Imam (a.

Imam (a.s.) replied; “One who has disbelieved in what Allah has revealed to his Messenger (the Holy Qur’an).”[^4] Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) was queried by Abu Basir regarding the verse: “So when our decree came to pass, we turned them upside down and rained down upon them stones, of what has been decreed, one after another.” (Surah Hūd 11:82) Imam (a.s.) explained: “There is no one who leaves this world while considering sodomy Halāl, but that Allah hits him with one of the stones that had fallen on the people of Hazrat Lut (a.s.).” It is reported in Wasa’il ul-Shia that a person who believes sodomy to be Halāl and commits it several times and does not repent; at the time of his death Allah hits him with one of the stones that had rained upon the people of Lut (a.s.).

His death is brought about by the impact of this stone, but people do not see it (the stone).[^5] Punishment Upon the People of Lut (a.s.) The Holy Qur’an has described Three kinds of punishments that were meted out to the people of Lut (a.s.), one was a terrible scream and shriek, the second was the shower of stones that rained upon them, and the third was that the earth turned upside down.

After mentioning the last calamity, it is said in Surah Hūd: “Marked (for punishment) with your Lord and it is not far off from the unjust.” (Surah Hūd 11:83) This verse is an indication that such type of punishments may even be inflicted upon those who commit similar acts (acts of homosexuality). The Slave Who Killed His Master In the time of Umar a slave killed his master. When this slave confessed to the crime Umar ordered him to be put to death.

Amir ul-Mu’minīn ‘Ali (a.s.) questioned this slave, “Why did you kill your owner?” “He had forcibly committed sodomy with me,” replied the slave. ‘Ali (a.s.) asked the heirs of the deceased, “Have you buried him?” “Yes we have just come after burying him”, they replied. ‘Ali (a.s.) advised Umar to have the slave held in custody for three days and told the heirs of the deceased to come back after three days.

A Homosexual Shall be Counted Among the People of Lut (a.s.) Three days passed, then ‘Ali (a.s.), Umar and some of the heirs of the murdered man went to the grave. Upon reaching there ‘Ali (a.s.) asked, “Is this the grave of your man?” “Yes” they answered. ‘Ali (a.s.) ordered the grave to be dug out. Amazingly the dead body had disappeared from it. ‘Ali (a.s.) said, “Allahu Akbar!