Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 73

(Ayah 73) ➊ { وَ اِلٰى ثَمُوْدَ:} Thamud is also counted among the oldest nations of Arabia; after ‘Ad, it is the most famous nation, which is why some have also referred to it as “the second ‘Ad.” Their dwelling was in the northwestern region of Arabia, which is still known today as “Al-Hijr.” See Surah Al-Hijr (80) (Ibn Kathir). Some scholars say that due to the scarcity of water in their area, they were called Thamud, because “thamd” means little water. On the highway from Madinah to Tabuk, leading to Syria, there is a city famous as Madain Salih; this was the capital of the Thamud nation. In Surah Ash-Shu‘ara (146–149), Allah Almighty has mentioned their architectural and agricultural expertise. Even now, a considerable number of those buildings exist which Thamud carved out of the mountains, and around them is a vast field where they used to farm. ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) stopped near Tabuk, he and his companions stayed near the houses of Thamud in Al-Hijr. People drank water from the wells from which Thamud used to drink, kneaded dough with that water, and cooked food in pots. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered, they threw away the pots and fed the dough to the camels. Then he moved on and camped at the well from which (Salih’s) she-camel used to drink. He forbade entering the houses of those upon whom punishment had descended and said: “Do not enter the houses of those who wronged themselves unless you are weeping, for I fear that the same punishment may befall you as befell them.” [ أحمد : 117/2، ح : ۵۹۸۹۔ مسلم : ۲۹۸۰ ]
That well still exists, but it has dried up. (Ibn Kathir) There is a long hadith narrated from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) descended at Al-Hijr, he gave a sermon and said: “O people! Do not ask your Prophet for signs (miracles). See, the people of Salih asked their Prophet to send them a she-camel, so it would come from that mountain pass and drink their water on the day it was her turn, and they would obtain as much milk from her as they would be satisfied with water.” [ مستدرک حاکم : 340/2، ح ۳۳۰۴۔ صححہ الحاکم ووافقہ الذہبی ] Some travelogues mention that the crack in the mountain from which the she-camel emerged as a miracle still exists. Ibn Kathir has named this rock “Al-Katibah.” (Al-Bidayah) But after thousands of years, to declare any crack as the place from which the she-camel emerged without solid evidence is nothing more than shooting arrows in the dark.
➋ { اَخَاهُمْ صٰلِحًا:} Hafiz Baghawi (may Allah have mercy on him) has stated their genealogy as follows: Salih bin ‘Ubaid bin Asif bin Mashih bin ‘Ubaid bin Hazir bin Thamud. (Baghawi) Further, it is stated: ‘Athir bin Iram bin Sam bin Nuh. Thamud had two brothers, after whom the two tribes of Tasm and Jadis are famous. (Ibn Kathir) However, the accuracy of genealogies from that era is not certain, as we have no reliable source for them. Some have written that on the eastern edge of the Sinai Peninsula is the grave of Salih (peace be upon him), which is still a place of visitation, and in the same peninsula near Mount Musa, the footprint of Salih’s she-camel is known. But as I have quoted from Mulla ‘Ali Qari under Ayah (65), except for our Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), the grave of no other Prophet is known, and it does not take long to make a footprint; yes, if there were a solid source of knowledge, that would be another matter, but it is not present here.
➌ {هٰذِهٖ نَاقَةُ اللّٰهِ:} In Surah Ash-Shu‘ara (148–159), it is mentioned that Salih (peace be upon him) invited his people to the oneness of Allah, to accept his prophethood and obedience, and to refrain from spreading corruption in the land. They called him bewitched and a man like themselves, and rejected him, demanding a miracle as proof of his prophethood. Salih (peace be upon him) prayed to Allah Almighty, and Allah sent a she-camel, which was a wondrous miracle: one day she would drink all their water, and the next day it would be their and their animals’ turn. The Qur’an and Hadith do not detail how the she-camel appeared, but in histories and tafsirs it is mentioned that a mountain rock split and the she-camel emerged from it. Salih (peace be upon him) warned them that if they harmed the she-camel, a great and painful punishment would seize them. Then nine miscreants among them plotted to attack and martyr Salih (peace be upon him) and his family at night, the details of which are in Surah An-Naml (48–53). Eventually, they killed the she-camel, and then the punishment descended upon them, the details of which are mentioned here and in Surahs Hud, Ash-Shu‘ara, An-Naml, Ash-Shams, etc., and will be discussed at their respective places. {’’ نَاقَةُ اللّٰهِ ‘‘} Although all she-camels, indeed the entire universe, belongs to Allah, this particular she-camel was specifically called “Allah’s she-camel” to indicate her greatness and miraculous nature, just as all houses belong to Allah, yet {’’بيت اﷲ‘‘} is used for the one in Makkah.
➍ { وَ لَا تَمَسُّوْهَا بِسُوْٓءٍ فَيَاْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ اَلِيْمٌ:} That is, if you harm or injure her, Allah’s punishment will descend upon you.

