After the destruction of the arrogant tribe of Aad, another great civilization rose to power in the region of Al-Hijr (between Madinah and Tabuk): the tribe of Thamud. They inherited the land and wealth, building magnificent homes carved out of solid mountains and constructing grand fortresses in the plains.
Wealth, Skill, and Arrogance
The people of Thamud were exceptionally skilled in architecture and stonemasonry. They believed they were safe, invincible, and would live forever in their mountain dwellings. However, just like their predecessors before them, worldly luxury blinded them, and they descended into idolatry, corruption, and social injustice, turning away completely from the worship of Allah.
The Call of Prophet Saleh
To guide Thamud back to righteousness, Allah chose a noble and respected man from among them: Saleh, peace be upon him. Saleh was known for his wisdom, honesty, and integrity. He called his people with gentle persuasion, urging them to worship Allah alone and warning them of the consequences of their tyranny and corruption.
Saleh reminded them of Allah’s favors: “And remember when He made you successors after Aad and settled you in the land, and you take for yourselves palaces from its plains and carve out homes from the mountains. So remember the favors of Allah and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption.”
The Miracle of the She-Camel
The leaders and elites of Thamud rejected Saleh’s message, mocking him and demanding a clear physical sign or miracle to prove his prophethood. They challenged him, saying: “You are only of those affected by magic. You are only a man like us. Then bring us a sign, if you should be of the truthful.”
Saleh asked them what sign they desired. They pointed to a specific rock formation and demanded that a living, pregnant she-camel emerge from solid rock, fulfilling exact and impossible physical characteristics.
Saleh turned to Allah in sincere prayer. By the divine power of Allah, the solid rock cracked, and a magnificent, enormous, pregnant she-camel stepped out, exactly as they had requested. It was a miraculous and undeniable proof.
The Warning and the Test
Following this miraculous event, Saleh delivered a strict warning: “O my people, this is the camel of Allah as a sign to you. So leave her to graze within Allah’s land and do not touch her with harm, lest there seize you an immediate punishment.”
Furthermore, the she-camel was granted a special right to water: she had exclusive access to their water source one day, and the entire community of Thamud drank from it the next day. For a time, the people witnessed the blessing of the camel, as she provided abundant milk for the entire town.
The Plot and the Slaughter
Despite the clear miracle, wickedness and hatred festered among the arrogant leaders of Thamud. They grew resentful of the camel’s presence and the growing number of people who believed in Saleh’s message.
A group of conspirators, led by the most wretched man among them, plotted to kill the she-camel. Despite warnings from Saleh, they tracked the camel, and one of them ruthlessly hamstrung and slaughtered her.
The Ultimate Destruction
When Saleh learned of what they had done, he wept and warned them that they had only three days of grace left before the divine wrath descended. The disbelievers mocked the warning and even plotted to assassinate Saleh and his family under the cover of night.
Allah protected Saleh and foiled the plot of the disbelievers. On the morning of the first day, their faces turned yellow with fear; on the second, red; and on the third, black.
At the appointed hour, a terrifying earthquake shook the region from its foundations, accompanied by a deafening, violent blast from the skies. The combination of the catastrophic tremor and the devastating sound wave instantly destroyed the arrogant people of Thamud. They fell dead in their grand, carved mountain homes, motionless and lifeless, as if they had never flourished there.
Saleh and the faithful believers who followed him were saved by the mercy of Allah, migrating to a safe land and leaving behind the ruins of Thamud as an eternal warning for those who defy the commands of the Creator.