We sent (aforetime), to the Thamud, their brother Salih, saying, "Serve Allah": But behold, they became two factions quarrelling with each other. 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 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 Now there were nine ring-leaders in the city who created corruption in the land and never worked to set things right. 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 scheme and, without their knowledge, We devised a scheme. 50 Then look how was the outcome of their plan - that We destroyed them and their people, all. 51 Those are their empty houses which We ruined because of their injustice. In this there is evidence (of the truth) for the people of knowledge. 52 and We saved those who believed in and feared God. 53 And (We sent) Lut, when he said to his people: What! do you commit indecency while you see? 54 Do you approach men lustfully instead of women! No, you are an ignorant nation' 55 ۞ Yet the only answer of his nation was that they said: 'Expel the family of Lot from your village, they are people who purified themselves' 56 Thereupon We saved him and his household - all but his wife, whom We willed to be among those that stayed behind 57 and We pelted them with torrential rain. How dreadful that rain was for those who had been warned! 58