وَلَمَّا جَاءَتْ رُسُلُنَا لُوطًا سِيءَ بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ بِهِمْ ذَرْعًا وَقَالَ هَٰذَا يَوْمٌ عَصِيبٌ (77)
(11:77) And when Our messengers came to Lot, *85 he was perturbed by their coming and felt troubled on their account, and said: 'This is a distressing day. *86
*85). For details see Towards Understanding the Qur'an, vol. Ill, al-A'raf, nn. 63-8, pp. 49-53 - Ed.
*86). What seems to be evident from the story as related in the Qur'an is that the angels had come to Lot (peace be on him) in the form of handsome young boys. It also seems that Lot (peace be on him) was unaware that they were angels. He also felt quite disturbed, therefore, at the sight of the visiting young boys. His reaction was natural in view of the known degeneration and unabashed perversity prevalent among his people.