And assuredly Our messengers came unto Ibrahim with the glad tidings. They said: peace! He said: peace! And he tarried not till he brought a calf roasted. 69 but when he saw that their hands did not reach out for it, he could not know who they were and became afraid of them. They said, "Do not be afraid; we are God's angelic Messengers sent to the people of Lot." 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: 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 replied, "Would you be surprised at God's decree? People of the house, may God's mercy and blessings be with you. God is Appreciative and 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 for Abraham was forbearing, tender-hearted and oft-returning to God. 75 (It was said:) 'Abraham, turn away from this; your Lord's command has indeed come, and there is coming upon them a punishment that will not be turned back' 76 And when Our messengers came to Lot, he was troubled on their account and distressed for them, and he said, 'This is a fierce day.' 77 And his people came running to him, impelled towards his house [by their desire]: for they had ever been wont to commit [such,] abominations. Said [Lot]: "O my people! [Take instead] these daughters of mine: they are purer for you [than men]! Be, then, conscious of God, and disgrace me not by [assaulting] my guests. Is there not among you even one right-minded man?" 78 They replied, "You know we have no need of your daughters. You know very well what we are seeking." 79 He said: Ah! that I had power to suppress you, rather I shall have recourse to 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 made the highest part [of the city] its lowest and rained upon them stones of layered hard clay, [which were] 82 marked from your Lord. Nor is the punishment far off from the wrong-doers. 83