Lot’s Daughters: “Sacrificial Children” and the Ethos of Hospitality

Abstract Upon discovering the arrival of guests at Lot’s home, the men of the city rushed to his door and demanded that he bring them out, prompting Lot to respond by offering his daughters to the mob instead (Q 11:78–79, 15:67–71). The depiction of Lot’s offer of his daughters in Q 11:78–79 and 15:67–71 has troubled many scholars, some of whom question both the nature of this offer and Lot’s moral character. While early Muslim sources depict Lot as a righteous host and focus on the legal implications of his offer, later scholars grapple with how Lot sought to protect his guests. Such concerns arise from the later Muslim belief that Lot, being a prophet, is protected from sin. In this article, I propose adopting a historical reading of Lot’s offer of his daughters that takes into account early Muslims’ perceptions of the Lot narrative as fundamentally about hospitality. Moreover, I contend that Lot’s offer of his daughters can be read in light of other ancient narratives of “sacrificial children” for the purpose of upholding the sacred virtues of hospitality, generosity, and loyalty.