Following the destruction of the Tribe of Ad, generations passed, and a new civilization rose to power in the Arabian Peninsula. These were the people of Thamud, the successors to the Ad.
To guide them, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) selected a man from among their noblest lineage: Prophet Saleh (‘alayhi al-salam), a descendant of Prophet Nuh.
The Geography: Al-Hijr (Madain Saleh)
The Tribe of Thamud settled in a region known as Al-Hijr (The Rocky Tract). Today, this UNESCO World Heritage site is known as Madain Saleh (The Cities of Saleh), located in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
Unlike the Tribe of Ad, whose traces were completely wiped from the earth by the wind, the legacy of Thamud remains visible today. Their civilization is immortalized in the 15th chapter of the Quran, titled Surah Al-Hijr, which references their unique ability to hew their homes out of solid mountains.
Successors of Ad: A Legacy of Strength
The people of Thamud were fully aware of the history of their predecessors. They knew that the Tribe of Ad was destroyed because of their arrogance.
The Quran highlights that Ad was physically superior and boastful:
“As for ‘Aad, they were arrogant upon the earth without right and said, ‘Who is greater than us in strength?’ Did they not consider that Allah who created them was greater than them in strength?” (Surah Fussilat, 41:15)
Despite knowing this history, the Thamud followed the exact same path. They inherited the physical strength and architectural genius of Ad but failed to inherit the lesson of humility.
The Architects of the Mountains
The defining characteristic of the Thamud was their architectural mastery. While the Ad built “lofty pillars” on high ground, the Thamud were master stonemasons. They carved intricate palaces, temples, and tombs directly into massive rock faces.
The Quran draws a powerful comparison between the great ancient civilizations in Surah Al-Fajr:
“Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with ‘Aad – [With] Iram – who had lofty pillars… And [with] Thamud, who carved out the rocks in the valley? And [with] Pharaoh, owner of the stakes?” (Surah Al-Fajr, 89:6-10)
These verses unite Ad, Thamud, and Pharaoh as three pinnacles of human power and construction who were all destroyed for their corruption and oppression.
The Corruption of Prosperity
Originally, the Thamud worshipped one God. However, as their civilization flourished and they achieved immense material success, their hearts hardened.
- Materialism: They became obsessed with the permanency of their structures, believing their rock-cut castles would grant them immortality.
- Class Division: They hoarded their wealth, becoming cruel to the poor and weak.
- Idolatry: They began carving idols to symbolize their power, forgetting the Creator who gave them the skill to carve.
Prophet Saleh (‘alayhi al-salam) criticized this obsession with worldly permanence in Surah Ash-Shu’ara:
“Do you construct on every elevation a sign, amusing yourselves, And take for yourselves palaces and fortresses that you might abide eternally?” (Surah Ash-Shu’ara, 26:128-129)
He reminded them that their stone fortresses were merely temporary dwellings and that true eternity lies only with Allah.
The “Man of Promise”: Prophet Saleh’s Rise and Rebellion
Prophet Saleh (‘alayhi al-salam) was not an ordinary citizen of Thamud; he was the jewel of their society. Before receiving the Divine revelation, he had cultivated a reputation of absolute integrity, wisdom, and virtue.
The people of Thamud held him in such high esteem that they were preparing to appoint him as their leader or king. He was their hope for the future—a “man of promise” (marjuwwan) whom they believed would lead their civilization to even greater glory.
It was at this peak of social standing that Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) bestowed Prophethood upon him, changing the course of his life and the destiny of his people.
The Call to Monotheism (Tawhid)
With the heavy burden of revelation, Prophet Saleh began to criticize the idolatrous practices that were the foundation of Thamud’s culture. He did not seek the kingship they offered; instead, he sought the salvation of their souls.
He addressed them with a message of logic and love:
“My people! Serve Allah; you have no god other than Him. He brought you into being out of the earth, and has made you dwell in it. So ask Him to forgive you, and do turn towards Him in repentance. Indeed My Lord is near, responsive to prayers.” (Surah Hud, 11:61)
He reminded them that they were created from the earth, and therefore, they owed their worship only to the Creator of the earth.
