And We sent to Thamud their brother Salih (with the Message): "Serve Allah," but all of a sudden they became split into two quarrelling factions. 45 He urged them, "O my people, why do you wish to hasten on the evil rather than the good? Why do you not ask forgiveness of God, so that you may be shown 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 Now in the city there were nine persons who did corruption in the land, and put not things right; 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 Thus they planned and We too planned, the while they did not know. 50 So see what was the outcome of the plan they made: We utterly destroyed them and their people, all of them. 51 Because of their wrongdoing, their houses are in ruins, in that surely there is a sign for people who have knowledge, 52 We saved the faithful God-fearing believers. 53 And Lot, when he said to his people, 'What, do you commit indecency with your eyes open? 54 Do you indeed approach men with desire instead of women? Rather, you are a people behaving ignorantly." 55 ۞ Yet the only answer of his nation was that they said: 'Expel the family of Lot from your village, they are people who purified themselves' 56 So We saved him and his family, except his wife, whom We decreed should stay behind. 57 the while We rained a rain [of destruction] upon the others: and dire is such rain upon all who let themselves be warned [to no avail] 58