After the destruction of the Ad,
the tribe of Thamud succeeded them in power and glory. They also fell to idol-worshipping.
As their material wealth increased so, too, did their evil ways while their virtue
decreased. Like the people of Ad, they erected huge buildings on the plains and
hewed beautiful homes out of the hills. Tyranny and oppression became prevalent
as evil men ruled the land.
So Allâh sent unto them His Prophet
Saalih peace be upon him, a man from among them. His name was Saalih Ibn Ubeid,
Ibn Maseh, Ibn Ubeid, Ibn Hader, Ibn Thamud, Ibn Ather, Ibn Eram, Ibn Noah. He called
his people to worship Allâh alone, and to not associate partners with Him. While
some of them believed him, the majority of them disbelieved and harmed him by both
words and deeds. Saalih directed them: "O my people! Worship
Allâh, you have no other Ilah (god) but Him." (Ch 11:61)
Saalih was known for his wisdom,
purity and goodness and had been greatly respected by his people before Allâh's
revelation came to him. Saalih's people said to him: "O Saalih!
You have been among us as a figure of good hope and we wished for you to be our
chief, till this, new thing which you have brought that we leave our gods and worship
your God (Allâh) alone! Do you now forbid us the worship of what our fathers have
worshipped? But we are really in grave doubt as to that which you invite us to monotheism."
(CH 11:62 Qur'ân).
they merely wanted to worship the
same gods as their fathers had, with no reason, no proof, no thought. The proof
of Saalih's peace be upon him message was evident, but despite this it was obvious
that most of his people did not believe him. They doubted his words, thinking he
was charmed, and they saw that he would not stop preaching. Fearing that his followers
would increase, they tried to put him off by assigning him an important task; to
prove that he was a messenger of Allâh by performing a miracle. Let a unique she
camel issue from the mountains.
Allâh granted Saalih this miracle
and a huge, unique, she camel appeared from the direction of the mountain. The Qur'ânic
commentators said that the people of Thamud gathered on a certain day at their meeting
place, and the prophet Saalih peace be upon him came and addressed them to believe
in Allâh, reminding them of the favors Allâh had granted them.
Then pointing at a rock, they demanded:
"Ask your Lord to make a she camel, which must be 10 months pregnant, tall and attractive,
issue from the rock for us."
Saalih replied: "Look now! If Allâh
sends you what you have requested, just as you have described, will you believe
in that which I have come to you with and have faith in the message I have been
sent with?"
They answered: "Yes."
So he took a vow from them on this,
then prayed to Allâh the Almighty to grant their request. Allâh ordered the distant
rock to split asunder, to bringing forth a great ten month pregnant she camel. When
their eyes set on it, they were amazed. They saw a great thing, a wonderful sight,
a dazzling power and clear evidence!
A number of Saalih's people believed,
yet most of them continued in their disbelief, stubbornness, and going astray. Allâh
the Almighty said: We sent the she camel to Thamud as a clear
sign, but they did her wrong. (Ch 17:59) and also:
Verily the dwellers of Al Hijr (the rocky tract) denied the Messengers. We gave them
Our Signs, but they were averse to them. (Ch 15:80-81 Qur'ân)
There are a number of ancient accounts
of this camel and its miraculous nature. It was said that the she camel was miraculous
because a rock in the mountain split open and it came forth from it, followed by
its young offspring. Other accounts said that the she camel used to drink all the
water in the wells in one day, and no other animals could approach the water. Still
others claimed that the she camel produced milk sufficient for all the people to
drink, on the same day that it drank all the water, leaving none for them.
At first, the people of Thamud were
greatly surprised when the she camel issued from the mountain rocks. It was a blessed
camel, and its milk sufficient for thousands of men, women and children. If it slept
in a place that place was abandoned by other animals. Thus it was obvious that is
was not an ordinary camel, but one of Allâh's signs. It lived among Saalih's people,
some of whom believed in Allâh while the majority continued in their obstinacy and
disbelief.
Their hatred of Saalih turned towards
the blessed she camel and became centered on it. A conspiracy started to be hatched
against the camel by the disbeliveers, and they secretly plotted against it.
Saalih feared that they might kill
the camel, so he warned them: "O my people! This she camel
of Allâh is a sign to you, leave her to feed on Allâh's earth, and touch her not
with evil lest a near torment will seize you." (Ch 11:64 Qur'ân)
For awhile, Saalih's people let
the camel graze and drink freely, but in their hearts they hated it. However, the
miraculous appearance of the unique camel caused many to become Saalih's followers,
and they clung to their belief in Allâh.
the disbeliveers now began complaining
that this huge she camel with its unusual qualities drank most of the water and
frightened their cattle.
They laid a plot to kill the camel,
and sought the help of their women folk to tempt the men to carry out their commands.
