Prophet Salih (AS)

The story of Prophet Salih (AS) and the tribe of Thamud is one of the most significant narratives found within the Quran. It is a story where great architectural power was met with spiritual pride, and where a miraculous sign was used to test the hearts of an entire nation. Today, the silent, carved mountains of Al-Hijr stand as a witness to these events.

Who Was Hazrat Saleh (AS)

Hazrat Saleh (AS) was one of the Prophets of Allah and was sent to the people of Thamud. The Prophet Saleh's story in the Quran tells that he was a righteous man from among them, to call them to Tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and warn them of consequences for their disbelief.  

Prophet Saleh (Salih) was a descendant of Prophet Noah (Nuh) through his son Shem (Sam). 

Prophet Saleh Family Tree

Prophet Saleh (AS) was a descendant of the Prophet Nuh (AS) (Noah) and belonged to the ancient Arab tribe of Thamud. His lineage is primarily traced through Sam (Shem), the son of Nuh.

Islamic historians and scholars of genealogy trace his complete lineage as follows:

Who Were the People of Thamud 

The people of Thamud were the residents of a fertile region known as Al-Hijr (located in modern-day Saudi Arabia) was inhabited by them.

After the destruction of the people of ‘Ad, the people of Prophet Hud, the tribe of Thamud was established as the next dominant power in the Arabian Peninsula. 

Great blessings were bestowed upon this nation by Allah. They were granted incredible physical strength and technical skills that were unmatched in their time. Huge palaces were constructed on the plains, and magnificent homes were carved directly into the heart of the mountains. Water was found in abundance through springs and wells, and lush gardens were planted across the desert landscape.

وَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ إِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفَآءَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ عَادٍۢ وَبَوَّأَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِن سُهُولِهَا قُصُورًۭا وَتَنْحِتُونَ ٱلْجِبَالَ بُيُوتًۭا ۖ فَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ ءَالَآءَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ

Remember when He made you successors after Aad and established you in the land, and you built palaces on its plains and carved homes into mountains. So remember Allah’s favours, and do not go about spreading corruption in the land. (Quran 7:74)

However, as their material wealth grew, their spiritual state declined. The worship of the One God was abandoned, and idols were taken as objects of worship instead. Arrogance was spread among the ruling class, and the rights of the poor were ignored.

The Quran highlights;

The Appointment of Prophet Salih (AS)

Hazrat Salih (AS) was chosen by Allah to be a messenger to his people. He was not a stranger. He was a member of a noble family within the Thamud and was highly respected for his wisdom and integrity. During this period, Allah Appointed Saleh (AS) as the prophet. 

 وَإِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَـٰلِحًۭا ۚ

And to the people of Thamud, We sent their brother Salih. (Quran 11:61)

Before his prophethood, it was hoped by the people that he would one day become a great leader or a king among them.

The people were invited by Salih (AS) to leave their stone idols and return to the worship of Allah alone. They were reminded by him that their skills, their safety in the mountains, and their riches were all gifts from their Creator.

قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥ ۖ هُوَ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱسْتَعْمَرَكُمْ فِيهَا فَٱسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى قَرِيبٌۭ مُّجِيبٌۭ

He said,  “O my people! Worship Allah. You have no god other than Him. He ˹is the One Who˺ produced you from the earth and settled you on it. So seek His forgiveness and turn to Him in repentance. Surely my Lord is Ever Near, All-Responsive to prayers.”  (Quran 11:61)

However, his message was met with disappointment and anger by the elite. It was claimed by them that Salih (AS) had been affected by magic or was simply seeking personal power. They were frustrated that a man they once admired was now challenging their lifestyle and the traditions of their forefathers.

The Quran mentions:

قَالُوا۟ يَـٰصَـٰلِحُ قَدْ كُنتَ فِينَا مَرْجُوًّۭا قَبْلَ هَـٰذَآ ۖ أَتَنْهَىٰنَآ أَن نَّعْبُدَ مَا يَعْبُدُ ءَابَآؤُنَا وَإِنَّنَا لَفِى شَكٍّۢ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَآ إِلَيْهِ مُرِيبٍۢ

They argued, “O Ṣâliḥ! We truly had high hopes in you before this. How dare you forbid us to worship what our forefathers had worshipped? We are certainly in alarming doubt about what you are inviting us to. (Surah Hud, ayah 62)

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Demand of People and The Miracle of the She-Camel

As the message of Salih (AS) continued to spread, a miracle was demanded by the leaders of Thamud to prove his claims. A specific and seemingly impossible challenge was set. They pointed at a massive, solid rock and demanded that a giant, pregnant she-camel be brought out from within it.

Salih (AS) took a firm promise from them. If this miracle were granted by Allah, would they finally believe? They swore that they would. Salih (AS) then stood in deep prayer, and the miracle was witnessed by all. 

The rock was seen to groan and split apart, and a magnificent She-Camel emerged, exactly as they had described.

This animal was referred to as Naqatullah (the She-Camel of Allah). She was not an ordinary animal but a Sign and a Trial for the people.

The Divine Trial of Water

A very specific system for water consumption was established by Salih (AS) under the command of Allah. Because the camel was so large, she required a vast amount of water.

• The water from the local well was to be shared between the camel and the people.
• One full day was reserved exclusively for the camel to drink.
• The following day was reserved for the people and their livestock.
• On the day the camel drank all the water, she would stand still and allow the people to collect her milk, which was enough to feed the entire city.

A strict warning was given that if any harm was done to the camel, a swift and terrible punishment would be sent by Allah.

