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.”
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.”
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 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.”
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.”
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.’”
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.