And indeed We sent to the Thamud, their fellowman Saleh that, “Worship Allah”, thereupon they became two parties quarrelling. 45 He said, 'O my people, why do you seek to hasten evil before good? Why do you not ask forgiveness of God? Haply so you will find mercy.' 46 They said: We have met with ill luck on account of you and on account of those with you. He said: The cause of your evil fortune is with Allah; nay, you are a people who are tried. 47 And there were in the city nine persons who made mischief in the land and did not act aright. 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 And they devised a device, and We likewise devised a device, while they were not aware; 50 Behold, then, what all their scheming came to in the end: We utterly destroyed them and their people, all of them; 51 So these are their houses fallen flat, the recompense of their injustice; indeed in this is a sign for people who know. 52 And We delivered those who believed and were godfearing. 53 And Lot! when he said unto his folk: Will ye commit abomination knowingly? 54 Do you approach men lustfully instead of women! No, you are an ignorant nation' 55 ۞ But the answer of his folk was naught save that they said: Expel the household of Lot from your township, for they (forsooth) are folk who would keep clean! 56 So We delivered him and his family, except his wife; We decreed she should be of those that tarried. 57 We sent to them a terrible rainstorm. How horrible was the rain for the people who had already received warning. 58