Fadhil Qaradaghi

The Last Day of Sodom Fadhil Qaradaghi

A Novel based on the story of Sodom in the Old Testament and the Quran

The officer pulled out his sword, squinting at his foe. "Eh, Kabiata," said the officer. "Are you rebelling against the city to take the strangers? You'll be so handsome when I skin you and hang your body on the wall of the city."

Kabiata, the gangster, rotated his cudgel in slow circles. "Your head will be more handsome when I cut it off with your sword and put it on the tip of your spear and enter the city raising it," he said.

* * * * *

Sodom, the big sister of four wicked cities, shows itself as the evil incarnated. It assaults every weak man. Its people feel themselves superior and they hate strangers, yet they love to enjoy them. Sodom's king and eight magistrates are the summit of injustice. The army raids other countries to plunder them and to bring men and boys to satisfy the lust of the notables. Gangsters roam in Sodom with deadly names, including Kabiata The Fox, Abiya The Bear, Aduna The Wolf.

The city continues its sins until one day three strangers; all clean-shaven with soft, white skins arrive at the city and stay at the house of Lot, the prophet. The city becomes excited, hearing about them. The king and the magistrates send the royal guards to get the three strangers. The people want to get the strangers and resist the soldiers. The gangs fight the people and the soldiers and each other. But the three strangers turn out to be angels the Lord of Lot has sent to achieve a disastrous task in the city.

* * * * *

In addition to a short prologue about texts, facts and opinions related to the story of Sodom and its era, three appendices are included at the end of the novel: The story of Sodom in the Old Testament, the story in the Quran and notes on the context and the interpretations of the latter.