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 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 evil of thee and those with thee. He said: Your evil augury is with Allah. Nay, but ye are folk that are being tested. 47 There were in the city nine men of a family, who made mischief in the land, and would not reform. 48 They said: "Swear a mutual oath by Allah that we shall make a secret night attack on him and his people, and that we shall then say to his heir (when he seeks vengeance): 'We were not present at the slaughter of his people, and we are positively telling the truth.'" 49 So they plotted a plot, and We planned a plan, while they perceived not. 50 Behold, then, what all their scheming came to in the end: We utterly destroyed them and their people, all of them; 51 So these their habitations lie deserted now because of their iniquities. Verily there is a sign in this for those who understand. 52 And We saved those who believed and used to fear Allah. 53 AND [thus, too, did We save] Lot, when he said unto his people: "Would you commit this abomination with your eyes open (to its being against all nature)? 54 Do you indeed approach men with desire instead of women? Rather, you are a people behaving ignorantly." 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 So We saved him and his family except his wife who was destined to stay behind. 57 and We pelted them with torrential rain. How dreadful that rain was for those who had been warned! 58