AND [likewise,] indeed, We sent unto [the tribe of] Thamud their brother Salih [with this message]: "Worship God alone!" and behold, they were [split into] two factions contending with one another. 45 Said [Salih to the erring ones]: Why do you seek to hasten the coming upon you of evil instead of hoping for the good?" Why do you not, rather, ask God to forgive you your sins, so that you might be graced with His 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 nine persons in the city who used to cause turmoil in the land and did not wish 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 And they devised a scheme and, without their knowledge, We devised a scheme. 50 Behold, then, what all their scheming came to in the end: We utterly destroyed them and their people, all of them; 51 So yonder are their houses overturned, for they did wrong. Verily, herein is a sign unto a people who know. 52 We saved the faithful God-fearing believers. 53 And (remember) Lut when he said to his people, “What! You stoop to the shameful whereas you can see?” 54 Would ye really approach men in your lusts rather than women? Nay, ye are a people (grossly) ignorant! 55 ۞ Then there was no answer of his people save that they said: drive forth the family of Lut from your City, verily they are a people who would be pure! 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 rained on them a rain, and evil was the rain of those who had been warned. 58