The Dead Sea

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the dead sea

is the site
for the destroyed tribe
that ignored
lot's reminders

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and the rains of brime
and the overturned surface

and alas
they of the later
thinks it is
a resort of sort
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http://worldimage4u.blogspot.com/200...est-water.html

MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2009

Facts About The Dead Sea - Saltiest Water Body In The World
It is referred to as Al-Bahr Al-Mayyit in Arabic and Yam Ha-Melah in Hebrew. It is a landlocked saltwater lake in southwestern Asia, lying between Israel and Jordan. Its shore, which averages about 400 meters below sea level, is the lowest place on the Earth’s surface. It is the saltiest body of water in the world; about nine times as salty as the ocean. We are referring to the Dead Sea.

Physical features
The Dead Sea, whose Hebrew name means "Salt Sea", lies between the hills of Judaea to the west and the Transjordanion plateaux to the east; it lies in the Ghor, a deep fault or break in the Earth’s crust. The lake covers an area of about 1040 square kilometers. It is about 18 kilometers wide at its widest point and about 80 kilometers long.

The peninsula of Al-Lisan (the “tongue”) divides the lake on its eastern side into a large northern basin and a smaller southern basin. The northern basin encompasses about three-fourths of the lake’s total surface area. The deepest part of the lake lies in this area; the lake bottom lies about 400 meters below the surface and about 799 meters below mean sea level. The southern basin is shallower, with a depth of less than three meters on an average.

Climatic conditions
The Dead Sea lies in a desert where rainfall is scanty and irregular. The region receives less than 4 inches of rain annually. Winters too are mild, averaging 170 C in January at Sedom and 140 C at the northern end. Summers are hot, with the temperature ranging around 340 C in August at Sedom. There has been a recorded maximum of 510 C. Evaporation of the lake’s waters often creates a thick mist above the lake and is averaged at about 55 inches annually. Atmospheric humidity varies from 45 per cent in May to about 62 per cent in October.

Lake breeze is a common phenomenon, in which the breeze blows outward from the lake in all directions during the day. It then reverses direction to blow inward toward the centre of the lake at night, in the form of land breeze.

How it was formed
In the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods, about 208 to 66.4 million years ago, the Mediterranean Sea covered extensive areas of Syria and Palestine. The upheaval of the seabed in the Miocene Epoch, about 23.7 to 5.3 million years ago, resulted in the formation of the upfolded Transjordanion highlands and the central range of Palestine, causing fault lines that formed the Dead Sea depression.

The Al-Lisan peninsula as well as Mount Sedom was formed as a result of movements in the earth’s crust. Strata of clay, marl, soft chalk and gypsum, interbedded with sand and gravel are features common to both, the peninsula and the western side of the Dead Sea Valley. It is thus possible to conclude that the uplifting of Mount Sedom and Al-Lisan formed a southern escarpment for the Dead Sea. The water broke through the western half to form the shallow southern end of the Dead Sea.

Its historical significance
The Dead Sea has been associated with biblical history since the time of Abraham and the destruction of the two cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which once stood near the lake. It is believed that these cities, destroyed by fire from heaven because of their wickedness, are now possibly submerged in the southern part of the Dead Sea. It has been referred to in the Bible as the "Salt Sea".

Columns of salt rock on the shore may have the basis for the Biblical story of Lot’s wife who was turned into a pillar of salt as punishment for disobeying God. Ancient manuscripts known as the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in caves near the Dead Sea. Most of these scrolls date from about 100B.C. to about A.D.70.

The water in the Dead Sea
The salty waters of the Dead Sea appear smooth and sparkling. Rocky, barren lands surround the lake while steep, brightly colored cliffs rise above its eastern and western banks. With the exception of a few plants and brine shrimp, the lake is devoid of any other form of life and this is why the lake is also called the Dead Sea. The salty soil around the lake too makes it ill suited for the growth of plants. The extreme salinity prohibits the existence of any form of life except bacteria and a few halophytes (plants that grow in salty or alkaline salt).

Source
The River Jordan and several other smaller streams pour relatively fresh water into the lake, which then mixes with the salt water at the surface. Thermal sulphur springs are another source of water for the Dead Sea. The extreme heat in the area causes this water to evaporate rapidly. As a result, the Dead Sea never grows less salty.

Salinity
The salinity of the water can be attributed to the presence of large amounts of minerals occurring in the form of sodium chloride, bromine, calcium chloride, potassium chloride, hydrogen sulphide and various other sulphates and bicarbonates. The concentration of the salt gradually increases toward the bottom. At a depth of 130 feet, the salinity is less than 300 parts per 1000. It then passes through a transition zone where the water temperature is uniform and the salinity is approximately 332 parts per 1000. The deep waters are saturated with sodium chloride and are fossilized and therefore remain permanently at the bottom; the upper waters date from a few centuries after biblical times.

