AND, INDEED, there came unto Abraham Our [heavenly] messengers, bearing a glad tiding. They bade him peace; [and] he answered, "[And upon you be] peace!" - and made haste to place before them a roasted calf. 69 And when he saw their hands reached not to it, he mistrusted them and conceived a fear of them. They said: Fear not! Lo! we are sent unto the folk of Lot. 70 And his wife, standing by laughed when We gave her good tidings (of the birth) of Isaac, and, after Isaac, of Jacob. 71 She said, 'Woe is me! Shall I bear, being an old woman, and this my husband is an old man? This assuredly is a strange thing.' 72 "Why are you surprised at the command of God? God's mercy and blessings be upon you, O members of this household," they said. "Verily He is worthy of praise and glory." 73 So, when the awe departed from Abraham and the good tidings came to him, he was disputing with Us concerning the people of Lot; 74 Lo! Abraham was mild, imploring, penitent. 75 [The angels said], "O Abraham, give up this [plea]. Indeed, the command of your Lord has come, and indeed, there will reach them a punishment that cannot be repelled." 76 When Our Messengers came to Lot, he became sorrowful and felt totally helpless. He said, "This is indeed a distressful day". 77 And his people came rushing towards him, and they had been long in the habit of practising abominations. He said: "O my people! Here are my daughters: they are purer for you (if ye marry)! Now fear Allah, and cover me not with shame about my guests! Is there not among you a single right-minded man?" 78 They said, "You certainly know that we have no right to your daughters and you know what we want". 79 He said: 'Would that I were powerful over you, or might take refuge in a strong pillar' 80 They said, "Lot, we are your Lord's messengers. By no means shall they reach you! So depart with your family while it is yet night and let none of you look back. But your wife will suffer the fate that befalls the others. Their appointed time is the morning: is the morning not near?" 81 So when Our decree came to pass, We turned them upside down and rained down upon them stones, of what had been decreed, one after another. 82 That are marked, in the custody your Lord; and those stones are not at all far from the unjust! 83