And We verily sent unto Thamud their brother Salih, saying: Worship Allah. And lo! they (then became two parties quarrelling. 45 Salih said, "My people, why do you commit sins so quickly before doing good? Would that you ask forgiveness from God so that perhaps He will have mercy upon you." 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 reformed not. 48 [and] after having bound one another by an oath in God's name, they said: "Indeed, we shall suddenly fall upon him and his household by night [and slay them all]; and then we shall boldly say to his next of kin, 'We did not witness the destruction of his household - and behold, we are indeed men of truth!'" 49 And so they devised an evil scheme; but We devised a subtle scheme (of Our own), and they perceived it not. 50 Then see how was the end of their plot! Verily! We destroyed them and their nation, 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 We deliver those who believe and take heed for themselves. 53 And Lot! when he said unto his folk: Will ye commit abomination knowingly? 54 Do you indeed approach men with desire instead of women? Rather, you are a people behaving ignorantly." 55 ۞ But his people's only answer was this: "Expel [Lot and] Lot's followers from your township! Verily, they are folk who make themselves out to be pure!" 56 So We delivered him and his family, except his wife: We ordained her to be one of those who stayed behind, 57 We sent to them a terrible rainstorm. How horrible was the rain for the people who had already received warning. 58