And those who did not believe in My signs and in meeting Me, are those who have no hope of My mercy, and for them is a painful punishment. 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 And he said, 'You have only taken to yourselves idols, apart from God, as a mark of mutual love between you in the present life; then upon the Day of Resurrection you will deny one another, and you will curse one another, and your refuge will be the Fire, and you will have no helpers.' 25 ۞ Thereupon [his brother's son] Lot came to believe in him and said: "Verily, I [too] shall forsake the domain of evil [and turn] to my Sustainer: for, verily, He alone is almighty, truly wise!" 26 And We bestowed on him Isaac and Jacob, and We established the prophethood and the Scripture among his seed, and We gave him his reward in the world, and lo! in the Hereafter he verily is among the righteous. 27 And (remember) Lut: behold, he said to his people: "Ye do commit lewdness, such as no people in Creation (ever) committed before you. 28 Must you indeed approach men [with lust,] and thus cut across the way [of nature]? and must you commit these shameful deeds in your open] assemblies?" But his people's only answer was, "Bring down upon us God's chastisement, if thou art a man of truth!" 29 He said: "O my Lord! help Thou me against people who do mischief!" 30