And assuredly We sent unto the Thamud their brother Saleh saying: worship Allah. Then lo! they became two parties contending. 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: "You betoken evil, and those with you." (Saleh) replied: "The evil you presage can only come from God. In reality you are a people under trial (for your own inauspiciousness)." 47 There were in the city nine men of a family, who made mischief in the land, and would not reform. 48 They said: "Swear one to another by Allah that we shall make a secret night attack on him and his household, and afterwards we will surely say to his near relatives: 'We witnessed not the destruction of his household, and verily! We are telling the truth.'" 49 So they devised a scheme, and We made our secret plan, and they remained neglectful. 50 Behold, then, what all their scheming came to in the end: We utterly destroyed them and their people, all of them; 51 and [now] those dwellings of theirs are empty, [ruined] as an outcome of their evil deeds. In this, behold, there is a message indeed for people of [innate] knowledge 52 And We delivered those who believed and were wont to fear. 53 And Lot! when he said unto his folk: Will ye commit abomination knowingly? 54 Would ye really approach men in your lusts rather than women? Nay, ye are a people (grossly) ignorant! 55 ۞ The only answer of his people was, "Drive out Lot and his family from the city. They are a people who make themselves out to be pure." 56 So We saved him and his family, except his wife. We destined her to be of those who remained behind. 57 And We rained down on them a shower (of stones). How ruinous was the rain that fell on those who had been warned (but warned in vain)! 58