PROPHET SALIH (‘a)Prophets of Allah

Once upon a time there lived a tribe called the Thamud. The people of Thamud were rich and prosperous. They had plenty of wealth, fruitful orchards and farms. They used to build large houses for themselves within the mountains such than no hurricane or earthquake could destroy them. The tribe of Thamud were idol worshippers.

Among the Thamud, there lived a pious man by the Among the Thamud, there lived a pious man by the name of Salih. Allah had chosen Salih (‘a) as a name of Salih. Allah had chosen Salih (‘a) as a prophet and a guide for the people of Thamud. He prophet and a guide for the people of Thamud. He would tell the people to abandon idol worship and would tell the people to abandon idol worship and believe in the One True God.believe in the One True God.

Prophet Salih (‘a) would tell the people that their idols are man-made and powerless. Some of the elders of the tribe said to him: O Salih! If you are indeed a prophet, then you must show us a miracle! Salih (‘a) said: If I bring a miracle to you, will you turn away from idol worhip and belive in Allah? They replied: Yes, we will!

Some of the people said: We should also be given the chance to show how powerful our idols are. Let us also perform a miracle and prove we are on the right. Salih (‘a) accepted their challenge and stood waiting to see what miracle the idols could perform. But after hours of praying and worship, nothing happened!

When the elders of the tribe saw that there was no response from their idols, they told Prophet Salih (‘a) to pray to his One True God and seek a miracle from Him. They said: We will not accept just any miracle, we want you to bring a she-camel from within the mountain. Only then will be believe!

Prophet Salih (‘a) raised his hands and prayed to Allah. No sooner had he done so, that the mountain began to shake and suddenly from within it came a large she-camel.

Prophet Salih (‘a) climbed on a platform and addressed the people. He told them that this camel was a sign from Allah and that if they harmed it, the wrath of Allah would fall upon them. Henceforth, the camel will drink from the spring one day and the people will have access to the water, the next day. And in return, you will be allowed to benefit from the milk of the camel, he said.

As they saw the she-camel regularly, some of the people gradually stopped worshipping idols and started following Prophet Salih (‘a). When the elders of the tribe saw this, they were angered and decided to do something about it.

On the day when the she-camel came to drink water from the spring, a group of evildoers attacked and killed it. They had ignored the warning of Pophet Salih (‘a) about the camel. When Salih (‘a) heard what had happened, he became very sad. He went to the people and addressed them…

Why did you kill the she-camel? What harm did it do to you? Now you have only three days to believe in Allah and repent for what you have done. Otherwise you will all be destroyed.

As they stubbornly refused to heed the warnings of Prophet As they stubbornly refused to heed the warnings of Prophet Salih (‘a), after three days, smoldering rocks of fire fell upon Salih (‘a), after three days, smoldering rocks of fire fell upon them from the sky. All their orchards and houses were razed to them from the sky. All their orchards and houses were razed to the ground. And aside from Salih (‘a) and his followers, everyone the ground. And aside from Salih (‘a) and his followers, everyone was destroyed.was destroyed.

F.T.Jaffer