Page 92 - Communication and Argument in the Qur'an

90 COMMUNICATION AND ARGUMENT IN THE QUR’AN

Madyan and the overturned cities? Their Messengers
brought them the Clear Signs. Allah did not wrong
them; rather, they wronged themselves. (Surat at-
Tawba: 70)
These instances of destruction have come to light in
modern archaeological investigations. In this way, informa-
tion given in the Qur’an has been corroborated by external
evidence. Thus, it is seen once again that the verses have
a deterrent nature. Now we will see how unbelieving soci-
eties came to destruction.

The destroyed people of Lut

The people of Lut (as), who called him a liar, were the
first people to practice homosexuality. Allah describes how
He sent down a plague and put out their eyes, how a great
blast seized their city, how He turned their cities upside
down, and how stones of hard-baked clay rained down
upon them.

The destruction of Pharaoh
The punishment inflicted on Pharaoh and his supporters
is described in the following terms: they were pursued with
a curse in this world and they will appear as hideous and
spurned people on the Day of Resurrection. Allah
describes how He has expelled them from springs and gar-
dens, from treasures and a splendid situation. He goes on
to say that their army was drowned and that years of
drought and scarcity were sent so that Pharaoh and his
people would come to their senses and listen. He