And We verily sent unto Thamud their brother Salih, saying: Worship Allah. And lo! they (then became two parties quarrelling. 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 have met with ill luck on account of you and on account of those with you. He said: The cause of your evil fortune is with Allah; nay, you are a people who are tried. 47 And there were nine of a group in the city, who spread corruption in the land and rectified not. 48 They said, "Let us bind ourselves by an oath sworn in the name of God that we shall attack Salih and his family by night, and to his protector [who demands retribution], we shall say, "We were not present when they were slain. We are telling the truth." 49 And they devised a scheme and, without their knowledge, We devised a scheme. 50 See, then, how was the end of their plan that We destroyed them and their people, all (of them). 51 Now such were their houses, - in utter ruin, - because they practised wrong-doing. Verily in this is a Sign for people of knowledge. 52 And We rescued those who accepted faith and used to fear. 53 And (remember) Lut when he said to his people, “What! You stoop to the shameful whereas you can see?” 54 Must ye needs lust after men instead of women? Nay, but ye are folk who act senselessly. 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 down on them a rain (of stones). So evil was the rain of those who were warned. 58