The story of Salih

Salih (عليه السلام) was sent to Thamud, and his fifth great-grandfather is Thamud, the son of 'Aad (the tribe of Hud عليه السلام). 'Aad, for his part, has as his fourth forefather Sam, the son of Nuh (عليه السلام). Nuh is therefore the ancestor of Salih. Salih (عليه السلام) is one of the four Arab prophets sent by Allah (عز وجل), the other three being Hud (عليه السلام), Shu'ayb (عليهم السلام) and Muhammad (ﷺ).

The Thamud succeeded the people of 'Aad, and the lands, their power and their might were taken over by this tribe. They had built their houses in the mountains and spent their lives in ease and comfort. Yet they were not grateful to Allah (عز وجل) for His many blessings.

فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ وَزُرُوعٍ وَنَخْلٍ طَلْعُهَا هَضِيمٌ وَتَنْحِتُونَ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا فَارِهِينَ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ

Within gardens and springs And fields of crops and palm trees with softened fruit? And you carve out of the mountains, homes, with skill. So fear Allah and obey me.

Surah Ash-Shu'ara, verses 147-150

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah Ash-Shu'ara 26:147-150

The prophet Salih (عليه السلام) was sent to them to warn them and so that they would know that Allah (عز وجل) was greatly displeased with their doings, and that if they did not mend their ways, He would send destruction down upon them.

What is astonishing is that the Thamud knew of the annihilation that their predecessors 'Aad had suffered, for the generations had passed down this historical event, but unfortunately, the devil succeeded in blinding them, they denied Allah (عز وجل), worse, they began to worship and implore statues, idols, thus following the path of misguidance.

Salih (عليه السلام) continued to advise them in the hope of bringing them back to the right path.

وَإِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَالِحًا قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ أَنشَأَكُمْ وَاسْتَعْمَرَكُمْ فِيهَا فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ثُمَّ تُوبُوا إِلَيْهِ إِنَّ رَبِّي قَرِيبٌ مُّجِيبٌ

And to Thamud [We sent] their brother Salih. He said, "O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. He has produced you from the earth and settled you in it, so ask forgiveness of Him and then repent to Him. Indeed, my Lord is near and responsive."

Surah Hud, verse 61

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah Hud 11:61-62

His people threw down a challenge to him, to prove in this way that he really is the Envoy of Allah (عز وجل) and that he was truly strong and powerful: "You are only a man like us. Bring a marvel then, if you are among the truthful".

They asked him to make a unique she-camel come forth from among the neighboring mountains. Salih asked them: "if the she-camel appears before you, will you finally believe in my message?" They answered with a "yes" and they prayed, with Salih (عليه السلام), for the miracle to be accomplished.

Salih (عليه السلام) implored Allah (عز وجل) and asked Him to accomplish this miracle by bringing forth from the rock the she-camel demanded by his tribe. Suddenly the rock split open and an immense she-camel came out of it; she was magnificent, of a size never equaled, ten months pregnant.

مَا أَنتَ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا فَأْتِ بِآيَةٍ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ

You are but a man like ourselves, so bring a sign, if you should be of the truthful."

Surah Ash-Shu'ara, verse 154

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah Ash-Shu'ara 26:154

This miraculous apparition deeply struck the Thamud; some of them understood the extraordinary character of this miracle, but most, in their arrogance and their stubbornness, continued to deny and refused to believe in anything other than chance. The Thamud see with their own eyes this irrefutable proof.

Allah (عز وجل) asked His prophet to inform them: "And inform them that the water will be shared between them (and the she-camel); each will drink in turn." "Here is a she-camel: to her the drinking on an appointed day, and to you the drinking on a day."

He informed them and warned them never to do harm to the she-camel: "And do not inflict any harm on her, or the punishment of a terrible day will seize you".

يَا قَوْمِ هَٰذِهِ نَاقَةُ اللَّهِ لَكُمْ آيَةً فَذَرُوهَا تَأْكُلْ فِي أَرْضِ اللَّهِ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ قَرِيبٌ

O my people, this is the she-camel of Allah - [she is] to you a sign. So let her feed upon Allah 's earth and do not touch her with harm, or you will be taken by an impending punishment.

Surah Hud, verse 64

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah Hud 11:64

This event divided them into two clans. One of the clans repudiated the pact that had been concluded and what they had seen with their own eyes. The clan of the perverse manifested its will to kill the she-camel.

