The people of Thamud came after the people of Aad, and the story of the torment was repeated differently with Thamud. Thamud was also a tribe that worshipped idols, so Allah sent our master "Salih" to them.. And Saleh said to his people: (O my people, worship Allah; you have no god other than Him) The same word that every prophet says.. It does not change or alter, just as the truth does not change or alter.
The elders of Saleh's people were surprised by what he said.. He accused their gods of being worthless, and he forbade them from worshipping them and ordered them to worship Allah alone. His call caused a great shock in society.. And Saleh was known for his wisdom, purity and goodness. His people respected him before Allah inspired him and sent him to call them to Islam..
The people of Salih said to him:
They said, "O Salih, you were a source of hope among us before this. Do you forbid us from worshipping what our fathers used to worship? And indeed, we are in disturbing doubt about that to which you invite us." (62) (Hud)
Consider the point of view of the unbelievers among the people of Salih. They approach him from a purely personal perspective. We had hope in you. You were a source of hope among us because of your knowledge, intelligence, honesty, and good management. Then our hope in you was disappointed.. Do you forbid us from worshipping what our fathers used to worship?! What a disaster.. Everything, Salih, except this. We did not expect you to criticize our gods, which we found our fathers devoted to.. And so the people are amazed at what he calls them to. And they denounce what is obligatory and right, and they are astonished that their brother Salih calls them to worship Allah alone. Why? All of this was only because their fathers used to worship these gods.
The miracle of Salih, peace be upon him:
Despite the clarity of Saleh's call, it was clear that his people would not believe him. They doubted his call, believed that he was bewitched, and asked him for a miracle to prove that he was a messenger from God to them. God's will was to respond to their request. The people of Thamud used to carve great houses out of mountains. They used rocks in construction, and they were strong and God had opened up to them all kinds of sustenance. They came after the people of Aad and inhabited the land they colonized.
Salih said to his people when they asked him for a miracle to believe him:
O my people, this is the she-camel of Allah, a sign for you, so leave her to graze in Allah's land and do not touch her with harm, lest a near punishment seize you. (64) (Hud) The sign is the miracle, and it is said that the she-camel was a miracle because one day a rock in the mountain split and the she-camel came out of it.. She gave birth in a way other than the usual way of giving birth. It is also said that it was a miracle because she used to drink the water in the wells on one day, so the rest of the animals would not come near the water on that day. It is also said that it was a miracle because it used to produce milk that was enough for all the people to drink on that day when it drank the water, so nothing was left for the people. This camel was a miracle, described by Allah the Almighty with the words: (The she-camel of Allah) He added it to Himself, meaning that it is not an ordinary she-camel, but rather a miracle from Allah. Allah issued His command to Salih to order his people not to touch, harm or kill the she-camel. He ordered them to leave her to eat in Allah's land, and not to harm her, and warned them that if they extended their hands to harm the she-camel, they would be seized by an imminent punishment. At first, the astonishment of Thamud increased when the she-camel gave birth from the rocks of the mountain. It was a blessed she-camel. Its milk was enough for thousands of men, women and children. It was clear that it was not just an ordinary she-camel, but rather a sign from Allah. The she-camel lived among the people of Salih, some of whom believed and most of them remained stubborn and disbelieving. This is because when the disbelievers ask their prophet for a sign, it is not because they want to confirm his truthfulness and faith in him, but rather to challenge him and show his weakness before people. But Allah would let them down by supporting His prophets with miracles from Him.
Salih, peace be upon him, would speak to his people with kindness and love, calling them to worship Allah alone, and reminding them that Allah had brought forth for them a miracle, the she-camel, as proof of his truthfulness and evidence of his call. He would ask them to let the she-camel eat in Allah's land, for all the land is Allah's land. He would warn them not to touch it with evil for fear of Allah's punishment falling upon them. He also reminded them of Allah's favor upon them: that He made them successors after the people of Aad... and bestowed upon them palaces, carved mountains, bliss, provision, and strength. But his people ignored his words and left him, and turned to those who believed in Salih.
They would ask them a question of contempt and disdain: Do you know that Salih is a messenger from his Lord?! The weak group that believed in Salih said: “Indeed, we are believers in that with which he was sent.” So pride seized those who disbelieved with sin. Those who were arrogant said: “Indeed, we are disbelievers in that in which you believe.” This is how they said with contempt, haughtiness and anger.
The conspiracies of the people against the camel:
The hatred turned from our master Salih to the blessed camel. Hatred focused on her, and the conspiracy began to weave its threads against the camel. The disbelievers hated this great sign, and they plotted something within themselves. One night, a session was held for the elders of the people, and it has become common to see that in the stories of the prophets these measures to eliminate the prophet or his miracles or his call come from the leaders of the people, as they are the ones who fear for their interests if the people convert to monotheism, and from their fear to the fear of Allah alone. The leaders of the people began to consult about what should be done to end Salih's call. One of them advised them to kill the camel and then kill Salih himself.
This is the weapon of the oppressors and disbelievers in every time and place, they resort to force and weapons instead of dialogue and discussion with arguments and evidence. Because they know that the truth is supreme and nothing is supreme over it, and no matter how long it takes, the truth will appear and invalidate all their arguments. They did not want to reach this stage, and decided to eliminate the truth before its power grew stronger.
But one of them said: Saleh warned us against touching the she-camel, and threatened us with imminent punishment. One of them quickly said before the words of his predecessor affected the minds of the people: I know who dares to kill the she-camel. And the choice fell on nine of the tyrants of the people. They were men who spread corruption on earth, woe to those who objected to them. These were the tools of the crime. The date of the crime and the place of execution were agreed upon. On the appointed night, while the blessed she-camel was sleeping peacefully, the nine criminals finished preparing their weapons, swords and arrows, to commit the crime. The men attacked the she-camel, and the she-camel stood up in terror. The sinful, murderous hands reached out to her, and her blood flowed.
The destruction of Thamud:
The Prophet Saleh learned of what had happened, so he went out angry at his people. He said to them: Did I not warn you against touching the she-camel? They said: We killed her, so bring us the punishment and hasten it. Didn't you say that you were one of the messengers?
Salih said to his people: Enjoy yourselves in your home for three days. This is a promise that will not be denied.
After that, Salih left his people. He left them and went on. The matter was over and Allah promised him that they would be destroyed after three days. Three days passed for the disbelievers of Salih's people as they mocked the punishment and waited. At dawn on the fourth day: the sky split open with a single, mighty shout. The shout descended upon the mountains and every living thing perished in it. It was one shout.. No sooner had its beginning begun and its end come than the disbelievers of Salih's people were all struck with one blow.
They all perished before they realized what had happened. As for those who believed in our master Salih, they had left the place with their prophet and were saved.
