To Thamood We sent their brother Salih saying: 'Worship Allah' But they were two parties in dispute with one another. 45 Salih said: "My people, why do you wish to hasten that evil rather than good should come upon you? Why should you not seek pardon from Allah so that mercy be shown to you?" 46 They said, "We consider you a bad omen, you and those with you." He said, "Your omen is with Allah. Rather, you are a people being tested." 47 And there were nine persons in the city who used to cause turmoil in the land and did not wish reform. 48 They said, "Let us bind ourselves by an oath sworn in the name of God that we shall attack Salih and his family by night, and to his protector [who demands retribution], we shall say, "We were not present when they were slain. We are telling the truth." 49 They hatched up the plot; We also planned without their knowledge. 50 See, then, what the consequences of their plan were. We destroyed them and their people utterly, all together. 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 seeing that We saved those who had attained to faith and were conscious of Us, 53 (We also sent) Lut (as a messenger): behold, He said to his people, "Do ye do what is shameful though ye see (its iniquity)? 54 Must ye needs lust after men instead of women? Nay, but ye are folk who act senselessly. 55 ۞ His people had no answer except saying: "Expel the family of Lot from your city. They are a people who would (rather) be pure!" 56 Then We delivered him and his household save his wife: We destined her to be of the lingerers. 57 And We rained down upon them a rain. It was an evil rain for those who had already been warned. 58