48وَكانَ فِي المَدينَةِ تِسعَةُ رَهطٍ يُفسِدونَ فِي الأَرضِ وَلا يُصلِحونَMuhammad AsadNow there were in the city nine men1 who were wont to commit deeds of depravity all over the land, and would not reform;Or "nine clans", since, in the above context, the term raht, is liable to either of these two interpretations, The "city" referred to is evidently the region known as Al-Hijr, in northern Hijaz (cf. surah 7, notes 56 and 59). - In contrast with the preceding story of the Queen of Sheba's eager way to faith, the stories of the tribe of Thamud and (in verses 54-58) of Lot's people are meant to call attention to the hostility which a call to righteousness so often evokes in people who are strong but vain, or, alternatively, weak and addicted to senseless passions.