The word “blessings” is the plural of “blessing,” meaning the abiding of goodness. This is evidence that wives are included among the members of the household.

“Indeed, He is Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.” The Praiseworthy is He who is praised for His actions, while the Most Glorious is the Generous; the root meaning of glory is loftiness.

“Then, when the fear had left Abraham and the glad tidings had come to him, he pleaded with Us concerning the people of Lot (74). Indeed, Abraham was forbearing, tender-hearted, and ever turning to Allah (75). ‘O Abraham, turn away from this. The command of your Lord has certainly come, and an irrevocable punishment will surely befall them’ (76). And when Our messengers came to Lot, he was distressed by their arrival and felt constrained on their account. He said, ‘This is a day of severe hardship’ (77).”

“Then, when the fear had left Abraham”—that is, the fear—“and the glad tidings had come to him”—of Isaac and Jacob—“he pleaded with Us concerning the people of Lot.” There is an ellipsis here; that is, he began and continued to plead with Us.

It was said that it means: he spoke to Us, for Abraham, peace be upon him, does not dispute with his Lord, glorified and exalted is He; rather, he asks Him and petitions Him.

The majority of the exegetes said that it means: he pleaded with Our messengers. His pleading consisted of his saying to the angels: “Tell me, if there were fifty believers in the towns of Lot, would you destroy them?” They said, “No.” He said, “Or forty?” They said, “No.” He said, “Or thirty?” They said, “No,” until he reached five. [They said, “No”] (1). He said, “Tell me, if there were one Muslim man in it, would you destroy it?” They said, “No.” At that point Abraham, peace be upon him, said: “Indeed, Lot is in it.” They said, “We know best who is in it. We will surely save him and his family, except for his wife; she is among those who remain behind.”

“Indeed, Abraham was forbearing, tender-hearted, and ever turning to Allah.” Ibn Jurayj said: There were four million people in the towns of Lot’s people. At that point, the messengers said to Abraham:

“O Abraham, turn away from this”—that is, turn away from this statement and abandon the pleading—“for the command of your Lord has certainly come”—that is, the punishment of your Lord [and the judgment of your Lord] (2)—“and an irrevocable punishment will surely befall them”—that is, a punishment that will not be averted from them.

Allah the Exalted says: “And when Our messengers came to Lot”—meaning these angels—appearing as beardless young men with handsome faces, “he was distressed by them”—that is, Lot was grieved by their arrival. One says, “I grieved him, and he became grieved,” just as one says, “I pleased him, and he became pleased.” “And he felt constrained on their account”—that is, in his heart. It is said, “So-and-so felt constrained by such-and-such,” when he falls into a distressing situation from which he is unable to escape. This was because, when Lot, peace be upon him, saw the beauty of their faces and the pleasantness of their fragrance, he feared that his people would seek to commit indecency against them, and he knew that he would have to defend them.

“And he said, ‘This is a day of severe hardship’”—that is, a harsh day, as though evil and affliction had been bound tightly to it; that is, fastened to it.