6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ibn Faddal from Dawud ibn Farqad from Abu Yazid al- Hammar who has said the following:

“Abu ‘Abd Allah , has said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, sent four angels for the destruction of the people of Lot: Jibril, Michael, Israfil and Karubil. They visited Ibrahim ‘Alayhi al-Salam wearing turbans on them. They offered him Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) but he could not recognize them, and he found them in a very good appearance and said, ‘No one will serve them other than myself.’ Ibrahim liked serving guests very much; so he prepared for them and roasted a very meaty calf. When it was ready, he served them and brought it for them, ‘He saw that their hands do not reach the food: he could not recognize them and he began to feel afraid of them’ but when Jibril noticed he removed the turban from his face and he (Ibrahim) recognized him and asked, ‘Are you he (jibril)?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I am he.’ His wife Sarah, passed by and he gave her the good news of the birth of Ishaq (Isaac) who will be succeeded by Ya’qub. She asked, ‘What has Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, said?’ They answered her by what the Quran has said. Ibrahim then asked, ‘What for have you come?’ They replied, ‘We have come for the destruction of the people of Lot.’ Ibrahim then asked, ‘Will you destroy them even if there are one hundred believing people among them?’ Jibril replied, ‘No, we will not do so.’ Ibrahim asked, ‘Will you destroy them if there are fifty believing people among them?’ Jibril replied, ‘No, we will not do so.’ He then asked, ‘Will you destroy them if there are thirty believing people among them?’ Jibril replied, ‘No, we will not do so.’ Ibrahim then asked, ‘Will you destroy them if there are twenty believing people among them?’ He replied, ‘No, we will not do so.’ He then asked, ‘Will you destroy them if there are ten believing people among them?’ He replied, ‘No, we will not do so.’ He then asked, ‘Will you destroy them if there are five people among them?’ He replied, ‘No, we will not do so.’ He then asked, ‘Will you destroy if there is one believing person among them?’ he replied, ‘No, we will not do so.’ Ibrahim then said, ‘But Lot is there among them.’ They replied, ‘We know more about who is there. We will save him and his family, except his wife, who will be of those who remain behind.’ “Al-Hassan ibn Ali has said, ‘What I know of the story is that Ibrahim tried to save them as it is mentioned in the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘He argued with us about the people of Lot.’ They (angels) came to Lot when he was in a farm near the town. They offered him Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) and they were wearing turbans. When he saw their good appearance in white dresses and white turbans he asked, ‘Do you want the house?’ They replied, ‘Yes, we want the house.’ He led them and they walked behind him. He then regretted to offer them the house and said, ‘What is it that I have done? I am bringing them to a people whom I know how they are.’ He turned back to them and said, ‘You are coming to the wicked creatures of Allah.’ Jibril said, ‘We are not in a hurry about them until he testifies against them three times’ and he said, ‘This is one.’ He then walked for an hour then turned back to them and said, ‘You are coming to the wicked creatures of Allah.’ Jibril said, ‘These are two testimonies.’ He then walked and when he arrived in the city he turned to them and said, ‘You are coming to the wicked creatures of Allah.’ Jibril said, ‘This is the third testimony.’ He entered and they entered with him until they entered his house. When his wife saw them in good appearance she climbed on the roof and clapped which they did not hear. She then started a fire and when they saw the smoke they came to the door running until they reached at the door and she came down to them and said, ‘There are people with him the like of whom I have never seen in beauty and good appearance.’ They came to the door to enter. When Lot saw them he stood up in front of them and said to them, ‘O my people, have fear of Allah and do not humiliate me before my guests. Is there no man of reason among you?’ He then said, ’These are my daughters and they are more clean for you’; he called them to the lawful matter.’ They said, ‘We have no right on your daughters and you know what we want.’ He said to them, ‘I wish I had enough power against you or a strong support’. Jibril then said, ‘I wish he knew what kind of power he had with him?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘They overwhelmed him and entered the house. Jibril called them aloud to halt and he said, ‘O Lot, allow them to come in. When they came in Jibril pointed his finger to them and they all turned blind as it is mentioned in the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘We turned their eyes blind.’ Jibril called him and told him, ‘I am the messenger of your Lord. Their hands will not reach you. Move with your family during a part of the night.’ Jibril then said, ‘We are sent to destroy them.’ He said, ‘O Jibril, do it quickly.’ Jibril said, ‘Their appointed time is in the morning, is the morning not near enough?’ He commanded him and those with him to move away except his wife. He then picked it-the city- with his wing with ten layers of the land, then raised it until those in the heaven above the earth could hear the barking of their dogs, and crowing of their rosters. He then turned it upside down and made it to rain down on it (city) and those around the city with stones of sijjil (baked clay).”’