Qatadah and al-Suddi said: The angels left Abraham, peace be upon him, heading for the town of Lot. They came to Lot at midday while he was working on a piece of land that belonged to him.

It was also said that he was gathering firewood. Allah the Exalted had told them, “Do not destroy them until Lot has testified against them four times.” So they asked him for hospitality, and he set off with them. After they had walked for a while, he said to them, “Have you heard anything about the people of this town?” They said, “What is their matter?” He said, “I bear witness by Allah that it is the most wicked town on earth in its conduct.” He said this four times, and they entered his house with him.

It is also related that he carried the firewood while the angels followed him. He passed by a group from his people, who exchanged meaningful glances among themselves, and Lot said, “My people are the worst of Allah’s creation.” Then he passed by another group, who did the same, and he said the same thing. Then he passed by yet another group and said the same. Whenever Lot made this statement, Gabriel said to the angels, “Bear witness,” until he reached his house.

It is also related that the angels came to Lot’s house and found him at home. No one knew of this except Lot’s household. His wife then went out and informed her people, saying, “There are men in Lot’s house whose faces I have never seen the like of.” (1)

“And his people came rushing toward him, and they had long been doing evil deeds. He said, ‘O my people! These are my daughters; they are purer for you. So fear Allah and do not disgrace me concerning my guests. Is there not among you a man of sound judgment?’” (78)

“And his people came rushing toward him.” Ibn Abbas [and Qatadah] (2) said: “They were hastening toward him.” Mujahid said: “They were running.” Al-Hasan said: “It was a gait between two gaits.” Shimr ibn Atiyyah said: “Between a trot [and a leap].” (3)

“And before this”—that is, before they came to Lot—“they had been doing evil deeds”: they used to engage in anal intercourse with men. Lot said to them, when they set out for his guests, thinking that they were young men, “O my people! These are my daughters; they are purer for you.” That is, through marriage; and he ransomed his guests with his daughters. (4) At that time, it was permissible for a Muslim woman to marry a disbelieving man, just as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, married his daughter to Utbah ibn Abi Lahab and Abu al-As ibn al-Rabi before the Revelation, while both were disbelievers. (5)

Al-Husayn ibn al-Fadl said: He offered them his daughters on the condition that they accept Islam.

Mujahid and سعيد ibn Jubayr said: By His saying, “These are my daughters,” he meant their women, and he attributed them to himself because every