7. SALIH AND THE PEOPLE OF THAMUD

A few generations after the death of Prophet Hud a.s. , people returned once again to the acts of disbelief, idol worship and disobedience to Allah s.w.t.  Again Allah raised a prophet from among the leading tribes at that time, the people of Thamud.  Thamud left Yemen and lived in an area named Al-Hijr.  The Thamud tribe built lavish and beautiful homes and buildings.  They inherited the skills and know-how from the ‘Ad people.  Allah s.w.t. conferred upon them great blessings.

Like the people of ‘Ad, they became arrogant and believed that all their blessings in life were due to their own strengths and abilities.  To these misled people of Thamud, Allah s.w.t. sent from amongst them prophet Salih a.s.

Prophet Salih a.s. called upon his people not to associate Allah s.w.t. with any partners and to worship Him alone.  Before he was appointed a prophet, Prophet Salih a.s. was highly respected by his people due to his wisdom, integrity and compassion.  His people then challenged him to show them the proof of his prophethood.  They wanted a very specific sign that they themselves would determine.

The people of Thamud then pointed to a great rock in the distance and asked that the rock ne split into two.  Then a female camel should emerge from this rock.  The female camel must be ten months pregnant.  It should be red in color in addition to having plenty of wool.

Prophet Salih a.s. accepted this challenge.  He made his people swear that they would repent and reform once he accomplished this miracle as proof and clear sign of his prophethood.  He then prayed to Allah s.w.t.  The earth shook and the rock split before their eyes and from it emerged a camel with the exact characteristics they had specified.

The people were amazed.  Prophet Salih a.s. warned his people that they would be swiftly and severely punished by Allah s.w.t. if they try to harm the camel.  Prophet Salih a.s. told his people that the camel was a test for them.  He then specified how this camel should be treated.

The camel was unique and huge.  It would drink all the water in the well, and would supply milk to everyone in the village and still not run dry.  The camel lived among Prophet Salih’s a.s. people for some time.  It even gives birth to her calf right before their eyes.

Over time however, more people were convinced by this miracle and started to believe in the teaching of Prophet Salih a.s.  This made the rest worried.  They began to consider the she-camel as a nuisance.  Eventually, they channeled their hatred towards the camel and a conspiracy to get rid of it was soon hatched.

One man was given the task of carrying out this eveil deed together with eight of his other co-conspirators.  His name was Qudar son of Salif.  Qudar was a powerful and strong man from among the nobles and elite of Thamud.  Qudar then slayed the camel and killed it.  They hamstrung the she-camel and also its calf.

When the news reached prophet Salih a.s., he hurried to the place and found the she-camel and her calf slaughtered and people had gathered to eat from the meat.  Prophet Salih a.s. informed the Thamud tribe that they would be punished in three days’ time.  Instead of using the three days to repent, they used it to plot against Prophet Salih a.s.

When the destruction came, these nine assassins were the first to be destroyed.  The earth split from under them and rocks descended upon them and killed them.  The punishment on the disbelievers among the Thamud tribe began.  On the first day, the faces of the Thamud people turned yellow.  On the second day, their faces turned red.  By the third day, their faces turned black.

The people of Thamud were subjected to different forms of punishment.  After the three days of warning, the punishment began with a strong earthquake.  The mist and darkness started to descend upon them.  It finally ended with a loud cry (sound), which destroyed them all at the same time.

Prophet Salih a.s. and his followers migrated away from the destroyed place.  They came to Palestine and lived in the city of Al-Ramlah.  Prophet Salih a.s. died and was buried there.

STORIES OF THE PROPHETS IN AL-QURAN

(Lessons that we can extract, lessons that we can apply)

(Teaser extraction from the book)

To be continued…

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