“And We certainly sent to Thamud their brother Salih, saying, ‘Worship Allah.’ Then they suddenly became two factions disputing with one another. He said, ‘O my people, why do you seek to hasten the evil before the good? Why do you not seek Allah’s forgiveness, so that you may be shown mercy?’ They said, ‘We regard you and those with you as an evil omen.’ He said, ‘Your fate is with Allah. Rather, you are a people being tested.’” (45–47)

His saying, exalted is He: “And We certainly sent to Thamud their brother Salih, saying”—that is, “Worship Allah” (1)—alone. “Then they suddenly became two factions,” one believing and the other disbelieving, (2) “disputing” over the religion.

Muqatil said: Their dispute is that mentioned in Surah al-A‘raf: “The eminent ones who were arrogant among his people said to those whom they deemed weak—to those among them who believed ...” up to His words: “O Salih, bring us what you promise us, if you are truly one of the messengers.” (al-A‘raf 75–77)

Thus Salih said to them: “O my people, why do you seek to hasten the evil”—that is, affliction and punishment—“before the good”—well-being and mercy? “Why do you not seek Allah’s forgiveness,” that is, by repenting from your disbelief, “so that you may be shown mercy?”

“They said, ‘We regard you and those with you as an evil omen.’” That is, “We consider you an ill omen.” The expression is a contracted form of taṭayyarnā (we deemed an evil omen). “Because of you and those with you”: it was said that they said this because their unity had been divided. It was also said that this was because he withheld the rain from them at that time, and they suffered drought. So they said: “This harm and hardship have befallen us because of the ill omen of you and your companions.”

He said: “Your fate is with Allah.” That is, whatever good or evil befalls you is with Allah, by His command, and it has been decreed for you. It is termed a ṭā’ir (a flying thing, hence an omen or fate) because of the swiftness with which it descends upon a person, for nothing is swifter than an inevitable decree.

Ibn Abbas said: The ill fortune that has come upon you is from Allah because of your disbelief. It was also said: “Your fate” means your deeds are with Allah. They are termed a ṭā’ir because of the speed with which they ascend to heaven.

“Rather, you are a people being tested.” Ibn Abbas said: You are tested with good and evil, as in His saying, exalted is He: “We test you with evil and with good as a trial.” (al-Anbiya 35) Muhammad ibn Ka‘b al-Qurazi said: You are being punished.