وَيَـٰقَوْمِ هَـٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةُ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ ءَايَةًۭ فَذَرُوهَا تَأْكُلْ فِىٓ أَرْضِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٍۢ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌۭ قَرِيبٌۭ

And O  my people! This she-camel of Allah is a sign for you.1 So leave her to graze freely on Allah’s earth and do her no harm, or a swift punishment will overtake you!”  (Quran 11:64)

The Plot and the Great Sin

For a period of time, the She-Camel lived among the people of Thamud. She was seen grazing in their fields and drinking from their wells. While some were moved by this miracle and followed Salih (AS), the hearts of the powerful remained hardened.

The sight of the miracle was hated by the disbelievers because it served as a constant reminder of Salih’s authority. A group of nine mischief-makers was formed within the city to plot against the Prophet and the miracle. These men were described as those who caused corruption and refused to mend their ways.

وَكَانَ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ تِسْعَةُ رَهْطٍۢ يُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا يُصْلِحُونَ

And there were in the city nine elite men who spread corruption in the land, never doing what is right. (Quran 27:48)

A plan was made by them to kill the camel. They found a man named Qudar ibn Salif, who was known for his cruelty, to carry out the deed. Under the cover of darkness, the camel was ambushed. Her legs were hamstrung (the tendons were cut), and she was killed.

After the crime was committed, the people did not feel regret. Instead, Salih (AS) was mocked by them. They challenged him to bring the punishment he had promised, believing that their mountain fortresses would keep them safe.

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The Three-Day Countdown

When Hazrat Saleh (AS) knew the death of the She-Camel, He felt a great sorrow. He informed his people that the limit of Allah’s patience had been reached. A final period of three days was granted to them to stay in their homes before the arrival of the destruction.

فَعَقَرُوهَا فَقَالَ تَمَتَّعُوا۟ فِى دَارِكُمْ ثَلَـٰثَةَ أَيَّامٍۢ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ وَعْدٌ غَيْرُ مَكْذُوبٍۢ

But they killed her, so he warned them, “You have only three more days to enjoy life in your homes—this is an unfailing promise!  (Quran 11:65)

During these three days, the following signs were observed:

• Day 1: The faces of the people were seen to turn bright yellow.
• Day 2: Their faces were seen to turn blood-red.
• Day 3: Their faces were seen to turn pitch black.

Even as these signs appeared, the nine mischief-makers remained arrogant. A secret plan was made by them to assassinate Salih (AS) and his family during the night. They intended to kill them and then deny any knowledge of the event to their relatives. However, their plot was frustrated by Allah, and they were destroyed before they could reach the Prophet.

The Destruction of Thamud 

On the dawn of the fourth day, the punishment was sent. It was not a flood or a fire, but a combination of sound and vibration that the human body could not withstand.

A deafening, terrifying scream (As-Sayhah) was heard from the sky, while a violent earthquake was felt from beneath. The sound was so powerful that the hearts of the disbelievers were ruptured. Every person who had rejected the message was struck dead instantly within their own homes.

The very mountains they had carved and the palaces they had built offered no protection. By the time the sun had fully risen, the once-proud civilization of Thamud was found lying face down, as if they had never lived there.

وَأَخَذَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ٱلصَّيْحَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ فِى دِيَـٰرِهِمْ جَـٰثِمِينَ (67)كَأَن لَّمْ يَغْنَوْا۟ فِيهَآ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ ثَمُودَا۟ كَفَرُوا۟ رَبَّهُمْ ۗ أَلَا بُعْدًۭا لِّثَمُودَ(68)

And the mighty blast overtook the wrongdoers, so they fell lifeless in their homes, as if they had never lived there. Surely Thamûd denied their Lord, so away with Thamud! (Quran 11:67-68)

Salih (AS) and the small group of believers were saved by Allah’s mercy. They were led away from the ruins of Al-Hijr to a place of safety. As Salih (AS) looked back at the remains of his people, his final words were filled with grief. The Quran mentions;

فَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ لَقَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكُمْ رِسَالَةَ رَبِّى وَنَصَحْتُ لَكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تُحِبُّونَ ٱلنَّـٰصِحِينَ

So he turned away from them, saying, “O my people! Surely I conveyed to you my Lord’s message and gave you sincere advice, but you do not like sincere advisors.”—(Quran 7:79)

Lessons and Reflections from the Story of Saleh (AS)

The story of Prophet Salih (AS) is not merely an ancient tale. It is a timeless lesson for all civilisations.

The Illusion of Security

The Thamud believed that because their homes were carved into mountains, they were safe from all harm. In the modern world, security is often sought in technology, wealth, and military power. It is reminded by this story that true security is only found in the pleasure of the Creator.

The Trial of Resources

The miracle of the She-Camel was centred around the sharing of water. This serves as a lesson in Social Justice. When the resources of the earth are hoarded by the powerful and denied to others (or to nature itself), the balance of society is destroyed.

The Danger of Complicity

While only one man killed the camel and nine men planned it, the entire nation was punished. This is because the majority of the people remained silent or supported the crime. It is taught here that a society is held responsible for the evil that it allows to happen within its borders.

Reflection on Past Civilizations

The ruins of Thamud are a reminder to learn from history, avoid their sins (like oppression and injustice), and not find wonder in the remnants of arrogance but in the Creator's power. 

Conclusion 

Prophet Salih (or Saleh) was sent by Allah to the Thamud people, a prosperous but corrupt tribe known for carving homes from mountains, to call them to monotheism and away from idol worship and injustice. When they demanded a miracle, Allah produced a miraculous she-camel from a rock, which served as a sign, but the disbelievers killed the camel and its calf, defying Salih's warnings. As punishment, a terrible earthquake destroyed the disbelievers, leaving Salih and his few followers to survive.