The Dead Sea constitutes an enormous salt reserve, which is exploited on a small scale by a number of companies.

The saline water of the Dead Sea has a high density. It provides great buoyancy, enabling swimmers to float with ease. Some people believe that bathing in the Dead Sea is healthful because of its high mineral content. Several health resorts in the area provide facilities for bathers.

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Story of Prophet Lut/Lot (pbuh)

Prophet Abraham (PBUH) left Egypt accompanied by his nephew Lut (PBUH), who then went to the city of Sodom (Sadum), which was on the western shore of the Dead Sea.

This city was filled with evil. Its residents waylaid, robbed and killed travelers. Another common evil among them was that men had sex with men instead of with women. This unnatural act later became known as sodomy (after the city of Sodom). It was practiced openly and unashamedly.

It was at the height of these crimes and sins that Allah revealed to Prophet Lut (PBUH) that he should summon the people to give up their indecent behavior, but they were so deeply sunk in their immoral habits that they were deaf to Lot's preaching. Swamped in their unnatural desires, they refused to listen, even when Lot warned them of Allah's punishment. Instead, they threatened to drive him out of the city if he kept on preaching.

Allah the Almighty revealed: The people of Lot (those dwelt in the towns of Sodom in Palestine) belied the Messengers when their brother Lot said to them: "Will you not fear Allah and obey Him? Verily! I am a trustworthy Messenger to you. SO fear Allah, keep your duty to Him, and obey me. No reward do I ask of you for it (my Message of Islamic Monotheism) my reward is only from the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists). Go you in unto the males of the Alamin (mankind), and leave those whom Allah has created for you to be your wives? Nay, you are a trespassing people!"

They said: "If you cease not, O Lot! Verily, you will be one of those who are driven out!"

HE said: "I am indeed, of those who disapprove with severe anger and fury your (this evil) action (of sodomy). My Lord! Save me and my family from what they do."

SO We saved him and his family, all except an old woman (this wife) among those who remained behind. (Ch 26:160-171 Quran)

The doings of Lot's people saddened his heart. Their unwholesome reputation spread throughout the land, while he struggled against them. As the years passed, he persisted in his mission but to no avail. No one responded to his call and believed except for the members of his family, and even in his household, not all the members believed. Lot's wife, like Noah's wife, a disbeliever.

Allah the Almighty declared: Allah set forth an example for those who disbelieve, the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot. They were under two of Our righteous slaves, but they both betrayed their (husbands, by rejecting their doctrines) so they (Noah & Lut) benefited them (their respective wives) not, against Allah, and it was said: "Enter the Fire along with those who enter!" (Ch 66:10 Quran)

If home is the place of comfort and rest, then Lut found none, for he was tormented both inside and outside his home. His life was continuous torture and he suffered greatly, but he remained patient and steadfast with his people. The years rolled by, and still not one believed in him. Instead, they belittled his message and mockingly challenged him: "Bring Allah's Torment upon us if you are one of the truthful!" (Ch 29:29 Quran).

Overwhelmed with despair, Lot prayed to Allah to grant him victory and destroy the corrupt. Therefore, the angels left Abraham (pbuh) and headed for Sodom the town of Lut (pbuh). They reached the walls of the town in the afternoon. The first person who caught sight of them was Lot's daughter, who was sitting beside the river, filling her jug with water. When she lifted her face and saw them, she was stunned that there could be men of such magnificent beauty on earth.

One of the tree men (angels) asked her: "O maiden, is there a place to rest?"

Remembering the character of her people she replied, "Stay here and do not enter until I inform my father and return." Leaving her jug by the river, she swiftly ran home.

"O father!" she cried. "You are wanted by young men at the town gate and I have never before seen the like of their faces!"

Lot felt distressed as he quickly ran to his guests. He asked them where they came from and where they were going.

They did not answer his questions. Instead they asked if he could host them. He started talking with them and impressed upon them the subject of his people's nature. Lot was filled with turmoil; he wanted to convince his guests without offending them, not to spend the night there, yet at the same time he wanted to extend to them the expected hospitality normally accorded to guests. In vain he tried to make them understand the perilous situation. At last, therefore, he requested them to wait until the night fell, for then no one would see them.

