رکوع 189 ركوع ١٨٩

To Abraham Our messengers brought good news. They said, ‘Peace.’ He answered, ‘Peace,’ and without delay he brought in a roasted calf.

When he saw that their hands did not reach towards the meal, he found this strange and became afraid of them. But they said, ‘Do not be afraid. We have been sent against the people of Lot.’

His wife was standing [nearby] and laughed. We gave her good news of Isaac and, after him, of Jacob.

She said, ‘Alas for me! How am I to bear a child when I am an old woman, and my husband here is an old man? That would be a strange thing!’

They said, ‘Are you astonished at what God ordains? The grace of God and His blessings be upon you, people of this house! For He is worthy of all praise and glory.’

Then, when the fear left Abraham and the good news came to him, he pleaded with Us for Lot’s people,

for Abraham was forbearing, tender-hearted, and devout.

‘Abraham, cease your pleading: what your Lord has ordained has come about; punishment is coming to them, which cannot be turned back.’

And when Our messengers came to Lot, he was anxious for them, feeling powerless to protect them, and said, ‘This is a truly terrible day!’

His people came rushing towards him; they used to commit foul deeds. He said, ‘My people, here are my daughters.They are more wholesome for you, so have some fear of God and do not disgrace me with my guests. Is there not a single right-minded man among you?’

They said, ‘You know very well that we have no right to your daughters. You know very well what we want.’

He said, ‘If only I had the strength to stop you or could rely on strong support!’

They [the messengers] said, ‘Lot, we are your Lord’s messengers. They will not reach you. Leave with your household in the dead of night, and let none of you turn back. Only your wife will suffer the fate that befalls the others. Their appointed time is the morning: is the morning not near?’

And so when what We had ordained came about, We turned their town upside down and rained down stones of baked clay on it, layer upon layer,

marked from your Lord. It is not far from the evildoers.