Allah informs that Thamud rejected their Messenger because of the injustice
and transgression they practiced. This was said by Mujahid, Qatadah and others.
Therefore, this resulted in a rejection in their hearts for the guidance and
conviction their Messenger came to them with.
[إِذِ انبَعَثَ
أَشْقَـهَا ]
(When their most wicked went forth.) meaning, the most wicked person of the
tribe, and he was Qudar bin Salif, the one who killed the she-camel. He was
leader of the tribe of Thamud, and he is the one whom Allah refers to in His
saying,
[فَنَادَوْاْ
صَـحِبَهُمْ فَتَعَاطَى فَعَقَرَ ]
(But they called their comrade and he took (a sword) and killed (her).)
(54:29) This man was mighty and respected among his people. He was of noble
lineage and a leader who was obeyed. This is just as Imam Ahmad recorded from
`Abdullah bin Zam`ah. He said that the Messenger of Allah gave a sermon in which
he mentioned the she-camel and he mentioned the man who killed her. Then he
said,
«[إِذِ انبَعَثَ
أَشْقَـهَا ]
انْبَعَثَ لَهَا
رَجُلٌ عَارِمٌ عَزِيزٌ مَنِيعٌ فَي رَهْطِهِ مِثْلُ أَبِي زَمْعَة»
((When their most wicked went forth.)( A strong and mighty man who was
invincible among his tribe, like Abu Zam`ah, went forth to her.) This Hadith was
recorded by Al-Bukhari in his Book of Tafsir, and Muslim in his Book of the
Description of the Hellfire. At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i both recorded it in their
Sunans in their Books of Tafsir.