“And remember when He made you successors” on earth, allowing you to enjoy it and attain what you sought, “after ʿĀd,” whom Allah destroyed, making you their successors; “and settled you in the land”—that is, He established you therein and facilitated for you the means of attaining what you wanted and sought. “You build palaces on its plains”—that is, on the level ground that is not mountainous, you build lofty palaces and fortified structures—“and carve homes into the mountains,” as may still be seen today in their mountain works, including dwellings, chambers, and the like. They will remain as long as the mountains remain. “So remember Allah’s blessings”—that is, His favors and the bounty, provision, and strength He granted you—“and do not act wickedly in the land, spreading corruption.” That is, do not lay waste to the land through corruption and sin, for sins turn flourishing habitations into barren wastelands. Indeed, they emptied their lands of them and left their dwellings desolate after them.
“The arrogant leaders among his people said”—that is, the chiefs and nobles who were too proud to accept the truth—“to those who were deemed weak.” Since not all those deemed weak were believers, they said “to those among them who believed: Do you know that Sālih has been sent by his Lord?” That is, is he truthful or a liar?
Those deemed weak replied, “We believe in that with which he was sent”: the monotheistic worship of Allah, what was related concerning Him, and His commands and prohibitions.
“Those who were arrogant said: We reject that in which you believe.” Their arrogance drove them to refuse submission to the truth to which the weak had submitted.
“So they hamstrung the she-camel,” concerning which he had warned them that a painful punishment would befall them if they harmed her, “and insolently defied their Lord’s command.” That is, they hardened themselves against it and were too proud to obey His command—whoever insolently defies it will be made to taste severe punishment. Consequently, Allah visited upon them an exemplary punishment unlike that visited upon anyone else. “And they said,” while committing these deeds, daringly defying Allah as though they could thwart Him, wholly unconcerned by what they had done and even taking pride in it: “O Sālih, bring us what you promise us”—of punishment—“if you are truthful.” He then said, “Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days. That is a promise that will not prove false.”
“Then the earthquake seized them, and by morning they lay lifeless in their homes,” upon their knees. Allah had annihilated them and wiped them out to the last.
“So he turned away from them”—Sālih, peace be upon him, when Allah brought the punishment upon them—“and said,” addressing them in rebuke and reproach after Allah had destroyed them: “O my people, I certainly conveyed my Lord’s message to you and gave you sincere counsel.” That is, I conveyed to you everything with which Allah sent me, earnestly sought your guidance, and strove to lead you along the straight path and upright religion. “But you do not love sincere advisers.” Rather, you rejected the words of those who advised you sincerely and obeyed every accursed devil.
You should know that many exegetes relate in this story that the she-camel emerged from a smooth, solid rock which the people had specified to Sālih; that the rock went through labor like a pregnant female and the she-camel emerged while they watched; that she had a calf which, when they hamstrung her, cried out three times, whereupon the mountain split open for it and it entered; and that Sālih, peace be upon him, told them: “The sign that the punishment is descending upon you is that on the first of the three days you will awaken with your faces yellow, on the second day red, and on the third day black.” It then occurred as he had said.
All of this belongs to reports of Israelite origin that should not be related in the exegesis of Allah’s Book. Nothing in the Quran indicates any of it in any respect whatsoever. Had these accounts been true, Allah Most High would have mentioned them, for they contain wonders, lessons, and signs that He would not overlook and leave unmentioned, only for them to reach us through those whose transmission cannot be trusted. Indeed, the Quran disproves some of what has been mentioned. Sālih told them, “Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days”—that is, take your pleasure and enjoyment during this exceedingly brief period, for you have no enjoyment or pleasure remaining beyond it. Yet what pleasure or enjoyment could there be for people whose prophet had promised them that punishment would befall them and had described its precursors, which then occurred one day after another in a manner affecting and encompassing them all [their faces reddening, yellowing, and blackening from the punishment] (1)?
Is this anything but contrary and opposed to the Quran? The Quran itself provides sufficient guidance, rendering everything else unnecessary.
Certainly, if anything is authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, that does not contradict Allah’s Book, it is accepted with the utmost respect. Indeed, following it is among what the Quran commands: “Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatever he forbids you, refrain from it.” ⦗296⦘ It has already been stated that it is impermissible to interpret Allah’s Book through reports of Israelite origin, even though it is permissible to relate from them matters that cannot be decisively declared false. The meanings of Allah’s Book are certain, whereas such reports are neither affirmed nor denied; agreement between the two therefore cannot be established.