It was noted earlier—in the account of Noah (1) related by al-Ṭabarānī—that the report also names Noah, Hūd, and Abraham.

The Prophet’s Passage through the Valley of al-Ḥijr, the Land of Thamūd, in the Year of Tabūk

Imām Aḥmad related: ʿAbd al-Ṣamad told us, Ṣakhr ibn Juwairiyyah told us, from Nāfiʿ, from Ibn ʿUmar, who said: When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ encamped the people at Tabūk, he halted them at al-Ḥijr near the dwellings of Thamūd. The people drew water from the wells from which Thamūd used to drink; they kneaded their dough with it and set the pots [of meat] on the fire. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered them to spill the contents of the pots and to give the dough to the camels, then he broke camp and led them on until he stopped at the well from which the she-camel had drunk. He forbade them to enter the homes of the people who had been punished and said,

“I fear that you may be struck by what struck them, so do not enter upon them.” (2)

Imām Aḥmad also related: ʿAffān told us, ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn Muslim told us, ʿAbd Allāh ibn Dīnār told us, from ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUmar, who said: While he was at al-Ḥijr the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

“Do not enter upon these people who were punished unless you are weeping. If you are not weeping, then do not enter upon them, lest what befell them befall you.” (3)

Bukhārī and Muslim both recorded it through several chains (4).

Some transmissions add that when he ﷺ passed by their dwellings he covered his head, urged his mount to a quick pace, and forbade entering their houses except while weeping. In another wording he said,

“If you cannot weep, then force yourselves to weep, for fear that what struck them may strike you.” May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him.

Imām Aḥmad further related: Yazīd ibn Hārūn told us, al-Masʿūdī told us, from Ismāʿīl ibn Awsat, from Muḥammad ibn Abī Kabshah al-Anmārī, from his father—whose name is ʿAmr ibn Saʿd, though some say ʿĀmir ibn Saʿd—may Allah be pleased with him. He said: During the expedition of Tabūk people rushed toward the dwellings of al-Ḥijr to enter them. News of this reached the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, so he called out, “Prayer in congregation!” I came to the Prophet ﷺ while he was holding his camel and saying:

“Why do you enter upon a people upon whom Allah’s wrath has descended?”

A man called out, “We find it astonishing, O Messenger of Allah!” He replied,

“Shall I not inform you of something even more astonishing? A man from among yourselves informs you of what was before you and of what will be after you. So remain upright and keep to the middle course, for Allah cares nothing for punishing you. There will come a people who will be unable to ward off anything at all from themselves.” (5)

Its chain of transmission is ḥasan, and neither of the two Ṣaḥīḥs recorded it.