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 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: We augur evil of thee and those with thee. He said: Your evil augury is with Allah. Nay, but ye are folk that are being tested. 47 There were in the city nine men of a family, who made mischief in the land, and would not reform. 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 They plotted and planned, but We too planned, even while they perceived it not. 50 Then look how was the outcome of their plan - that We destroyed them and their people, all. 51 So yonder are their houses overturned, for they did wrong. Verily, herein is a sign unto a people who know. 52 seeing that We saved those who had attained to faith and were conscious of Us, 53 (We also sent) Lut (as a messenger): behold, He said to his people, "Do ye do what is shameful though ye see (its iniquity)? 54 Would ye really approach men in your lusts rather than women? Nay, ye are a people (grossly) ignorant! 55 ۞ But the answer of his people was no other except that they said: Turn out Lut's followers from your town; surely they are a people who would keep pure! 56 So We saved him and his family, except for his wife; We destined her to be of those who remained behind. 57 And We rained down on them a rain (of stones). So evil was the rain of those who were warned. 58