Surah Ash-Shu'araa (26) — Ayah 155

(Ayah 156,155) ➊ {قَالَ هٰذِهٖ نَاقَةٌ …:} Allah Almighty has declared this she-camel as {’’آيَةٌ بَيِّنَةٌ‘‘} and {’’آيَةٌ مُبْصِرَةٌ‘‘} (a clear sign and miracle). See Surah Al-A'raf (7:73), Hud (11:64), and Bani Isra'il (17:59). From this, it is understood that it was not an ordinary she-camel, but there must have been something in its birth and appearance due to which it was considered a miracle. In {’’ الصحيح المسبور‘‘}, it is mentioned that Ibn Hibban narrated with an authentic chain from Abu Tufail 'Amir bin Wathilah (may Allah be pleased with him): "Salih (peace be upon him) said to them, 'Go out!' So they went out towards a rock, and that rock trembled as a pregnant she-camel experiences labor pains, then it split open and from its midst the she-camel emerged. Then Salih (peace be upon him) said to them: «{ هٰذِهٖ نَاقَةُ اللّٰهِ لَكُمْ اٰيَةً فَذَرُوْهَا تَاْكُلْ فِيْۤ اَرْضِ اللّٰهِ وَ لَا تَمَسُّوْهَا بِسُوْٓءٍ فَيَاْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ قَرِيْبٌ } » [ ہود : ۶۴ ] 'This is Allah's she-camel, a great sign for you, so leave her to eat in Allah's land and do not harm her, otherwise a near punishment will seize you.'" Although the chain of this narration is authentic, it is the statement of a Companion.

Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: "The prominent chiefs of the people gathered and, pointing to a rock, demanded from Salih (peace be upon him) that he bring forth, before their eyes, a fully grown she-camel from that rock, with such and such characteristics. Salih (peace be upon him) took a firm promise from them that if their request was fulfilled, they would believe and follow him. When they gave their word, Salih (peace be upon him) stood before Allah Almighty to pray that their request be fulfilled. So, the rock to which they had pointed suddenly split open, and from it appeared a she-camel with the characteristics they had demanded. Upon seeing her, some people believed, but most persisted in their disbelief. Upon this, Salih (peace be upon him) said to them: «{ هٰذِهٖ نَاقَةُ اللّٰهِ لَكُمْ اٰيَةً فَذَرُوْهَا تَاْكُلْ فِيْۤ اَرْضِ اللّٰهِ وَ لَا تَمَسُّوْهَا بِسُوْٓءٍ فَيَاْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ قَرِيْبٌ }» [ ھود : ۶۴ ] 'This is Allah's she-camel, a great sign for you, so leave her to eat in Allah's land and do not harm her, otherwise a near punishment will seize you.'" The commentator Maraghi writes: "It is obligatory for us to accept such narrations as true only when they are established by authentic reports." The meaning is that these narrations are not established from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), however, there is no doubt that it was not an ordinary she-camel but a she-camel possessing miraculous qualities. Regarding this she-camel, an authentic hadith from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) has already been mentioned in Musnad Ahmad in reference to Surah Al-A'raf (7:73).

➋ { لَهَا شِرْبٌ وَّ لَكُمْ شِرْبُ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُوْمٍ :} From other verses of the Qur'an, it is understood that the people were not only commanded that every other day this she-camel would drink all the water of your area, but also that she would go wherever she wished in your fields and gardens and eat whatever she wished, and no harm should be done to her. See Surah Al-A'raf (7:73) and Hud (11:64).

155-1 This was the same she-camel that had appeared as a miracle from a rock at their request. One day was fixed for the she-camel and one day for them for water, and it was told to them that on the day when it is your turn to take water, the she-camel will not come to the watering place, and on the day when it is the she-camel's turn to drink water, you are not allowed to come to the watering place.

155. Salih said, "Here is a she-camel [94]—she has a right to drink water one day, and you all have a right to drink on another day.

[94]
The People of Thamud Demand a Physical Miracle from Sayyiduna Salih (peace be upon him):

Salih (peace be upon him) asked them, "What sign do you want?" They said, "We want this mountain in front of us to split open and from it a pregnant she-camel to emerge. Then, that pregnant she-camel should give birth to a calf before us, and we will believe in you." Salih (peace be upon him) prayed to Allah Almighty, and Allah granted his prayer. The mountain split, and from it a huge and gigantic she-camel emerged, which gave birth to a calf in front of those people. When the miracle demanded by the people appeared, it became a problem for them, because whenever the she-camel went to drink water at a well or spring, the other animals of the people would run away in fear of the size and stature of the she-camel.