whichever of my daughters you wish, on condition that you hamstring the she-camel.” Qidar was a powerful and well-protected man among his people.

‘Abd al-Wahid al-Mulayhi informed us; Ahmad ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Nu‘aymi informed us; Muhammad ibn Yusuf narrated to us; Muhammad ibn Isma‘il narrated to us; Musa ibn Isma‘il narrated to us; Wuhayb narrated to us; Hisham narrated to us, from his father, that ‘Abd Allah ibn Zam‘ah told him that he heard the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, delivering a sermon in which he mentioned the she-camel and the one who hamstrung her. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “When the most wretched of them rose up” (Quran 91:12): “A powerful, fierce, and well-protected man among his people rose up against her, like Abu Zam‘ah.” (1)

Returning to the account, they said: Qidar ibn Salif and Musadda‘ ibn Muharrij went out and enticed the wicked men of Thamud. Seven men followed them, making them a band of nine. Qidar, Musadda‘, and their companions then set out and lay in wait for the she-camel as she departed from the watering-place. Qidar concealed himself at the base of a rock along her path, while Musadda‘ hid along another route. When she passed Musadda‘, he shot her with an arrow that lodged in the muscle of her leg.

Then ‘Unayzah bint Ghanm came out and instructed her daughter—who was among the most beautiful of women—to uncover her face before Qidar. Then she urged him on, (2) so he rushed at the she-camel with his sword and severed her hamstring. She fell and gave one loud cry, warning her young. (3) He then stabbed her at the base of her neck and slaughtered her. The townspeople came out, divided up her meat, and cooked it.

When her young saw this, it fled until it reached a lofty mountain called Sinw; it is also said that its name was Qarah. Salih was then approached and told, “Come to the she-camel’s aid, for she has been hamstrung.” He came forward, while they came out to meet him, offering their excuses: “O Prophet of Allah, it was only so-and-so who hamstrung her; we bear no guilt.” Salih said, “See whether you can catch her young, for if you catch it, perhaps the punishment will be lifted from you.” So they went out in search of it. When they saw it upon the mountain, they went to seize it, but Allah Most High inspired the mountain, and it rose into the sky until not even birds could reach it.

Salih came, and when the young camel saw him, it wept until its tears flowed. Then it cried out three times, and the rock split open, and it entered into it. Salih said, “For each cry there is a day’s respite. So enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days. That is a promise that will not prove false.”

Ibn Ishaq said: Four men from among the nine who had hamstrung the she-camel pursued the young camel. Among them were Musadda‘ ibn Muharrij and his brother Dhab ibn Muharrij. Musadda‘ shot it with an arrow that pierced its heart; then he dragged it down by its leg. They threw its meat together with that of its mother. Salih said to them, “You have violated the sanctity ordained by Allah, so receive tidings of Allah’s punishment and retribution.” Mocking him, they said, “When will that be, O Salih? And what will be its sign?” Among them, the days were named: Sunday, Awwal; Monday, Ahwan; and Tuesday,