Do Muslims believe in Lot?
Yes, Muslims believe in Lot. In the Quran he is called Lut, a messenger of Allah and a relative of Abraham. He was sent to the people of Sodom, warned them for years, and was saved with his believing family when the town was destroyed.
Lot in the Quran
Lut is mentioned by name 27 times in the Quran, more than many other prophets. He was among the first to believe in Abraham's message and left his homeland with him (Quran 29:26). Allah gave him wisdom and knowledge (Quran 21:74), and says clearly:
Believing in him is part of believing in all of Allah's prophets. See Do I have to believe in all the prophets to become Muslim?
His people and their end
Lot called his people to worship Allah and to stop the wrongs they openly practiced, including highway robbery, public indecency, and men approaching men instead of women (Quran 7:80–81, 29:28–29). They mocked him and threatened to drive him out. Angels came to him in the form of guests, told him to leave by night with his family, and the town was overturned (Quran 11:77–83). His wife stayed behind with the disbelievers and was not saved (Quran 66:10).
The Prophet ﷺ spoke of Lot with warmth: "May Allah have mercy on Lot; he wanted to take refuge with a strong support," meaning he felt alone, while Allah was always with him (Sahih al-Bukhari 3372).
How Islam differs from Genesis
Muslims believe prophets are protected from major sins. So the story in Genesis 19 about Lot getting drunk and sleeping with his daughters is not accepted in Islam. In the Quran, Lot stays upright and dignified to the end. He also appears as Abraham's close companion, rather than a man who chose a sinful city for its wealth. See Do Muslims believe in Abraham?
A note for readers who feel uneasy
The story of Lot is often used to attack people harshly. The Quran's focus is on a whole town that rejected its prophet and openly did wrong, not on mocking anyone. If you're a new Muslim who struggles with same-sex attraction, you still belong. See Can I still be Muslim if I struggle with same-sex attraction?
- Lot (Lut) is a messenger named many times in the Quran.
- He believed in Abraham and migrated with him.
- He was saved with his believing family; his wife was not.
- Islam rejects the Genesis story of Lot and his daughters.
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