The Story of Ṣāliḥ, the Prophet sent to Thamūd (peace be upon him)

Thamūd was a well-known tribe named after their forefather Thamūd, the brother of Jadīs; the two were sons of ʿĀthir ibn Iram ibn Shem ibn Noah. They belonged to the original Arabs and lived in al-Ḥijr, the area between the Ḥijāz and Tabūk. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) passed through that very place on his expedition to Tabūk with the Muslims, as will be mentioned later.

Thamūd came after the people of ʿĀd and, like them, worshipped idols. Allah therefore sent to them a man from among their own—His servant and Messenger Ṣāliḥ ibn ʿAbd ibn Māshikh ibn ʿUbayd ibn Ḥājir ibn Thamūd ibn ʿĀthir ibn Iram ibn Shem ibn Noah. Ṣāliḥ called them to worship Allah alone with no partner, to cast aside their idols and rivals, and to associate nothing with Him. A group of them believed, but the majority disbelieved; they reviled him in word and deed, plotted to kill him, and slew the she-camel that Allah had made an incontrovertible proof against them. So Allah seized them with the grasp of the All-Mighty, the All-Powerful, as He says in Sūrat al-Aʿrāf:

“And to Thamūd We sent their brother Ṣāliḥ. He said, ‘O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. A clear sign has come to you from your Lord: this she-camel of Allah is a sign for you, so leave her to graze in Allah’s land and do not harm her, lest a painful punishment seize you. (73) And remember when He made you successors after ʿĀd and settled you in the land: you build palaces on its plains and carve houses out of the mountains. So remember Allah’s favors and do not roam the earth spreading corruption.’ (74)

“The arrogant leaders of his people said to those who were considered weak—those among them who had believed—‘Do you know for certain that Ṣāliḥ is sent by his Lord?’ They replied, ‘Indeed we believe in that with which he has been sent.’ (75) The arrogant ones said, ‘We reject what you believe.’ (76)

“So they hamstrung the she-camel, defied the command of their Lord, and said, ‘O Ṣāliḥ, bring us what you threaten us with, if you are truly one of the Messengers.’ (77) Thereupon the earthquake seized them, and by morning they were lying lifeless in their homes, fallen upon their knees. (78) Then he turned away from them and said, ‘O my people, I conveyed to you the message of my Lord and gave you sincere advice, but you do not like those who give advice.’” (7:73–79)

He, Exalted be He, also says in Sūrat Hūd:

“And to Thamūd We sent their brother Ṣāliḥ. He said, ‘O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. He produced you from the earth and settled you in it, so seek His forgiveness and then repent to Him. Truly my Lord is near, responsive.’ (61)

“They said, ‘O Ṣāliḥ, you were someone we looked up to before this. Do you forbid us to worship what our fathers worshipped? We are indeed in troubling doubt about that to which you call us.’ (62)

“He said, ‘O my people, tell me: if I stand upon clear proof from my Lord and He has granted me mercy from Himself, who could protect me from Allah if I disobey Him? You would only increase me in loss. (63) O my people, this she-camel of Allah is a sign for you; so leave her to graze in Allah’s land and do not touch her with harm, lest an imminent punishment seize you.’ (64)

“But they hamstrung her, so he said, ‘Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days; that is a promise not …”