People of Lot - Reloaded

Foreword

The story of the people of prophet Jonah is exceptional in the Quran in the sense that the destruction that came upon them was upheld by God due to their repentance. This event is a clue that things could have been different with other people, too, who had been destroyed due to their oppression to themselves and to the people around them. Here, I would like to venture into an alternative time where the story of the people of Lot unfolds differently.

- Enough is enough! What you have been doing with Lot is unacceptable. 

      - What do you mean, enough is enough? 

- I mean, you can't force him and his followers to accept our way of life. Suffice with saying "your way is for you, our way is for us". Why is it so hard for you to accept a way of life other than yours? 

      - But they are blaming us with being perverts, oppressors. 

- Could it be because you are deserving it? 

      - We are not oppressors! We are only hunters and gatherers; hah hah haaa 

- You mean the fact that you are robbing the passing by caravans and violating the passengers is hunting and gathering? Look! There are things that you may choose to do differently, but you cannot choose on behalf of others. You are not free to force your wants onto others. 

      - .... 

- If you are shy to ask if there is a way out of this, you can start by apologizing. Even if you don't accept Lot's way, you can at least respect him as an old man of the community. 

     - .... 

- I know it is not easy, after all that's passed between us, but I thought a lot, and I am ready to go ahead and talk to him. He is not someone who you can't talk with. 

     - .... 

- Just follow me. Don't say a word. Stay with me, ok? 

     - ....

As the two men paced in the streets of the city, they heard people talking about the guests that came to Lot's house the night before. The people of the city thought they would not have to go through a fight for their fun. The preys had fallen into their laps... But the two men who had changed their minds about their way of life were alarmed by what the people were about to do.

They quickly went to the city square and shouted as strong as they could to call everybody. Lot's house was at the outskirts of the valley, because he had been outcast long ago. So, the men were not concerned about Lot hearing what was cooking in the minds of people. Still, if nothing was done immediately, a great and irreversible error could be done.

When a significant crowd gathered to listen to what they had to say this urgent, the more conscious man started addressing his people.

- Listen to my words, oh people! Would you like your grapes to be crushed under a collapsing wall before you made your wine? Would you like your olives to be eaten by vermin before you made your oil?

Upon hearing these words, the audience was puzzled? At first, the man had hollered as if there was an emergency. Now, he was speaking as if in a philosophical discourse. What was he up to?

- Of course, you want none of these. You don't want your efforts in the past to be wasted, nor want your future put to risk.

The speaker paused for a second and stared at the crowd. Although some were listening, others were starting to scatter back to their affairs. This was a great danger, because what was growing in their minds was exactly what this conscious man was trying to stop from happening. He had to do his intervention now.

- Do you remember the last time a visitor came to our town? Do you remember even the last time a traveler passed by? Some of us are not old enough to remember. But I remember the last visitor, because it was my cousin's family. After they left, they never came back. Nor did anyone else after them. The arrogance and violence of a few among us costed our honor among other towns. Now you have a chance to repair this wrong.

With these sentences, it was clear where the speaker was going. He was going to talk about what to do and what not to do with the guests of Lot. Was it worth listening? For the very much grown-ups, the lesson was finished. They didn't want to listen. They didn't want to evoke the feelings of guilt that have been festering their minds silently but surely.

For the younger ones, however, things were different. Since their childhood, they were told not to go out of their own town, and not to befriend strangers from other tribes ever. Knowing the existence of places and people but being banned forever was intriguing and triggering for the young people. Maybe what this man had to say could answer their questions and open the way to freedom.

- If you want to repair what has been damaged, treat the guests of Lot as your eyes. They are your gate to a different tomorrow.

Uttering these last words, the speaker had looked at the younger ones in the public. He knew that they were his best bet to stop this flood of violence. The young were rebel enough to not heed the corrupt elders, and were thirsty enough for freedom to try the suggestion he had made, which was what their common sense would agree with.

As the speech ended, everybody dispersed into their daily affairs. Had the conscious man achieved what he aimed at? His friend, who was silent until then, broke the silence.

- At least some of them are going to listen. They are not anymore united.

