Our messengers came to Abraham with the good tidings; they said, 'Peace!' 'Peace,' he said; and presently he brought 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 His wife who stood near, laughed as 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: "Do you wonder at the Decree of Allah? The Mercy of Allah and His Blessings be on you, O the family [of Ibrahim (Abraham)]. Surely, He (Allah) is All-Praiseworthy, All-Glorious." 73 And when the wonderment departed from Abraham and the glad tidings reached him, he pleaded with Us for the nation of Lot; 74 Abraham was clement, compassionate, penitent. 75 Thereupon (Our angels) said to him: 'O Abraham! Desist from this, for indeed your Lord's command has come; and a chastisement which cannot be averted is about to befall them.' words literally suggest; the purpose is merely to express a sense of wonder. 76 When Our messengers came to Lot, he was uneasy on this account and felt powerless to protect them. He said, "This is a dreadful day." 77 His people, who had constantly indulged in evil deeds, came running to him. He said, "My people, here are my pure daughters. Have fear of God and do not humiliate me before my guests. Is there no person of understanding among you?" 78 They answered: "Thou hast always known that we have no use whatever for thy daughters; and verily, well dost thou know what we want!" 79 He said, "If only I had against you some power or could take refuge in a strong 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 So when Our command came, We turned that township upside down and showered it continuously with stones of fired clay. 82 marked out in thy Sustainer's sight [for the punishment of such as are lost in sin]. And these [blows of God-willed doom] are never far from evildoers 83