Saduq bint of Mahya, who was from a rich and noble family, offered herself to a
young man named Masrai Ibn Mahraj on condition that he hamstring the camel. Aniza,
an old woman, offered one of her daughters to a young man, Qudar Ibn Saluf, in return
for killing the camel. Naturally these young men were tempted and set about finding
seven others to assist them.
They watched the camel closely,
observing all its movements. As the she camel came to drink at the well, Masarai
shot it in the leg with an arrow. It tried to escape but was hampered by the arrow.
Qudar followed the camel and struck it with a sword in the other leg. As it fell
to the ground, he pierced it with his sword.
The killers were given a hero's
welcome, cheered with songs and poetry composed in their praise. In their arrogance
they mocked Saalih, but he warned them: "Enjoy life for 3 more days then the punishment
will descend upon you." Saalih was hoping that they would see the folly of their
ways and change their attitude before the 3 days went out.
"Why 3 days?" they asked. "Let the
punishment come as quickly as possible."
He pleaded with them: "My people,
why do you hasten to evil rather than good? Why do not you ask pardon of Allâh so
that you may receive mercy?"
They replied: "We see your presence
and that of your followers as bringing evil on us."
Almighty Allâh related their story:
And indeed We sent to Thamud their brother Saalih, saying "Worship Allâh Alone and
none else." Then look! They became two parties (believers and disbeliveers) quarreling
with each other.
He said: "O my people! Why do you
seek to hasten the evil (torment) before the good (Allâh's Mercy)? Why seek you
not the Forgiveness of Allâh, that you may receive mercy?" They said: We augur till
omen from you and those with you." he said: "Your ill omen is with Allâh; nay, but
you are a people that are being tested."
And there were in the city nine
men (from the sons of their chiefs), who made mischief in the land, and would not
reform. They said: "Swear to another by Allâh that we shall make a secret night
attack on him and his household, and afterwards we will surely say to his near relatives:
"We witnessed not the destruction of his household, and verily! We are telling the
truth.""
So they
plotted a plot, and We planned a plan, while they perceived not. Then see how was
the end of their plot! Verily! We destroyed them and their nation, all together.
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. We saved those who believed, and
used to fear and obey Allâh. (Ch 27:45-53 Qur'ân)
They also plotted to kill Saalih
and his household as Almighty Allâh stated: "So they plot,
and We planned a plan, while they perceived not." (Ch 27:50 Qur'ân)
Allâh saved Saalih and his followers from their wicked plans. Heavy hearted, they
left the evil doers and moved to another place.
Three days after Saalih's warning,
thunderbolts filled the air, followed by severe earthquakes which destroyed the
entire tribe and its homeland. The land was violently shaken, destroying all living
creatures in it. There was one terrific cry which had hardly ended when the disbeliveers
of Saalih's people were struck dead, one and all, at the same time. Neither their
strong buildings nor their rock hewn homes could protect them.
Allâh the Exalted said: To Thamud
people We sent their brother Saalih. He said: "O my people! Worship Allâh, you have
no other Ilah (god) but Him (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh). Indeed
there has come to you a clear sign ( the miracle of the coming out of a huge she
camel from the midst of a rock) from your Lord. This she camel of Allâh is a sign
unto you so you leave her to graze in Allâh's earth, and touch her not with harm,
lest a painful torment should size you. Remember when He made you successors after
Ad people and gave you habitations in the land, you build for yourselves palaces
in plains and carve out homes in the mountains. So remember the graces bestowed
upon you from Allâh, and do not go about making mischief on the earth."
the leaders of those who were arrogant
among his people said to those who were counted weak to such of them as believed:
"Know you that Saalih is one sent from his Lord." They said: "We indeed believe
in that with which he has been sent." Those who were arrogant said: "Verily, we
disbelieve in that which you believe in."
So they killed the she camel and
insolently defied the Commandment of their Lord, and said: "O Saalih! Bring about
your threats if you are indeed one of the Messengers (of Allâh)." So the earthquakes
seized them and they lay dead, prostrate in their homes. Then he (Saalih) turned
from them, and said: "O my people! I have indeed conveyed to
you the Message of my Lord, and have give you good advise but you like not good
advisers." (Ch 7:73-79 Qur'ân)
All were destroyed before they realized
what was happening. As for the people who believed in the message of Saalih peace
be upon him, they were saved because they had left the place.
Ibn Umar narrated that while the
Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him was passing by Thamud's houses on his way to
the battle of Tabuk, he stopped together with the people there. the people fetched
water from the wells from which the people of Thamud used to drink. They prepared
their dough (for baking) and filled their water skins from it (the water from the
wells). The Prophet of Allâh peace be upon him ordered them to empty the water skins
and give the prepared dough to the camels. Then he went away with them until they
stopped at the well from which the she camel (of Saalih) used to drink. He warned
them against entering upon the people that had been punished, saying
"I fear that you may be affected by what afflicted them; so do no enter upon them."
Translated by Muhammad Gemeiah