Prophet Saleh
God said in Quran that Prophets and Messengers were sent to
every nation on earth and that they all spread the same message -
to worship One God, alone, without partners, sons, or daughters.
The majority of Prophets mentioned in the Quran and the traditions
of Prophet Muhammad are recognisable, and considered prophets in
both the Jewish and Christian faiths. Prophet Saleh however, is one
of only four Arab prophets and his story is not universally
known.
{And, indeed We have sent Messengers
before you (O Muhammad); of some of them We have related to you
their story and of some We have not related to you their story, and
it was not given to any Messenger that he should bring a sign
except by the Leave of God.} [Quran 40:78[
{وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلًا مِّن
قَبْلِكَ مِنْهُم مَّن قَصَصْنَا عَلَيْكَ وَمِنْهُم مَّن لَّمْ
نَقْصُصْ عَلَيْكَ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَن يَأْتِيَ بِآيَةٍ
إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّه} [غافر:٧٨]
Transliteration: Wa Laqad 'Arsalnā Rusulāan Min
Qablika Minhum Man Qaşaşnā `Alayka Wa Minhum Man Lam Naqşuş `Alayka
Wa Mā Kāna Lirasūlin 'An Ya'tiya Bi'āyatin 'Illā Bi'idhni
Allāhi
Ad and Thamud were two great civilisations
destroyed by God due to their excessive wickedness. After the
destruction of Ad, Thamud succeeded them in power and grandeur. The
people led wealthy excessive lives, built grand buildings, both on
the plains, and carved into the hills. Unfortunately with their
extravagant lifestyles came idol worship and wickedness. Prophet
Saleh was sent to warn the people of Thamud, that God was not
pleased with their behaviour, and would rain down destruction upon
them, if they did not mend their evil ways.
Saleh was a pious, righteous man who held a position of leadership
in the community, but his call to worship God alone infuriated many
people. Some understood the wisdom of his words, but the majority
of the people disbelieved and harmed Saleh with both words and
actions.
{O Saleh! You have been among us as a
figure of good hope and we wished for you to be our chief, till
this, new thing, which you have brought that we leave our gods, and
worship your God alone! Do you now forbid us the worship of what
our fathers have worshipped? But we are really in grave doubt as to
that which you invite us to monotheism.} [Quran 11:62]
{قَالُوا يَا صَالِحُ قَدْ كُنتَ فِينَا
مَرْجُوًّا قَبْلَ هَٰذَا ۖ أَتَنْهَانَا أَن نَّعْبُدَ مَا يَعْبُدُ
آبَاؤُنَا وَإِنَّنَا لَفِي شَكٍّ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَا إِلَيْهِ
مُرِيبٍ} [هود:٦٢]
Transliteration: Qālū Yā Şāliĥu Qad Kunta Fīnā
Marjūwāan Qabla Hādhā 'Atanhānā 'An Na`buda Mā Ya`budu 'Ābā'uunā Wa
'Innanā Lafī Shakkin Mimmā Tad`ūnā 'Ilayhi Murībin
The people of Thamud gathered at their meeting place, in the
shadows of a great mountain. They demanded that Saleh prove that
the One God he spoke of was truly mighty and strong. They asked him
to perform a miracle - to cause a unique and incomparable she camel
to emerge from the nearby mountains. Saleh addressed his people
asking, if the camel appeared would they then believe in his
message. They answered a resounding yes, and together the people
prayed with Saleh for the miracle to occur.
By the grace of God, an enormous, ten month pregnant she camel
emerged from the rocks at the bottom of the mountain. Some of the
people understood the magnitude of this miracle but the majority
continued to disbelieve. They saw a great and dazzling sight yet
remained arrogant and stubborn.
{We sent the she camel to Thamud as a
clear sign, but they did her wrong.} [Quran 17:59]
{ وَآتَيْنَا ثَمُودَ النَّاقَةَ
مُبْصِرَةً فَظَلَمُوا بِهَا} [الإسراء:٥٩]
Transliteration: Wa 'Ātaynā Thamūda An-Nāqata
Mubşiratan Fažalamū Bihā
Quran commentator and Islamic scholar Ibn Kathir informs us that
there are a number of accounts of the she camel and her miraculous
nature. It is said that the camel appeared from a rock that split
open, and some people pointed out that the camel was so huge it was
able to drink all the water in the town's wells in one day. Other
people said the camel was able to produce enough milk every day to
feed the entire population. The camel lived among the people of
Thamud and sadly, the disbelievers who had harassed Saleh turned
their anger and resentment towards the camel.
