And We sent to Thamood their brother Salih: 'Serve you God!' And behold, they were two parties, that were disputing one with 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 omen from you and those with you." He said: "Your ill omen is with Allah; nay, but you are a people that are being tested." 47 There were nine tribes in the city spreading evil without any reform in the land. 48 They said: "Swear one to another by Allah that we shall make a secret night attack on him and his household, and afterwards we will surely say to his near relatives: 'We witnessed not the destruction of his household, and verily! We are telling the truth.'" 49 And so they devised an evil scheme; but We devised a subtle scheme (of Our own), and they perceived it not. 50 So behold thou how was the end of their plotting: verily We annihilated them and their nation all together. 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 and used to ward off (evil). 53 (Remember) Lot, when he said to his people: "Why do you indulge in obscenities when you know (it is evil)? 54 What, do you approach men lustfully instead of women? No, you are a people that are ignorant.' 55 ۞ But the answer of his folk was naught save that they said: Expel the household of Lot from your township, for they (forsooth) are folk who would keep clean! 56 Then We saved him and his household save his wife; We destined her to be of those who stayed behind. 57 And We rained down on them a rain (of stones). So evil was the rain of those who were warned. 58