73. 1. These were the people of Thamud, who resided in Wadi al-Qura between Hijaz and Sham. In 9 AH, while going to Tabuk, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his companions passed by their dwellings and valley, upon which he ﷺ said to the companions: "When you pass through the region of a punished nation, pass through weeping, that is, seeking refuge from Allah's punishment." (Sahih Bukhari) Prophet Salih (peace be upon him) was sent to them as a prophet. This incident occurred after the people of 'Ad. They demanded from their prophet that he bring forth a she-camel from a rock, which they could see with their own eyes as it emerged. Prophet Salih (peace be upon him) took a covenant from them that if they did not believe after this, they would be destroyed. Thus, Allah Almighty manifested the she-camel at their request. They were strictly instructed regarding this she-camel that no one should touch it with evil intent, otherwise they would be seized by Allah's punishment. But these wrongdoers even killed the she-camel, and three days later they were destroyed by the punishment of the shriek (Sayhah, a loud cry) and the earthquake (Rajfah), leaving them lying face down in their homes.

And to Thamud We sent their brother Salih. He said to his people, "Worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. A clear sign [77] has come to you from your Lord. This is Allah’s she-camel as a sign for you. So let her graze in Allah’s land, and do not touch her with evil intent, or a painful punishment will seize you."

[77]
The Center of Preaching of Sayyiduna Salih ؑ and the People of Thamud:

The region of the people of Thamud was located between Hijaz and Syria. The Noble Quran has also referred to them as Ashab al-Hijr. Hijr was the name of one of their flourishing cities, which was situated on the route from Madinah to Tabuk. Thus, when you returned from the expedition of Tabuk, you stopped at the place of Hijr. Some of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them all, quickly took water from one of the wells there and kneaded flour with it. You ﷺ ordered that the kneaded dough be thrown away or given to the camels to eat, and that the water which had been filled in the water skins be poured out. Then you ﷺ showed the Companions ؓ the well from which the she-camel of Salih ؑ used to drink water. You ﷺ said, "If you want to take water, then take and use it from this well." Then you ﷺ ordered to depart from there as quickly as possible and said, "Do not go into the settlements of the sinners except while weeping, fearing Allah, and seeking forgiveness, lest the punishment that befell them should also befall you." Saying this, you ﷺ covered your face with a sheet while still on the camel saddle. [بخاري۔ كتاب بدالانبياء۔ باب قول الله والي ثمودا خاهم صالحا] This nation too was involved in idol worship. Salih ؑ said, "O people! Besides Allah, there is no one who can fulfill your needs or remove your difficulties. Therefore, you should worship only Him and seek help only from Him, and I am conveying this message to you as the Messenger of your Lord."

Allah's She-Camel and Its Characteristics:

They said, "Show us a tangible miracle as proof of your prophethood, then we will accept your word." He asked, "What kind of miracle do you want?" They said, "Let a pregnant she-camel come forth from this mountain, and then let her give birth to a calf before us, so that we may understand that you are truly the Messenger of Allah and we will believe in you." Sayyiduna Salih ؑ prayed to Allah, so the mountain split open, from which emerged a she-camel of great stature and size, and she gave birth to a calf before them. At that time, Salih ؑ said to his people, "Let this she-camel roam freely, for she is the miracle you demanded and a sign from Allah. Let her graze wherever she wishes and drink water from wherever she wishes." Now the situation was that, firstly, there was already a shortage of water in that area, and secondly, this tall and large she-camel would drink as much water in one day as all their animals combined. Therefore, Sayyiduna Salih ؑ said, "Set a schedule: on one day your animals will drink water from this well, and on the next day this she-camel (whom Allah has called Naqatullah, i.e., Allah's she-camel, at another place) will drink water." Along with this, he also warned that if you do any harm to this she-camel, then a severe punishment from Allah will descend upon you.