Al-Hijr: 51

And when the Almighty mentioned the promise and the threat, He mentioned that which verifies it, due to what it contains of glad tidings and destruction, in His saying, Exalted is He: "And inform them about the guests of Abraham."

It has been said: It is a detailed explanation of what the previous verse contained of both [glad tidings and threat], not of the threat alone as has been said. The intended meaning of the "guests of Abraham" is the angels—upon them be peace—who gave him glad tidings of a son and of the destruction of the people of Lot—upon him be peace. They were only named "guests" (dayf) because they were in the form of those guests who used to descend upon him. No one would pass by him without him hosting them; he even had four doors to his palace, one on every side, so that no one would miss him. For this reason, he was nicknamed "The Father of Guests."

There is a difference of opinion regarding their number, as has preceded. The word dayf is originally an infinitive (masdar). The most eloquent usage is that it is neither dualized, nor pluralized, nor feminized for the dual, the plural, or the feminine. Therefore, there is no need for the forced interpretation of implying a word such as "companions of the guests" (ashab dayf), as was stated by al-Nahhas and others.

The Almighty did not address their title as "messengers" because they were not sent to him—upon him be peace—but rather to the people of Lot—upon him be peace—as will come, if the Almighty wills.

Abu Haywah read it as "Wa-nabbi-hum" (substituting the hamza with a ya).