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After the destruction of the 'Ad the tribe of Thamud succeeded them in power and glory.They also fell to idol-worshipping. As their material wealth increased so, too, did their evil ways while their virtue decreased. Like the people of 'Ad, they erected huge buildings on the plains and hewed beautiful homes out of the hills. Tyranny and oppression became prevalent as evil men ruled the land.
So Allah sent unto them Prophet Saleh peace be upon him, a man from among them. His name was Salih ibn Ubayd ibn Maseh ibn Ubayd ibn Hader ibn Thamud ibn Ather ibn Eram ibn Noah.
He called his people to worship Allah alone, and to not associate partners with Him. While some of them believed him, the majority of them disbelieved and harmed him by both words and deeds.The story as told in the Quran goes like this. The people of Thamud were very vain and they refused to accept that Prophet Saleh(pbuh) was a messenger sent from Allah so they asked him for a sign to prove his credentials.They asked him, in fact, not just for any sign, but something quite specific.They pointed at a huge rock that was standing by itself, and proposed to him that Prophet should ask Allah to create a she-camel out of it.
Despite their obstinacy, Prophet Saleh(pbuh) did this, on the condition that they would believe in Allah, if he produced the she-camel from the rock, and to this they agreed. Prophet then fervently prayed to Allah to answer their request.The huge rock moved and split, and from it came a wonderful she-camel, which was pregnant and soon to give birth.Allah provided theThamud people with this miracle to test them, to see if they would obey His orders. Prophet Saleh(pbuh) told them:
O my people! This she-camel of Allah is a sign to you. Leave her to feed on Allah’s earth, and inflict no harm on her, or a swift punishment will seize you! (11:64)
The camel lived among people of Thamud, and soon gave birth to a calf. Some of the people accepted to believe in Allah because of what they had seen, and because of what they had promised.Others, however, did not, and they began to hate the camel, as it reminded them of Prophet Saleh(pbuh) and of the promise they had made to him. It used to graze among their herbs and drink from their water.
In fact, one day it would drink, and the next day the other animals would drink. Prophet Saleh(pbuh) told them to let it drink from the water of the well for one day, and leave it to them the second day as Allah ordered:
She has a right to drink (water), and you have a right to drink water, each on a day appointed.(54:28)
Instead of convincing them to be kind to the animal, they actually chose to harm it. (7:75-7)
As if their disbelief was not enough, they also challenged Prophet Saleh(pbuh) to bring down the punishment of Allah upon them if he was, indeed, a Prophet.
Nine men amongst them, known for their mischief went to the camel and its calf at night time, and they killed them both.Prophet Saleh(pbuh) was very upset at what they had done. The camel had surely done them no harm, he said.
Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days. This is a promise that will not be belied. (11:65)
They(disbelievers) also plotted to kill Prophet and his household as Almighty Allah stated:
So they plot, and We planned a plan, while they perceived not.[Al-Qur'an 27:50]
Allah saved Prophet Saleh(pbuh) and his followers from their wicked plans.Heavy hearted, they left the evil doers and moved to another place.Three days after Prophet Saleh's(pbuh) warning, thunderbolts filled the air, followed by severe earthquakes which destroyed the entire tribe and its homeland. The land was violently shaken. There was one terrific cry which had hardly ended when the disbelivers were struck dead, one and all, at the same time. Neither their strong buildings nor their rock hewn homes could protect them.All were destroyed before they realized what was happening. As for the people who believed in the message of Allah, they were saved because they had left the place.
