Quran — Page 265

[how,] when they presented themselves before him and bade him peace, he answered: "Behold, we are afraid of you!"

Said they: "Fear not! Behold, we bring thee the glad tiding of [the birth of] a son who will be endowed with deep knowledge."

Said he: "Do you give me this glad tiding despite the fact that old age has overtaken me? Of what [strange thing], then, are you giving me a tiding!"

They answered: "We have given thee the glad tiding of something that is bound to come true. - so be not of those who abandon hope!"

[Abraham] exclaimed: "And who-other than those who have utterly lost their way-could ever abandon the hope of his Sustainer's grace?"

He added: "And what [else] may you have in view, O you [heavenly] messengers?"

They answered: "We are sent to people lost in sin [who are to be destroyed],

barring Lot's household, all of whom, behold, we shall save -

excepting only his wife, [of whom God says,] `We have ordained [that], behold, she should be among those who stay behind!'

AND WHEN the messengers [of God] came to the house of Lot,

he said: "Behold, you are people unknown [here]!"

They answered: "Nay, but we have come unto thee with [the announcement of] something that they [who are given to evil] have always been wont to call in question,

and we are bringing thee the certainty [of its fulfilment]: for, behold, we are speaking the truth indeed.

Go, then., with thy household while it is yet night, with thyself following them in the rear; and let none of you look back, but proceed whither you are bidden."

And [through Our messengers] We revealed unto him this decree: "The last remnant of those [sinners] shall be wiped out" in the morn."

And the people of the city came [unto Lot], rejoicing at the glad tiding.

Exclaimed [Lot]: "Behold, these are my guests: so put me not to shame,

but be conscious of God and disgrace me not!"

They answered: "Have we not forbidden thee [to offer protection] to any kind of people?"