HOMES IN THE MOUNTAINS
The tribe of Thamud lived in the Arabian Peninsular, between Hijaz and Tabuk. They were of Arab origin and were the successors of the people of ‘Ad. Not having learnt from their predecessors, they were a haughty race, and one of the things that they were known for was their astonishing skills in architecture. Unlike their ancestors who built their homes and monuments on top of mountains, the people of Thamud topped the ability of the tribe of ‘Ad, and built their homes inside the mountains, where they hewed, carved and engraved into the mountains. By some accounts, they possessed such longevity that their mud brick houses would crumble into ruins during their lifetime, necessitating the more innovative and permanent form of accommodation.
“…And remember when He made you successors after the ‘Ad and settled you in the land, [and] you take for yourselves palaces from its plains and carve from the mountains, homes.” (7:74)
Their dwellings were lush and abundant with fountains, date palms and plantations. However, instead of crediting Allah for all the bounties they enjoyed, they became arrogant with their wealth and skills. Like their predecessors, the people of ‘Ad, they allowed Shaitan to decorate their worldly activities and made them feel secure that their achievements would fortify them from the forces of Allah. They were self-satisfied; arrogant to the extent that they thought themselves beyond the retribution of their Creator. Instead of worshipping Allah, the people of Thamud worshipped life and their abilities.
The cycle of human nature repeated itself, and they indulged in the practice of idol worshipping. As with the previous communities, there was a lack of knowledge, which led people to be steeped in the arrogance and forgetfulness of Islam. It was to this community that Saleh AS was sent.
The Da’wah of Saleh AS
The message of Saleh AS can be summarised by the following timeless message, the one that will stand until the end of time. It is “La Ilaha Illallah” – the denial and negation of all except Allah, the one God. He tried to convince the people of Thamud to worship only Allah, reminding them of their humble origins, as beings created from the earth. He implored them to ask for forgiveness of their Lord, to fear Allah and to obey the Message. He tried to persuade them to cease their wrongdoing and corruption; and to desist from obeying the bidding of the transgressing people. He reminded them that he was not expecting any form of reward from them should they obey his message, for his reward lay with Allah alone. Like all the Prophets and Messengers, his mission was to bring his people to salvation; he was sent to the community to benefit them, rather than to benefit himself. Like all Prophets and Messengers who came before and after him, the core of the message was the same.
He reminded them that as successors of ‘Ad, it was incumbent upon them to choose the correct path and way of life. He pointed out that all their magnificent dwellings and lush agriculture should not make them feel secure against Allah. He tried, with all the gentle manners befitting of Prophets and Messengers, to make them attribute all their skills and mastery in their architectural and agricultural achievements to Allah, and to therefore to be grateful to Him by acting in accordance with His divine guidance. Underlying this message was the grim reminder of the grave consequences that befell the people of ‘Ad, a fate that the Thamud community should try to avoid.
The people of Thamud were suspicious of his message, and refused to be persuaded by him. They clung on stubbornly to the idolatry of their ancestors, and accused Saleh AS of being bewitched. They reasoned that since he was a human being like themselves, he was required to produce a clear miracle to support the veracity of his prophethood. As with all disbelieving communities who asked for signs, they were too rooted in their falsehood, and their spiritual blindness would inevitably lead them to reject any sign placed before them, no matter how convincing.
Were their request to be granted, the Thamud would position themselves at peril and subject themselves to a great trial. For once an irrefutable sign had been produced, they would not have any further excuse for rejecting the divine call, and the consequences on them for any continuing disbelief would be catastrophic. Saleh AS tried to convince them of this for their own self preservation, but the people still pressed him for a miracle, giving him an ultimatum and calling him a liar if he was unable to produce one. “So bring a sign if you are truthful” (26:154), they demanded.
The She-Camel
It is said that the people of Thamud, during one of their assemblies, pointed towards some rocks and challenged Saleh AS to produce a large female camel and its baby, each with certain peculiar and unique characteristics. Concerned about the implications upon the community, Saleh AS asked whether, if he responded positively to their demand, they would accept him as a Messenger of Allah. They agreed, and upon that covenant, Saleh AS offered prayers to Allah and asked Allah to produce the camel of the qualities that they had described.
The people of Thamud watched in astonishment as a female camel and its baby matching their description emerged from the rocks. Yet, even in the face of such unquestionable proof, most of the community still disbelieved. “The chiefs of those who behaved arrogantly among his people said to those who were considered weak from those who believed: ‘Do you know (believe) that Saleh is sent by the Lord? They said: ‘Indeed, we believe in the Message with which he has been sent.’ Those who were haughty said: ‘We certainly disbelieve in what you believe.” (7:75-7:76)
With the camels, a great trial descended upon the community – for the she-camel was to be permitted to graze wherever she pleased. “And do not harm her, lest you be seized with a chastisement of a grievous day,” (26:156) Saleh AS warned them.
The people of Thamud were only allowed to utilise the well on alternate days. Allah ordered: “She shall have her portion of water, and you shall have your portion of water on an appointed day.” (26:155)
The camel was sent as a trial to the people of Thamud to test their sincerity and patience. “We shall send the she-camel as a trial for them. So watch them and bear patiently. And inform them that the water is to be shared between them and her, each one will have his drink in turn.” (54:27 – 54:28)
This was proof of Saleh’s AS prophethood, which the people continued to deny. The stand-off had to come to an end. Eventually, nine of the elite townspeople conspired to take matters into their own hands and kill the she-camel. They did not take heed of Allah’s warning, evidencing their continuing disbelief despite witnessing the miracle with their own eyes. “And there were in the city nine family heads causing corruption in the land and not amending [its affairs].” (27:48) These nine appointed a killer to perform the deed, and they persuaded the rest of the tribe to join in their diabolical plan. When the time came, they hamstrung her and then the appointed killer did his job.
