And certainly did Our messengers come to Abraham with good tidings; they said, "Peace." He said, "Peace," and did not delay in bringing [them] a roasted calf. 69 But when he saw that their hands were not extended towards it, he deemed them strange and conceived fear of them. They said: Fear not, surely we are sent to Lut's people. 70 His wife (Sarah), who was standing nearby, laughed. Thereupon, We gave her the good news of Isaac, and after Isaac of Jacob. 71 She said, "Alas! Shall I bear a child in this old age, while my husband here is also old? This is indeed a strange thing!" 72 They said, 'What, dost thou marvel at God's command? The mercy of God and His blessings be upon you, O people of the House! Surely He is All-laudable, All-glorious.' 73 When the fear had left Abraham, and the glad tidings had been conveyed to him, he began to plead with Us for Lot's people, 74 Most surely Ibrahim was forbearing, tender-hearted, oft-returning (to Allah): 75 We said, "Abraham, cease your pleading: the command of your Lord has gone forth. There shall fall upon them a punishment which none can avert!" 76 AND WHEN Our messengers came unto Lot, he was sorely grieved on their account, seeing that it was beyond his power to shield them; and he exclaimed: "This is a woeful day!" 77 And his people came rushing towards him, and since aforetime they used to commit crimes (sodomy, etc.), he said: "O my people! Here are my daughters (i.e. the daughters of my nation), they are purer for you (if you marry them lawfully). So fear Allah and degrade me not as regards my guests! Is there not among you a single right-minded man?" 78 They said: Well thou knowest that we have no right to thy daughters, and well thou knowest what we want. 79 Exclaimed [Lot]: "Would that I had the strength to defeat you, or that I could lean upon some mightier support!" 80 They said, 'Lot, we are messengers of thy Lord. They shall not reach thee; so set forth, thou with thy family, in a watch of the night, and let not any one of you turn round, excepting thy wife; surely she shall be smitten by that which smites them. Their promised time is the morning; is the morning not nigh?' 81 And so, when Our judgment came to pass, We turned those [sinful towns] upside down, and rained down upon them stone-hard blows of chastisement pre-ordained, one upon another, 82 marked for them by the decree of your Lord. The punishment of the unjust was not far off. 83