And We sent to Thamood their brother Salih: 'Serve you God!' And behold, they were two parties, that were disputing one with another. 45 Said [Salih to the erring ones]: Why do you seek to hasten the coming upon you of evil instead of hoping for the good?" Why do you not, rather, ask God to forgive you your sins, so that you might be graced with His mercy?" 46 They said: "We augur ill omen from you and those with you." He said: "Your ill omen is with Allah; nay, but you are a people that are being tested." 47 And there were in the city nine men (from the sons of their chiefs), who made mischief in the land, and would not reform. 48 They said: "Swear to one another in the name of Allah that we shall make a sudden night swoop on Salih and his family and will then tell their heirs that we did not witness the destruction of his family. We are indeed truthful." 49 Thus they devised a plan, and We also devised a plan, but they were not aware of it. 50 See, then, how was the end of their plan that We destroyed them and their people, all (of them). 51 So those are their houses, desolate because of the wrong they had done. Indeed in that is a sign for people who know. 52 And We delivered those who believed and were wont to fear. 53 AND [thus, too, did We save] Lot, when he said unto his people: "Would you commit this abomination with your eyes open (to its being against all nature)? 54 Do you approach men lustfully instead of women! No, you are an ignorant nation' 55 ۞ But his people gave no other answer but this: they said, "Drive out the followers of Lut from your city: these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!" 56 But We delivered him and his followers except his wife; We ordained her to be of those who remained behind. 57 And We rained on them a rain, and evil was the rain of those who had been warned. 58