The story of the people of Prophet Lūt (Lot) is mentioned in several verses of the Qur’an, including Surah Al-Hijr (15:74):
“So We rained upon them a rain [of stones]. Then see how was the end of the criminals.”
The Qur’an describes their destruction as a devastating punishment in which stones from the sky rained down upon them, often interpreted by scholars as stones mixed with burning sulfur. Their cities were completely destroyed, leaving nothing but ruins. For many years, archaeologists have searched for the possible historical locations of Sodom and Gomorrah, the cities associated with the people of Lūt.
Some of the proposed sites include Bab edh-Dhra and Numeira, located in modern-day Jordan near the Dead Sea. Excavations at these locations have uncovered the remains of ancient cities that appear to have been suddenly destroyed.
Archaeologists discovered layers of ash, burned structures, and other signs of intense fire. Some researchers and geologists have also reported traces of sulfur and bitumen in the surrounding soil—materials that could be linked to descriptions of burning stones found in ancient texts.
One of Pakistan's leading scholars and jurists, Shaykh al-Islam Mufti Taqi Usmani, recently delivered a speech on Iran and the issues of Sunni-Shia sectarianism. The following clip, which is in Urdu, highlights these points:
(1) The US and Israel did not attack Iran because it is “Shia”, but because it is regarded as a foundational part of Islam.
(2) Despite our differences, this is not the time to raise Sunni and Shia polemics. In fact, we should be united.
(3) If we stand united as a Umma, then the US and Israel cannot harm us.
(4) The US and Israel are doing their best to sow seeds of sectarianism and hatred between Sunnis and Shias so that we fight each other.
These were some of the main points. It is encouraging to see figures like Mufti Taqi and other senior scholars speaking with such clarity in these turbulent times. This is how true scholars lead and speak.