And We sent to Thamood their brother Salih: 'Serve you God!' And behold, they were two parties, that were disputing one with another. 45 He said: "O my people! Why do you seek to hasten the evil (torment) before the good (Allah's Mercy)? Why seek you not the Forgiveness of Allah, that you may receive 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 in the city nine persons who made mischief in the land and reformed not. 48 [and] after having bound one another by an oath in God's name, they said: "Indeed, we shall suddenly fall upon him and his household by night [and slay them all]; and then we shall boldly say to his next of kin, 'We did not witness the destruction of his household - and behold, we are indeed men of truth!'" 49 And they planned a plan, and We planned a plan, while they perceived not. 50 So see what was the outcome of the plan they made: 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 deliver those who believe and take heed for themselves. 53 And tell of Lot. He said to his people, "Will you commit evil knowingly? 54 Do you indeed approach men with desire instead of women? Rather, you are a people behaving ignorantly." 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 But We delivered him and his followers except his wife; We ordained her to be of those who remained behind. 57 And We rained on them a rain, and evil was the rain of those who had been warned. 58