They looked at each other for a few seconds, took a deep sigh, and nodded. This was their "shaking hands" to go ahead together.

As the crowd disappeared, the two men grabbed two baskets full of fruits. As they walked by a group of youngsters, they said,

- We are going to give our greetings to the guests at the house of Lot and share our food with them. Would you like to join us and say hello to those travelers? We need a few more hands to carry bread and juice. What do you say?

After a second of silence, one of the youngsters said that he could help. After all, helping the elders to carry things was an approved act in the society. Following him, a few more joined the welcoming committee. As they approached the house of Lot, they turned back and looked at the city from this angle and height, which they had never done before due to tension between them. As the city dwindled in the distance, Lot's house became the only sign of civilization around. This was the point of no return.

Matching the stress in the hearts of the youngsters, the person who had been watching them was becoming ever more concerned. This was none other than Lot. Why were they coming? What was in their hands? Couldn't they find a time other than when there are guests? Perhaps, it was best to meet these people away from the house to prevent the guests from overhearing what was going on between them. So, Lot asked for permission from his guests and started treading down the hill. When they met, he noticed the fruits, bread and the juice in their hands. Lot was startled. They were smiling, too. Could it be that these obstinate people finally decided to budge? Could it be that they were giving up oppressing strangers by forcing their way of life on them?

- I greet you with God's peace! How may I help you? 

      - We came here to make peace, Lot. We brought these presents to show our good intention. 

- Please come in with me. 

      - Can we meet your guests and say hello to them? 

- We are going to share lunch together. 

      - You are so forgiving and generous, Lot! 

- God is forgiving and generous, son!

As the people of the city entered the house, they came into eye contact with the two guests. They didn 't look like they are travelers, but they were clearly not from the area, either. When the lunch came, the guests said they were not hungry, and they left. Lot was extremely concerned with this hasty departure. Was there something disturbing to his guests?

Outside the house, the two guests revealed to Lot that they were actually angels who had come to give a final test to the people of Lot. They also told him that he shouldn't be worried about what was going to happen soon. And they left.

Lot didn't know what to tell the people of the city waiting in the house. They, too, were concerned about the other two guests' sudden departure, since their intention was the exact opposite by keeping them happy and comfortable there. They quickly asked Lot, if there was anything bad?

- They were angels, and you treated them well. 

Everybody in the room was shocked. Their eyes were fixed on Lot, and he was nodding while staring at the group meaningfully. Then, a loud call broke the silence.

- Lot! Hey, Lot! We came for your guests!

Upon hearing this, Lot, first, looked out of the window and then returned to the group in the house with inquisitive eyes.

- I guess we should have told you that we didn't represent the whole city.

They all came out of the house. There was a crowd. They were demanding the guests to join their party in the city. Lot knew what they were talking about. Before he said anything, the conscious man from the city yelled at the head of the group.

- I told you before. You cannot ruin the future of our city, like you have done so until now. We are free of your demands. 

The head of the group was not expecting one of his kin to take the opposite side. First, he answered the conscious man and then addressed Lot again.

- I have no business with you, and you don't have any business with Lot. Don't mess with this. Hey Lot, give us the two men.

Lot was very much alarmed, but at the same time he was comfortable due to the fact that the guests had already left and they had told Lot not to worry about what was to happen soon.

- They are not here anymore.

The head of the crowd was very angry, because he was not going to be able to fulfill his promise to his gang.

- I don't believe you. 

 And the man headed straight into Lot's house. The crowd behind him were not as eager, given the fact that there was a fight cooking before their eyes.

Meanwhile, the conscious man looked at his companion, then at the youngsters that had joined him on the way. They moved together to face the angry head of crowd. A mild fight broke out, mostly with shouts and pushes. The crowd lost interest in garnering pleasure from oppressing Lot and his guests. They dispersed as the fight went on. At last, the head of the crowd was on his own. Frustrated, he returned to the city.

Far far away, Abraham, Lot's uncle, greets two travelers who say that they came from the land of Lot. They told Abraham that Lot had sent his greetings, and that he was still on with his mission with the fortunate help of a few, determined people of his city.