must be taken very seriously, and that there can be no complacency or compromise in matters of faith.
The surah then shows them their position in the life to come. They are surprised that such friendships on the Day of Judgment are nothing more than mutual hostility. Where once they thought others important, now they curse each other: “But, then, on Resurrection Day, you shall disown one another and curse one another.” On that day masters will disown their servants, friends will denounce friends, mutual accusations will fly about, and every erring person will accuse others of leading him astray. Yet none of all this will be of any avail when the suffering engulfs them all: “And your abode shall be the fire, and you will have none to support you.” They wanted to burn Abraham in the fire, but God saved him. Now when they are in the fire of hell, they will find none to save or protect them.
Abraham’s advocacy of his message among his own people and the undoubted miracle they saw culminated in the adoption of the faith by just one man other than his wife, and this man was Lot, Abraham’s nephew. Lot immigrated with him from their city, Ur of the Chaldees, in Iraq to settle west of the River Jordan: “Lot believed in him. He said: ‘I shall immigrate for the sake of my Lord. He alone is Almighty, Wise.’” (Verse 26)
Note Lot’s statement: “I shall immigrate for the sake of my Lord,” and the purpose of his immigration. He did not immigrate to save his skin, or to do business or earn his living. He simply immigrated for God’s sake, seeking His support. He migrated for his faith, and his purpose was to be able to worship God alone, in complete devotion in a new place, away from a land where there was no hope of people ever changing their erring ways.
God compensated Abraham for having to abandon his hometown and people by giving him offspring who would be chosen to deliver His message to mankind, until the end of human life. All prophets and messages that were sent later were through his descendents. This was, indeed, a great compensation: “We gave him Isaac and Jacob, and caused prophethood and revelation to continue among his offspring. We granted him his reward in this world; and, in the life to come, he will certainly be among the righteous.” This is certainly a rich reward and a manifestation of God’s pleasure with the man who personified total devotion.
Lot’s story is mentioned next, after he had immigrated with Abraham and settled in the Jordan Valley. Lot then lived on his own with a tribe close to the Dead Sea, which was later called Lake Lot. The township where the tribe lived was known as Sodom. Lot married one of their women and lived among them. We will look at Lot’s story in more detail next week, God willing.