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 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 And his wife was standing by; she laughed, therefore We gave her the glad tidings of Isaac, and, after Isaac, of Jacob. 71 She said: Oh for me shall bring forth when I am old, and this my husband is advanced in years! Verily a marvellous thing is this! 72 They said: Do you wonder at Allah's bidding? The mercy of Allah and His blessings are on you, O people of the house, surely He is Praised, Glorious. 73 When Abraham had controlled his fear and received the glad news, he started to plead with Us for the people of Lot; 74 Verily Ibrahim was forbearing, long-suffering, penitent. 75 O Abraham! Seek not this. The decree of thy Lord hath gone forth: for them there cometh a penalty that cannot 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 towards him; and they were in the habit of committing evil deeds; he said, “O my people! These women of the tribe are my daughters* – they are purer for you – therefore fear Allah and do not disgrace me in the midst of my guests; is there not even a single righteous man among you?” (* The wives of those people.) 78 They said, "You have already known that we have not concerning your daughters any claim, and indeed, you know what we want." 79 He said: Would that I had strength against you or could betake me to a powerful 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 When Our command came, We turned that town upside down and We rained upon it stones of clay, layer upon layer, 82 Impressed with (the signs) of your Lord. And such (punishment) is not far for the (other) transgressers. 83