Some began to complain that she drank too much water or, again, that she terrified their livestock. The prophet Salih (عليه السلام) therefore began to fear for the she-camel. He warned his people against a terrible torment that would certainly fall upon them if they caused her harm.

The she-camel disturbed the Thamud, because she compromised their material life. They then decided to slaughter her.

فَعَقَرُوا النَّاقَةَ وَعَتَوْا عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ وَقَالُوا يَا صَالِحُ ائْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَا إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ

So they hamstrung the she-camel and were insolent toward the command of their Lord and said, "O Salih, bring us what you promise us, if you should be of the messengers."

Surah Al-A'raf, verse 77

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah Al-A'raf 7:77 and Surah An-Naml 27:48

They killed the she-camel without any remorse nor any fear of their Lord, even daring to say to Salih (عليه السلام): "O Salih, bring upon us what you threaten us with, if you are among the Envoys".

Salih, seeing his people eating the flesh of the she-camel, said to them: "Enjoy (your goods) in your dwellings for three days (more)! That is a promise that will not be belied". He then went away with the believers.

The disbelievers mocked Salih (عليه السلام) and manifested their will to kill the prophet. But their plot was foiled by Allah (عز وجل), who stopped their attack with a rain of stones that annihilated the aggressors in their totality.

قَالُوا تَقَاسَمُوا بِاللَّهِ لَنُبَيِّتَنَّهُ وَأَهْلَهُ ثُمَّ لَنَقُولَنَّ لِوَلِيِّهِ مَا شَهِدْنَا مَهْلِكَ أَهْلِهِ وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ وَمَكَرُوا مَكْرًا وَمَكَرْنَا مَكْرًا وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

They said, "Take a mutual oath by Allah that we will kill him by night, he and his family. Then we will say to his executor, 'We did not witness the destruction of his family, and indeed, we are truthful.' " And they planned a plan, and We planned a plan, while they perceived not.

Surah An-Naml, verses 49-50

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah Hud 11:65, Surah An-Naml 27:49-50, Surah Al-A'raf 7:77

Three days later, the hour of the punishment arrived. There was first an earthquake: "The cataclysm seized them; and there they were, lying prostrate in their dwellings." Then a sound coming from the sky finished them off.

They all lay strewn across the ground. They were reduced to dust; Allah (عز وجل) excluded them from His mercy. "In truth, the Thamud did not believe in their Lord. May the Thamud perish!"

Allah (عز وجل) saved the prophet Salih (عليه السلام) and his faithful, who, with heavy hearts, went into exile. Three days later, the punishment struck; the sky was streaked with lightning, the thunder rumbled atrociously, the earth shook violently and Allah (عز وجل) destroyed the city of the Thamud, whose members perished, terrified and unbelieving.

فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الرَّجْفَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا فِي دَارِهِمْ جَاثِمِينَ

So the earthquake seized them, and they became within their home [corpses] fallen prone.

Surah Al-A'raf, verse 78

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah Al-A'raf 7:78, Surah Adh-Dhariyat 51:43-45, Surah Al-Qamar 54:31, Surah Hud 11:68

The story of Salih (عليه السلام) and the she-camel contains many precious teachings. It shows us first that the miracles of Allah (عز وجل) are dazzling proofs of His power, but that pride and obstinacy can blind hearts even in the face of the evidence.

It also teaches us the danger of defying Allah (عز وجل) and attacking His signs. The she-camel was a miracle and a blessing, but the Thamud saw her as a burden because of their ingratitude and their arrogance.

The story also illustrates divine justice: Allah (عز وجل) always gives peoples clear warnings and respite in which to repent, but when they persist in their rebellion, His justice is accomplished. Finally, it reminds us that Allah (عز وجل) always saves those who believe in Him and follow His messengers, even in the midst of catastrophes.

وَمَا مَنَعَنَا أَن نُّرْسِلَ بِالْآيَاتِ إِلَّا أَن كَذَّبَ بِهَا الْأَوَّلُونَ وَآتَيْنَا ثَمُودَ النَّاقَةَ مُبْصِرَةً فَظَلَمُوا بِهَا وَمَا نُرْسِلُ بِالْآيَاتِ إِلَّا تَخْوِيفًا

And nothing has prevented Us from sending signs except that the former peoples denied them. And We gave Thamud the she-camel as a visible sign, but they wronged her. And We send not the signs except as a warning.

Surah Al-Isra, verse 59

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah Al-Isra 17:59