Not being content with this, they also plotted to secretly attack Saleh AS and his household in the cover of the night and then deny the murder. They said: “Swear one to another by Allah that we shall make a secret night attack on him and his household, and afterwards we will surely say to his near relatives: ‘We witnessed not the destruction of his household, and verily! We are telling the truth.'” (27:49)
The evil deed done, they then challenged Saleh AS and said: “… O Saleh! Bring about your threats if you are indeed one of the Messengers (of Allah).” (7:77)
To this Saleh AS replied: “Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days. That is a promise [i.e. a threat] not to be denied.” (11:65). Some reports say that this threat was made on a Wednesday. Saleh AS warned the people that as a sign of the impending torture, their faces would turn yellow, black and red.
The Destruction of Thamud
Accounts mention that the people commissioned to assassinate Saleh AS and his family were crushed by a stone sent by Allah before they could carry out their treacherous plan.
Meanwhile, the people of Thamud waited. On the dawn of Thursday, the first morning, their faces had turned a pale yellow, as had been forewarned by Saleh AS. The deadline for their destruction grew closer, and on the second day, Friday, they awoke with their faces red. On Saturday morning, as warned by Saleh AS, their faces became black. The signs were convincing. They knew that their destruction was inevitable, yet on the face of it, still tried to deny what was coming.
They however, did not know in what manner such punishment would take place. Would it be by water, wind or some other form? When the sun rose on Sunday, they sat down in readiness and trepidation to face their destruction.
This time, Allah did not unleash violent forces of water or the wind. A wholly more innocuous means was used – sound. “And As-Saihah overtook the wrong-doers, so they lay (dead), prostrate in their homes, as if they had never lived there. No doubt! Verily, Thamud disbelieved in their Lord. So away with Thamud!” (11:67-11:68) As-Saihah can be described as an awful shrieking noise, a thunderous cry by the angels themselves, the effects of which are deadly and immediate. A slightly different description is used in 41:17: “… but they preferred blindness to guidance, so the Sa’iqah (a destructive awful cry, torment, hit, a thunderbolt) of disgracing torment seized them, because of what they used to earn.” The point however, being that the entire community, save for Saleh AS and the believers, were wiped from existence in the blink of an eye.
Their magnificent houses, intelligence and status offered them no sanctuary. The people of Thamud were totally disgraced and obliterated, and are now no more.
Over the succeeding generations, Islam became a forgotten memory. There was not a single Muslim on earth, until Allah sent Ibrahim AS, one of the greatest five Messengers, down to his community click here to find out more.
The ruins of Thamud
It is narrated by Imam Ahmad from Abdullah bin Umar (RA) that when the Prophet SAW came with the people of Tabuk, he camped at Al Hijr, which was close to the dwellings of the Thamud community. He forbade the people from entering into the places of people punished by Allah, saying that: “I fear that the same adversity may inflict upon you which inflicted upon them, so do not enter their places.”
In another narration, it is said that when Rasulullah SAW passed by their houses, he masked his face and accelerated his camel, and asked not to enter their houses except crying.
Lesson for us – Signs of Allah and Cautious Tourism
Here the method of destruction was even less significant than the dramatic flood sent to the community of Nuh AS and the raging wind sent to the people of ‘Ad. Destruction was simply by way of sound waves, and with this Allah tells us that any of His forces can be employed by Him with deadly precision in ways that we cannot imagine.
Why do we feel as if the balance of power lies with us, and not with Allah? It is an illusion – even the internet, which is the source of knowledge and communication for all of us, is exceedingly vulnerable and unstable, and can be burnt in one second, should Allah wish to send down a devastating spark to the servers. We have faith in our buildings, technology and ability, but for many of us, our faith in Allah is not that strong.
Just think of how vulnerable many of the big cities in the world are – despite their fortifications, many can be crippled, submerged or wiped out in an instant. The power of Allah is manifesting itself – and it broadcasts to us through rain, snow, uncontrollable fires, earthquakes, floods, landslides, tornados and tsunamis. These are constant reminders of our own vulnerability. The sunnah or pattern of Allah has been repeating itself and will continue to repeat itself. How many towns and villages are destroyed instantaneously, while we are oblivious to such disasters, thinking ourselves immune from the same fate? Many of us maintain the attitude that events like these only happen to other people. We have fallen prey to the same of steps of Shaitan, which makes people forget the Message. As the earlier articles have emphasized, once a person forgets the message, he becomes a slave to his desires and temptations. The indulgence, arrogance and heedlessness that follow provoke the anger of Allah, little by little, culminating in the torture of Allah if the whole community falls under the same disease of spiritual blindness. Once this happens, none of our buildings, bank accounts or social and political connections can grant us immunity. The only way to be safe is if we hold tight to the rope of Allah, and try to be active for Allah and save Islam.
The reaction of Prophet Muhammad SAW also establishes that it is wiser to avoid visiting communities and sites which are known to have incurred the wrath of Allah. Apart from feeling fear that the same fate might befall on us, it is also discouraged for us to promote, support and glorify the places and monuments of those whom Allah has cursed, not least when such places and communities are categorically identified in the Qur’an and Hadith.
