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: "You betoken evil, and those with you." (Saleh) replied: "The evil you presage can only come from God. In reality you are a people under trial (for your own inauspiciousness)." 47 Now there were nine ring-leaders in the city who created corruption in the land and never worked to set things right. 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 So they devised a scheme, and We made our secret plan, and they remained neglectful. 50 See, then, what the consequences of their plan were. We destroyed them and their people utterly, 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 And Lut! what time he said unto his people: commit ye indecency while ye see? 54 "Do you approach men in your lusts rather than women? Nay, but you are a people who behave senselessly." 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 a rain upon them. Dreadful is the rain of those who have been warned. 58