We sent to Thamud their brother Saleh (who said): "Worship God." But they were divided into two groups disputing with one another. 45 He said: O my people! Why will ye hasten on the evil rather than the good? Why will ye not ask pardon of Allah, that ye may receive mercy. 46 They said, 'We augur ill of thee and of those that are with thee.' He said, 'Your augury is with God; nay, but you are a people being proved.' 47 There were in the city nine men who spread corruption in the land, and would not 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 Thus they planned and We too planned, the while they did not know. 50 Then see what was the end of their plot!- this, that We 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 [mention] Lot, when he said to his people, "Do you commit immorality while you are seeing? 54 Do you approach men lustfully instead of women! No, you are an ignorant nation' 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 upon them a rain [of stones], and evil was the rain of those who were warned. 58