And We verily sent unto Thamud their brother Salih, saying: Worship Allah. And lo! they (then became two parties quarrelling. 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 There were nine tribes in the city spreading evil without any reform in the land. 48 They said: Swear one to another by Allah that we verily will attack him and his household by night, and afterward we will surely say unto his friend: We witnessed not the destruction of his household. And lo! we are truthtellers. 49 Thus they devised a plan, and We also devised a plan, but they were not aware of it. 50 So behold thou how was the end of their plotting: verily We annihilated them and their nation all together. 51 Because of their wrongdoing, their houses are in ruins, in that surely there is a sign for people who have knowledge, 52 And we saved those who believed and used to ward off (evil). 53 And Lot, when he said to his people, 'What, do you commit indecency with your eyes open? 54 "Do you approach men in your lusts rather than women? Nay, but you are a people who behave senselessly." 55 ۞ There was no other answer given by his people except that they said: "Drive out the family of Lout (Lot) from your city. Verily, these are men who want to be clean and pure!" 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 upon them a rain [of stones], and evil was the rain of those who were warned. 58