They said, “Fear not, for of a sage son we bring thee tidings.”

He said, “Bring ye me such tidings now that old age hath come upon me? What, therefore, are your tidings really?”

They said, “We announce them to thee in very truth. Be not then one of the despairing.”

“And who,” said he, “despaireth of the mercy of his Lord, but they who err?”

He said, “What is your business then, O ye Sent Ones?”

They said, “We are sent unto a people who are sinners,

Except the family of Lot, whom verily we will rescue all,

Except his wife. We have decreed that she shall be of those who linger.”

And when the Sent Ones came to the family of Lot

He said, “Yes; are persons unknown to me.”

They said, “Yes; but we have come to thee for a purpose about which thy people doubt:

We have come to thee with very truth, and we are truthful envoys.

Lead forth therefore thy family in the dead of the night; follow thou on their rear: and let no one of you turn round, but pass ye on whither ye are bidden.”

And this command we gave him because to the last man should these people be cut off at morning.

Then came the people of the city rejoicing at the news¹³—

He said, “These are my guests: therefore disgrace me not.

And fear God and put me not to shame.”

They said, “Have we not forbidden thee to entertain any one whatever?”¹⁴

He said, “Here are my daughters, if ye will thus act.”

As thou livest, O Muhammad, they were bewildered in the drunkenness of their lust.

So a tempest overtook them at their sunrise,

And we turned the city upside down, and we rained stones of baked clay upon them.

Verily, in this are signs for those who scan heedfully;

And these cities lay on the high road.¹⁵

Verily, in this are signs for the faithful.

The inhabitants also of El Aika¹⁶ were sinners:

So we took vengeance on them, and they both became a plain example.

And the people of HEDJR treated God’s messengers as liars.