To Thamood We sent their brother Salih saying: 'Worship Allah' But they were two parties in dispute with one another. 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 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 Now in the city there were nine persons who did corruption in the land, and put not things right; 48 Swearing by Allah they said to one another, “We will indeed attack him and his family at night, and then say to his heir, ‘We were not present at the time of slaying of this household, and indeed we are truthful.’” 49 They hatched up the plot; We also planned without their knowledge. 50 Then look how was the outcome of their plan - that We destroyed them and their people, all. 51 Those are their houses, all fallen down because of the evil they committed; surely in that is a sign for a people who have knowledge. 52 And We delivered those who believed and who guarded (against evil). 53 We also sent Lot, and recall when he told his people: "Do you commit shameless acts with your eyes open? 54 Do you indeed approach men with desire instead of women? Rather, you are a people behaving ignorantly." 55 ۞ And the only answer of his people was that they said, 'Expel the folk of Lot from your city; they are men that keep themselves clean!' 56 So We delivered him and his family, except his wife: We ordained her to be one of those who stayed behind, 57 And We rained upon them a rain; ill was the rain upon the warned. 58