And assuredly We sent unto the Thamud their brother Saleh saying: worship Allah. Then lo! they became two parties contending. 45 He urged them, "O my people, why do you wish to hasten on the evil rather than the good? Why do you not ask forgiveness of God, so that you may be shown mercy?" 46 They said: "We augur ill of you and those who are with you." Salih replied: "Your augury is with Allah. The truth is that you are a people who are being tried." 47 And there were in the city nine persons who made mischief in the land and reformed not. 48 They said: swear by God one to another that we shall surely fall upon him and his household by night and thereafter we shall surely say unto his heir; we witnessed not the destruction of his household, and verily we are truthtellers. 49 So they plotted a plot: and We plotted a plot, while they perceived not. 50 So see what was the outcome of the plan they made: We utterly destroyed them and their people, all of them. 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 And We saved those who believed and practised righteousness. 53 (We also sent) Lut (as a messenger): behold, He said to his people, "Do ye do what is shameful though ye see (its iniquity)? 54 You lust after men in place of women. You are indeed a stolid people." 55 ۞ But this had only one answer from his people. They said: "Expel Lot's folk from your city. They pretend to be absolutely 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 down upon them a rain. It was an evil rain for those who had already been warned. 58