When darkness fell on the town, Lot escorted his guest to his home. No one was aware of their presence. However, as soon as Lot's wife saw them, she slipped out of the house quietly so that no one noticed her. Quickly, she ran to her people with the news and it spread to all the inhabitants like wildfire. The people rushed towards Lot quickly and excitedly. Lot was surprised by their discovery of his guests. and he wondered who could have informed them. The matter became clear, however, when he could not find his wife, anywhere, thus adding grief to his sorrow.

When Lot saw the mob approaching his house, he shut the door, but they kept on banging on it. He pleaded with them to leave the visitors alone and fear Allah's punishment. He urged them to seek sexual fulfillment with their wives, for that is what Allah had made lawful.

Lot's people waited until he had finished his short sermon, and then they roared with laughter. Blinded by passion, they broke down the door. Lot became very angry, but he stood powerless before these violent people. He was unable to prevent the abuse of his guests, but he firmly stood his ground and continued to plead with the mob.

At that terrible moment, he wished he had the power to push them away from his guests. Seeing him in a state of helplessness, and grief the guests said: "Do not be anxious or frightened, Lot for we are angels, and these people will not harm you."

On hearing this, the mob was terrified and fled from Lot's house, hurling threats at him as they left. The angels warned Prophet Lut (pbuh) to leave his house before sunrise, taking with him all his family except his wife.

Allah had decreed that the city of Sodom should perish. AN earthquake rocked the town. IT was as if a mighty power had lifted the entire city and flung it down in one jolt. A storm of stones rained on the city. Everyone and everything was destroyed, including Lot's wife.

Allah the Almighty recounted this story: And tell them about the guests (angels) of Abraham. When they entered unto him, and said: "Salaaman (peace)!" Abraham said: "Indeed! We are afraid of you."

They (the angels) said: "Do not be afraid! We give you glad tidings of a boy (son) possessing much knowledge and wisdom." (Abraham) said: "Do you give me glad tidings (of a son) when old age has overtaken me? Of what then is your news?" They (the angels) said: "We give you glad tidings in truth. SO be not of the despairing."

Abraham said: "And who despairs of the Mercy of his Lord except those who are astray?" (Abraham again) said: "What then is the business on which you have come, O Messengers?"

They (the angels) said: "We have been sent to a people who are Mujrimeen (criminals, disbeliveers, polytheists, sinners). (All) except the family of Lot. Them all we are surely going to save (from destruction)."

Except his wife, of whom We have decreed that she shall be of the those who remain behind (she will be destroyed).

Then when the Messengers (the angels) came unto the family of Lot, he said: "Verily! You are people unknown to me." They said: "Nay! we have come to you with that (torment) which they have been doubting. And we have brought to you the truth (the news of the destruction of your nation) and certainly, we tell the truth. Then travel in a part of the night with your family, and you go behind them in the rear, and let no one amongst you look back, but go on to where you are ordered."

And We made known this decree to him, that the root of those (sinners) was to be cut off in the early morning

The inhabitants of the city came rejoicing (at the news of the young men's arrival). Lot said: "Verily! These are my guests, so shame me not. And fear Allah and disgrace me not." They (people of the city) said: "Did we not forbid you to entertain (or protect) any of the Alamin (people, foreigners strangers etc) from us?" Lot said: "These (the girls of the nation) are my daughters to marry lawfully) if you must act so."

Verily, by your life (O Muhammad), in their wild intoxication they were wandering blindly. So As Saliha (torment, awful cry etc) overtook them at the time of sunrise; and We turned (the towns of Sodom in Palestine) upside down and rained down on them stones of baked clay. Surely! In this are signs for those who see (or understand or learn the lessons from the Signs of Allah). And verily! They (the cities) are right on the highroad (from Mecca to Syria, i.e. the place where the Dead Sea is now). Surely! Therein is indeed a sign for the believers." (Ch 15:51-77 Quran)

Allah the Exalted also declared: So we saved him and his family, all, except an old woman (his wife) among those who remained behind. Then afterward We destroyed the others. We rained on them a rain of torment. How evil was the rain of those who had been warned. Verily, in this is indeed a sign yet most of them are not believers. Verily! Your Lord, He is indeed the All Mighty, the Most Merciful. (Ch 26:170-175 Quran)

The book was closed on the people of Lot (pbuh). Their towns and names have been erased from the face of the earth. Gone are they from memory. One book was closed of the books of corruption.

Lot (pbuh) proceeded towards Abraham (pbuh). HE visited him, and when he recounted the story of his people, he was surprised to learn that Abraham (pbuh) already knew. So Lut (pbuh) continued to invite people to Allah, as did Abraham (pbuh), the patient one who turned to Allah repentantly, and the two held firm to their mission.