To Thamud We sent their brother Salih. He said, "Serve none but God." But they divided themselves into two factions contending with one another. 45 He said: O my people! wherefore seek ye to hasten the evil before the good? Wherefore ask ye not forgiveness of Allah, that haply ye may be shewn 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 And there were in the city nine men (from the sons of their chiefs), who made mischief in the land, and would not reform. 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 They hatched up the plot; We also planned without their knowledge. 50 We destroyed them and their people altogether. 51 These are their houses in utter ruin, for they did wrong. Verily, in this is indeed an Ayah (a lesson or a sign) for people who know. 52 We saved the faithful God-fearing believers. 53 And Lot! when he said unto his folk: Will ye commit abomination knowingly? 54 Must you really approach men with lust instead of women? Nay, but you are people without any awareness (of right and wrong)!" 55 ۞ His people had no answer but to say, "Expel Lot and his family from the town for they want to be pure." 56 So We delivered him and his family, except his wife; We decreed she should be of those that tarried. 57 And We rained upon them a rain [of stones], and evil was the rain of those who were warned. 58