And We verily sent unto Thamud their brother Salih, saying: Worship Allah. And lo! they (then became two parties quarrelling. 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 evil of thee and those with thee. He said: Your evil augury is with Allah. Nay, but ye are folk that are being tested. 47 Now in the city there were nine persons who did corruption in the land, and put not things right; 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 So they plotted a plot: and We plotted a plot, while they perceived not. 50 Then see the nature of the consequence of their plotting, for lo! We destroyed them and their people, every one. 51 See, yonder are their dwellings empty and in ruins because they did wrong. Lo! herein is indeed a portent for a people who have knowledge. 52 And We delivered those who believed and were wont to avoid disobeying (Allah). 53 And Lot, when he said to his people, 'What, do you commit indecency with your eyes open? 54 What, do you approach men lustfully instead of women? No, you are a people that are ignorant.' 55 ۞ But the answer of his people was not except that they said, "Expel the family of Lot from your city. Indeed, they are people who keep themselves pure." 56 So We delivered him and his family, except his wife; We decreed she should be of those that tarried. 57 and We pelted them with torrential rain. How dreadful that rain was for those who had been warned! 58