Overall meaning : Allah, Exalted be He, says: And tell my servants, Muhammad, the story of Abraham’s angelic guests: They entered upon him and greeted him, saying, ‘Peace be upon you.’ He replied to their greeting and said, after serving them food, ‘Truly we are afraid of you.’ ‘Do not be afraid,’ they reassured him ‘We bring you the good news of the birth of a son who will be endowed with deep religious knowledge.’


Abraham said, rather amazed, ‘Do you bring me such good news despite my old age? What amazing news do you have for me?’ They replied, ‘We give you the good news about which Allah has informed us—the birth of a son to you; do not be, therefore, of those who despair.’ He said, ‘None would despair of the mercy of their Lord except the misguided, who are ignorant of Allah’s absolute power and mercy.’ ‘Messengers,’ he added, ‘what is the serious mission for which you have come other than giving me such news?’ They replied, ‘Allah has sent us to destroy an unbelieving and sinful people, except for Lot and his believing family members. We will certainly save them all, except for his unbelieving wife. We have decreed that she will be among those who will stay behind and be destroyed.’