Visiting The Dead Sea

Since the Dead Sea surroundings are linked to the Nation of Hadhrat Loot Owho were its inhabitants and who were destroyed on this very land, we would like to first briefly enlighten you with regards to their destruction on this land to further understand what this land entails.

Allah E emphatically states in the Quraan: 

۞و لوطا ﺇذ قال لقومه ﺇنكم لتأتون الفاحشة ما سبقكم بها من أحد من العالمين۞ ﺇنكم لتأتون الرجال وتقطعون السبيل وتأتون في ناديكم المنكر ط  فما كان جوب قومه ﺇلا أن قالوا ائتنا بعذاب الله ﺇن كنت من الصدقين۞

“And we sent Loot, when he said to his people, “Indeed you engage in obscenity, which none in the universe has indulged in before you. Do you approach men, waylay the highways and perpetrate evil in your gatherings?”  The only reply that his people could give was to say, “Bring Allah’s punishment to us, if you are from among the truthful.” (Surah Al-Ankabut, ayah 28 and 29)

 In these Aayaat, mention is made with regards to when Hazrat Loot Owas sent to preach to his people in a town called Sodom, which was next to the Dead Sea and was the largest of several towns on the bank of the Jordan River. His people were involved in a most evil and immodest act of sin which was sodomy apart from the other sins that they also perpetrated. But since they did not take heed to his warning and continued doing this lewd act and other evils, a severe punishment afflicted them wherein they were all destroyed as is stated in the Quraan: 

۞ فلما جاء أمرنا جعلنا عاليها سافلها وأمطرنا عليها حجارة من سجيل منضود مسومة عند ربك ط وما هي من الظلمين ببعيد۞

“So, when our command came, we turned its highest into the lowest and we rained on it stones of hard clay, one over another marked by your Lord. And it is not far from the transgressors.” (Surah Hud, ayah 82 and 83)

 Thereafter Allah E concludes the incident in Ayah 35 of Surah Al-Ankabut, wherein Allah Ementions: 

۞ ولقد تركنا منها آية بينة لقوم يعقلون ۞

“Indeed, we left behind in those towns a sign which is clear to those who have understanding”.

 This Ayah demands that those who have understanding and intellect should take lesson from those towns whose inhabitants were destroyed due to their evil doings. 

Similarly there are many such incidents mentioned in the Ahaadith wherein Nabi H and the Sahaabah ﷡ passed through such lands while they were on a journey for battle or trade etc. wherein certain nations were destroyed. Nabi H commanded the Sahaabah Radhiallahu anhum to pass quickly and take lesson from their wrong doings in such a place where Allah E‘s punishment struck them, lest Allah E‘s punishment should befall them too. 

Hereunder is a Hadith cited from Bukhari educating us on Nabi H’s action in the said situation:

“عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنه قال لما مر النبي صلي الله عليه وسلم بالحجر قال: لا تدخلوا مساكن الذين ظلموا أنفسهم أن يصيبكم ما أصابهم ﺇلا أن تكونوا باكين ثم قنع رأسه وأسرع بالسير حتى جاز الوادي.”

(بخاري٤٤١٩)

Hazrat Ibn Umar Radhiallahu Anhu narrates that when Nabi H passed (a valley called) Hijr, He said to the Sahaabah radhiallahu anhum, “do not enter the dwellings of those who oppressed themselves (i.e. those nations who were destroyed due to their evil doings and disobeying their Prophet) lest what afflicted them afflicts you; except (that you pass by in a condition) that you weep, then Nabi H covered his head and passed hastily until he traversed that valley.

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: لاَ تَدْخُلُوا عَلَى هَؤُلاَءِ المُعَذَّبِينَ إِلَّا أَنْتَكُونُوا بَاكِينَ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُونُوا بَاكِينَ فَلاَ تَدْخُلُوا عَلَيْهِمْ، لاَ يُصِيبُكُمْ مَا أَصَابَهُمْ