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 not reaching towards it, he was suspicious of them and conceived a fear of them. They said, 'Fear not; we have been sent to the people of Lot.' 70 And Abraham's wife was standing by and on hearing this she laughed. And We gave her the good news of (the birth of) Isaac, and after Isaac, of Jacob. 71 She said: O wonder! shall I bear a son when I am an extremely old woman and this my husband an extremely old man? Most surely this is a wonderful thing. 72 They said marvellest thou at the decree of Allah? Mercy of Allah and His blessings be upon you, people of the house, verily He is Praiseworthy, Glorious. 73 And when the fright had left Abraham and the good tidings had reached him, he began to argue with Us concerning the people of Lot. 74 Abraham was certainly a forbearing, compassionate, and tender-hearted person. 75 O Ibrahim! leave off this, surely the decree of your Lord has come to pass, and surely there must come to them a chastisement that cannot be averted. 76 So when Our angels came to Lot, he grieved for them, and felt powerless to help them, and said: "This is a day of sorrow. 77 His people came excited to him. They were addicted to sin already. Said (Lot): "O my people, these daughters of mine are cleaner (and lawful) for you. Have fear of God, and do not shame me before my guests. Is there no man of discernment among you?" 78 They said: "You know we have no need for your daughters, and know well 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 [Whereupon the angels] said: "O Lot! Behold, we are messengers from thy Sustainer! Never shall [thy enemies] attain to thee! Depart, then, with thy household while it is yet night, and let none of you look back; [and take with thee all thy family] with the exception of thy wife: for, behold, that which is to befall these [people of Sodom] shall befall her [as well]. Verily, their appointed time is the morning [and] is not the morning nigh?" 81 And when Our command came to pass, We turned the town upside down, and rained on it stones of baked clay, one on another, 82 marked from your Lord. Nor is the punishment far off from the wrong-doers. 83