His saying, exalted and majestic is He: "Are you really coming to men and cutting off the way and coming in your gatherings with evil? So the response of his people was only to say, 'Bring us the punishment of Allah if you are among the truthful.'" "He said, 'My Lord, help me against the corrupt people.'" "And when Our messengers came to Abraham with the good news, they said, 'Indeed, we are destroying the people of this city. Indeed, its people have been wrongdoers.'" The readings regarding "Are you really..." have been mentioned earlier. People have differed regarding "cutting off the way" referred to here. One group said: Cutting off the road by robbery was widespread among them. Ibn Zayd said: They would cut off the roads to people in pursuit of immorality, so they would oppress. Another group said: Rather, it meant cutting off the way of offspring by leaving women and coming to men. Another group said: It meant that by opening the conversation about them, they cut off the way of people from their intended purposes in trade and otherwise. And "the gathering" is the assembly where people gather, and it is a generic name; for the gatherings in cities are many, as if he said: And you come in your assembly where you gathered. People have differed regarding "evil." One group said: They would throw stones at people and belittle the stranger and the one who was a guest among them. This was narrated by Umm Hani from the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him. They had no religion or honor binding them. Mujahid and Mansur said: They would come to men in their gatherings, and some of them would see each other. Qasim ibn Muhammad said: Their evil was that they would engage in lewd acts in their gatherings. Al-Zahrawi mentioned this. Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: They would engage in sodomy in their gatherings. Mujahid also said: Their matter was the game of pigeons, and the flicking of fingers with henna, and whistling, and throwing stones, and casting off modesty in all their affairs. Qadi Abu Muhammad, may Allah have mercy on him, said: These things may exist among some of the sinners of the Ummah of Muhammad, blessings and peace be upon him, so refraining is obligatory. When Lot, peace be upon him, confronted them about these abominations, they returned to denial and obstinacy, saying: 'Bring us the punishment, for that will not happen, and you cannot do it.' They said this only while being resolute in their belief in his falsehood. It is not correct in nature for a denier to say this. [Then Lot, peace be upon him, sought help from his Lord, and He sent upon them angels for their punishment.] They came to Abraham, peace be upon him, first, bringing the good news of Isaac and the good news of the support of Lot against his people. Their meeting with Abraham was in the form that has been clarified in another place. The word "good news" in this context includes the matter of Isaac and the support of Lot, peace be upon them. When they informed him of the destruction of the city due to their wrongdoing, Abraham, peace be upon him, felt compassion for Lot, peace be upon him, and opposed them according to what will come.