To Thamood We sent their brother Salih saying: 'Worship Allah' But they were two parties in dispute 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 consider you a bad omen, you and those with you." He said, "Your omen is with Allah. Rather, you are a people being tested." 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: 'Let us swear by Allah to attack him and his family at night, then we will tell his guardian we were not witnesses of the destruction of his family; and surely we are truthful' 49 And they plotted a plot, and We plotted a plot, while they perceived it not. 50 So see what was the outcome of the plan they made: We utterly destroyed them and their people, all of them. 51 and [now] those dwellings of theirs are empty, [ruined] as an outcome of their evil deeds. In this, behold, there is a message indeed for people of [innate] knowledge 52 And We delivered those who believed and were wont to avoid disobeying (Allah). 53 We also sent Lot, and recall when he told his people: "Do you commit shameless acts with your eyes open? 54 You lust after men in place of women. You are indeed a stolid people." 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 We therefore rescued him and his family, except his wife; We had decreed that she is of those who will remain behind. 57 and We pelted them with torrential rain. How dreadful that rain was for those who had been warned! 58