The Qur’an contains indications that Moses did speak about the two nations, for the Almighty says in Sūrat Ibrāhīm:
“Moses said, ‘If you and everyone on earth were to disbelieve, Allah is indeed Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy. (8) Has the news not reached you of those before you—the people of Noah, ʿĀd, Thamūd, and those who came after them, known only to Allah? Their messengers came to them with clear proofs…’” (Ibrāhīm 8–9)
The outward sense is that these words form part of Moses’s address to his people. Because the two nations were Arabs, however, the People of the Book did not record their story precisely nor give it due care—though it was well-known in the time of Moses, peace be upon him. We have discussed all of this in detail in the Tafsīr; to Allah belong all praise and favor.
Our purpose now is to relate their tale: what befell them, how Allah delivered His Prophet Ṣāliḥ, peace be upon him, and those who believed with him, and how He annihilated the wrong-doers for their disbelief, arrogance, and defiance of their Messenger, peace be upon him.
We have already mentioned that they were Arabs, that they succeeded the people of ʿĀd, yet failed to take heed of what had happened to them. Hence their Prophet said to them:
“Worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. A clear proof has come to you from your Lord: this is Allah’s she-camel, a sign for you. Let her graze in Allah’s land and do not harm her, lest a painful punishment overtake you. (73) And remember how 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 go about the earth spreading corruption.” (al-Aʿrāf 73–74)
That is, He made you successors after them so that you might learn from their fate and act contrary to their deeds. He granted you this land, allowing you to erect palaces on its plains—“and you carve houses out of the mountains with consummate skill” (al-Shuʿarāʾ 149)—i.e., you are expert in shaping, perfecting, and fortifying them. Meet Allah’s blessing, then, with gratitude, righteous deeds, and worship of Him alone without partner; beware of opposing Him or deviating from His obedience, for the outcome of that is disastrous.
Thus he admonished them further:
“Will you be left in security here (146) amid gardens and springs, (147) fields and date-palms whose spathes are soft-sheathed, (148) while you skillfully carve houses out of the mountains? (149) So fear Allah and obey me. (150) Do not obey the command of those who are wasteful, (151) who spread corruption in the land and set nothing right.” (al-Shuʿarāʾ 146–152)
He also said to them:
“My people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. He created you from the earth and settled you in it.” (Hūd 61)
Meaning: He created you, raised you from the earth, and made you its inhabitants, granting you its crops and fruits. He alone is the Creator and Provider, and therefore He alone deserves worship.
“So seek His forgiveness, and then turn to Him in repentance” (Hūd 61)—i.e., desist from what you are doing and devote yourselves to His worship, for He will accept you and pardon you—“Indeed, my Lord is Near, Responsive.” (Hūd 61)
They replied, “Ṣāliḥ, you had been a source of hope among us before this.” (Hūd 62)
Meaning: We had hoped that your mind was sound before you uttered these words—your call for us to single out Allah in worship, abandon the idols we have been serving, and depart from the religion of our forefathers.
Thus they said:
“Do you forbid us to worship what our fathers worshipped? We are indeed in doubtful disquiet concerning what you call us to. (62)”
He answered, “My people, consider: if I stand upon clear evidence from my Lord and He has granted me mercy from Himself, who will protect me from Allah if I disobey Him? You would only increase me in loss.” (Hūd 62–63)
This was Ṣāliḥ’s gentleness in expression, his soft approach, and his excellent method in calling them to goodness—meaning: so what