The verse says...

The verse says: “When they entered upon him and said: ‘Peace’, he said: ‘Verily we are scared of you!’” ‘Ibrahim got ready to receive them, as is the case with a great and kind host, and prepared immediately a proper food for them. But when he spread the dinner table, the unknown guests did not stretch their hands to take food. Abraham terrified by this act and, without concealing his terror, he explicitly told them that he was afraid of them: “Verily we are scared of you.”.

This kind of fear was because of a tradition prevalent at that time and at later times, even at the present among some nations that whenever someone eats out of someone else’s bread and salt, he would feel safe from his side for he feels he owes him something. It was for this reason that when the angels did not eat the food, ‘Ibrahim reasoned it as the sign of having ill-intentions, rancour, and enmity with regard to him.

Of what do you give me good news?” One of the examples of the Divine blessings and Divine outrage is the story of prophet ‘Ibrahim (as) in which we have the angels, on one hand, giving good news of a son to him, while on the other hand, we have their news concerning the annihilation of the people of Lot as well, when by the latter Abraham was worried.

However, before long the angels stopped ‘Ibrahim from worrying, commending him not to be frightened, for they were giving him good news of fathering a wise son. The verse says: “They said: ‘Be not afraid! Verily we give you the good news of a son endowed with knowledge.” However, Abraham knew that, from the point of the natural laws, the birth of such a child by him was a remote matter. Yet, there is nothing impossible for the Power of Allah.

So, regarding the normal circumstances and natural laws, he said: “He said: ‘Do you give me such good news (of a son) while old age has touched me?…” Then Abraham continued his statement by saying: “…Of what do you give me good news?” Is this news from Allah’s side or is it you who are giving me the news by yourselves? State clearly so as I can be sure.