Although many people believed in God, listened to Prophet Saleh,
and understood the miracle of the she camel, many others stubbornly
refused to listen. People began to complain that the camel drank
too much water, or that she frightened the other livestock. Prophet
Saleh began to fear for the camel. He warned his people of a great
torment that would befall them if they harmed the she camel.
{O my people! This she camel of God is
a sign to you, leave her to feed on God's earth, and touch her not
with evil lest a near torment will seize you.} [Quran
11:64]
{وَيَا قَوْمِ هَٰذِهِ نَاقَةُ اللَّهِ
لَكُمْ آيَةً فَذَرُوهَا تَأْكُلْ فِي أَرْضِ اللَّهِ وَلَا
تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ قَرِيبٌ}
[هود:٦٤]
Transliteration: Wa Yā Qawmi Hadhihi Nāqatu Allāhi
Lakum 'Āyatan Fadharūhā Ta'kul Fī 'Arđi Allāhi Wa Lā Tamassūhā
Bisū'in Faya'khudhakum `Adhābun Qarībun
A group of men encouraged their womenfolk, plotted to kill the she
camel and took the first opportunity to shoot her with an arrow and
pierce her with a sword. The she camel fell to the ground and died.
The murderers cheered and congratulated each other and the
disbelievers laughed and mocked Saleh. Prophet Saleh warned the
people that a great torment would be upon them with in three days,
but he continued to hope that they would see the error of their
ways and seek God's forgiveness. Prophet Saleh said. {O my people! I have indeed conveyed to you
the Message of my Lord, and have given you good advice but you like
not good advisers.} [Quran 7:79]
{فَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَا
قَوْمِ لَقَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكُمْ رِسَالَةَ رَبِّي وَنَصَحْتُ لَكُمْ
وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُحِبُّونَ النَّاصِحِينَ} [الأعراف:٧٩]
Transliteration: Fatawallá `Anhum Wa Qāla
Yā Qawmi Laqad 'Ablaghtukum Risālata Rabbī Wa Naşaĥtu Lakum Wa
Lakin Lā Tuĥibbūna An-Nāşiĥīna
However, the people of Thamud jeered at Saleh's words and planned
to destroy him and his family as callously as they had killed the
she camel.
{And there were in the city nine men
(from the sons of their chiefs), who made mischief in the land, and
would not reform. They said: 'Swear to another by God that we shall
make a secret night attack on him and his household, and afterwards
we will surely say to his near relatives, "We witnessed not the
destruction of his household, and verily! We are telling the
truth.'} [Quran 27: 48 & 49]
{وَكَانَ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ تِسْعَةُ
رَهْطٍ يُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا يُصْلِحُونَ
﴿٤٨﴾ قَالُوا تَقَاسَمُوا بِاللَّهِ
لَنُبَيِّتَنَّهُ وَأَهْلَهُ ثُمَّ لَنَقُولَنَّ لِوَلِيِّهِ مَا
شَهِدْنَا مَهْلِكَ أَهْلِهِ وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ}
[النمل:٤٩]
Transliteration: Wa Kāna Fī Al-Madīnati Tis`atu
Rahţin Yufsidūna Fī Al-'Arđi Wa Lā Yuşliĥūna(48) Qālū Taqāsamū
Billāhi Lanubayyitannahu Wa 'Ahlahu Thumma Lanaqūlanna Liwalīyihi
Mā Shahidnā Mahlika 'Ahlihi Wa 'Innā Laşādiqūna
God saved Prophet Saleh and all his followers; they packed some
meagre belongings, and with heavy hearts, moved to another place.
After three days, Prophet Saleh's warning came to pass. The sky was
filled with lightening and thunder and the earth shook violently.
God destroyed the city of Thamud and her people died in a torment
of fear and disbelief.
Ibn Kathir said that Saleh's people fell down dead, one and all,
all at the same time. Their arrogance and disbelief could not save
them, nor could their idols. Their large and extravagant buildings
afforded them no protection at all. God continues to send clear
guidance to humankind but the disbelievers persist in their
arrogance and denial. God is the most Merciful and the most
Forgiving: He loves to forgive. However, God's warnings should not
to be ignored. God's punishment, as the people of Thamud
experienced, can be swift and severe.
By Aisha Stacey
The Religion of Islam
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