people. The Thamudites were the descendants of Thamud, a grandson of
Sam. They lived inWadi al-Quraandal-HajrbetweenSyria and Hijaz. They
worshipped idols and thought them very powerful. They believed that
their idols provided them with food and rain, preserved them from all
dangers and restored them to health when they were ill.
This tribe flourished more than two centuries after Ad. Its people
werefamousfor their longevity and enormous bulk. They built
spaciousbuildingsin the caves of the mountains and attained
considerablepowers.
Slaughtering of She-Camel
TheProphet Salih (peace he upon him)was commissioned by Allah to
invite the tribe to the worship of One God but they turned a deaf ear
to his preaching. Whenever the Prophet Salih (peace be upon him) spoke
ill of their deities, they behaved impudently towards him.
At last they hatched a plan to put him to death. Allah fixed
ashe-camel as a signand warned them that if they slew her, they would
be overtaken by the chastisement from Allah. There is nothing strange
in fixing she-camel as a sign. It is an admitted fact that Ka'bah, a
constructed House, is one of thesigns of Allah. Whoso tries to destroy
it,perishes himself. Similarly she-camel was one of the signs of God.
The Prophet Salih (peace be upon him) demanded that she should be
allowed tograzein the pastures anddrinkwater from the springs. The
stubborn people slaughtered the she-camel provided by God while it was
grazing in the pastures.
Chastisements Befalls
When they were about to execute their final plan against Prophet Salih
(peace be upon him), they weredestroyed by Allah'spunishment.
Avisitationbefell them and they were exterminated by volcanic eruption
which showered stones upon them. The calamity which overtook the Bani
Thamud was very terrible.
Description in the Holy Quran
Some references regarding the Prophet Salih (peace be upon him) and
his people are as under:
"And to the Thamud We sent their brother Salih. He said: 0' my people:
Serve Allah. You have no god other than Him. Clear proof, indeed, has
come to you from your Lord. This is as Allah's she-camel for you, a
sign. Therefore, leave her alone to pasture on God's earth and do not
do her any harm. Otherwise painful chastisement will overtake you. And
remember when He made you successors after Ad and settled you in the
land. You made mansions on its plains and hew out houses in the
mountains; remember, therefore, Allah's benefits and do not act
corruptly in the land making mischief's. The Chiefs of those who
behaved proudly among his people said to those who were considered
weak, to those who believed from among them: Are you sure that Salih
is sent by his Lord ? They said: Surely, we are believers in what he
has been sent with. Those who were haughty said: Surely, we deny of
what you believe in. So they slew the she-camel and revolted against
their Lord's Commandments and they said: O' Salih! Bring us of what
you have threatened us with if you are one of the Apostles. Then the
earthquake overtook them so they became motionless bodies in their
abodes." ( Surah 7: Verses 73-78)
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