AND WHEN the messengers [of God] came to the house of Lot, 61 He said: "Verily! You are people unknown to me." 62 "We have come to you with news," they said, "of what your people doubt; 63 And we have brought unto thee the truth, and verily we say sooth. 64 Depart with your family in a part of the night and walk behind them and let none of you turn round. Go to a place where you are commanded' 65 And We revealed to him this decree, that the roots of these shall be cut off in the morning. 66 The people of the town came along, revelling, 67 and he told them, "These are my guests, so do not disgrace me. 68 And guard against (the punishment of) Allah and do not put me to shame. 69 They answered: "Have we not forbidden thee [to offer protection] to any kind of people?" 70 "Here are my daughters," said Lot, "if you are so active." 71 [But the angels spoke thus:] "As thou livest, [O Lot, they will not listen to thee:] behold, in their delirium [of lust] they are but blindly stumbling to and fro!" 72 But the (mighty) Blast overtook them before morning, 73 and We turned those [sinful towns] upside down, and rained down upon them stone-hard blows of chastisement pre-ordained. 74 Surely in that are signs for such as mark; 75 And surely it is on a road that still abides. 76 Verily in that is a sign for the believers. 77 The dwellers of the Thicket were harmdoers. 78 So We inflicted retribution on them, and they are both, indeed, on an open road (still) pursued. 79