To Thamud We sent their brother Salih. He said, "Serve none but God." But they divided themselves into two factions contending with one another. 45 He said: "O my people! why ask ye to hasten on the evil in preference to the good? If only ye ask Allah for forgiveness, ye may hope to 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 And there were nine of a group in the city, who spread corruption in the land and rectified not. 48 They said: Swear one to another by Allah that we verily will attack him and his household by night, and afterward we will surely say unto his friend: We witnessed not the destruction of his household. And lo! we are truthtellers. 49 They hatched up the plot; We also planned without their knowledge. 50 Then look how was the outcome of their plan - that We destroyed them and their people, all. 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 seeing that We saved those who had attained to faith and were conscious of Us, 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 ۞ And the only answer of his people was that they said, 'Expel the folk of Lot from your city; they are men that keep themselves clean!' 56 But We saved him and his family, except his wife; her We destined to be of those who lagged behind. 57 And We rained on them a rain, and evil was the rain of those who had been warned. 58