Those who disbelieve in the signs of Allah and in their meeting with Him, they shall despair of My mercy, and they! theirs shall be a torment afflictive. 23 Now [as for Abraham,] his people's only answer was, "Slay him, or burn him!" - but God saved him from the fire. Behold, in this [story] there are messages indeed for people who will believe! 24 He said: “You have taken up idols instead of Allah as a bond of love among yourselves in the present life, but on the Day of Resurrection you will disown and curse one another. Your refuge shall be the Fire, and none will come to your aid.” 25 ۞ And Lut believed in Him, and he said: I am fleeing to my Lord, surely He is the Mighty, the Wise. 26 We gave him Isaac and Jacob and granted prophethood and the Book to his descendants. We gave him his reward in this life and in the Hereafter he shall dwell among the righteous. 27 And We rescued Lut when he said to his people, “You indeed commit the shameful; such that no one in the creation has ever done before you.” 28 You approach men and waylay them on the road and commit depravities within your gatherings." But his people's only reply was, "Bring down God's punishment upon us, if what you say be true." 29 He said: My Lord! help me against the mischievous people. 30