The Great Disappointment
The reaction of the Thamud was not immediate violence, but deep disappointment. They felt betrayed. They had groomed Saleh to uphold their traditions, not to dismantle them.
Their response captured their confusion and sense of loss:
“O Saleh, you were among us a man of promise before this. Do you forbid us to worship what our fathers worshipped? And indeed we are in disquieting doubt about that to which you invite us.” (Surah Hud, 11:62)
They could not reconcile the wise man they loved with the message he now preached. To them, attacking the religion of their forefathers was an act of insanity.
The Prophetic Parallel: Saleh and Muhammad (ﷺ)
This narrative highlights a consistent pattern in the history of Prophethood. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) nurtures His chosen messengers with impeccable morals from a young age, ensuring they are established as models of excellent behavior before they ever claim prophecy.
- Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ): Before his revelation, he was known across Mecca as Al-Amin (“The Trustworthy One”) and As-Sadiq (“The Truthful”).
- Prophet Saleh (AS): He was known as the “Man of Promise.”
This Divine strategy ensures that when the Prophets eventually warn their people, no one can accuse them of being habitual liars or corrupt individuals. The people are forced to make a choice: acknowledge that a man who has never lied is telling the truth about God, or invent a new accusation (madness, magic, or possession) to dismiss him.
The Socio-Economic Divide
As with many prophets, the society split along class lines.
- The Elite: The wealthy chieftains, blinded by the glamour of their high living and status, led the opposition. For them, accepting Saleh meant accepting a higher moral authority, which threatened their unchecked power.
- The Humble: A small group of people with modest means were touched by the sincerity of Saleh’s message. Without the barrier of arrogance, they saw the truth clearly.
The elite found it easier to dismiss the man they once revered as “possessed” rather than confront the immorality of their own lifestyles.
The Plot to Silence the Prophet
As Prophet Saleh (‘alayhi al-salam) continued his mission, using reason and intellect to dismantle the arguments of idolatry, a shift began to occur. Slowly but surely, the number of his followers began to grow. This terrified the elite chieftains of Thamud; they realized that if Saleh’s message of equality and Monotheism was left uncontested, their grip on power would crumble.
To stop this momentum, the leaders devised a plan to humiliate him. They approached Saleh with a proposition: they would agree to worship the God of Saleh, but only if he could produce a miracle of their choosing.
The Demand: Life from a Rock
The chieftains intended for this request to be a joke—a task so ludicrously impossible that Saleh would be forced to admit defeat. They led him to a massive, solitary boulder standing near the mountain.
Pointing to the cold, hard stone, they laid out their specific, improvised demands:
- The Origin: The rock must split in two, and from inside it, a living camel must emerge.
- The Description: It must be an extremely large, woolly, and attractive female camel.
- The Condition: She must be ten months pregnant (‘Ushara) and instantly able to produce enough milk for the entire town.
They laughed as they issued the challenge, confident that stone cannot give birth to flesh.
The Manifestation of the Sign
Prophet Saleh (‘alayhi al-salam) was desperate for his people’s salvation. He asked them, “If I bring you what you asked for, will you believe?” They swore they would.
Saleh stood before the rock and prayed with deep focus, pleading with his Lord to grant this request to guide his people. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), the Creator of all things, answered the prayer.
Before the eyes of the gathered crowd, the massive rock trembled and split. From the solid stone emerged a colossal She-Camel, matching every specific detail they had demanded—pregnant, woolly, and majestic.
The She-Camel of Allah (Naqat Allah)
The arrival of the camel stunned the nation. This was no longer just an animal; it was a living miracle, referred to in the Quran as Naqat Allah (The She-Camel of Allah).
Prophet Saleh immediately established the divine decree regarding this creature:
“And to the Thamūd [We sent] their brother Salih. He said, ‘O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. There has come to you clear evidence from your Lord. This is the she-camel of Allāh [sent] to you as a sign. So leave her to eat within Allāh’s land and do not touch her with harm, lest there seize you a painful punishment.'” (Surah Al-A’raf, 7:73)
The Trial of Water
The miracle served as a test of obedience. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) revealed that the She-Camel was sent as a Fitnah (trial) for them. The primary condition of this trial involved the town’s water source.
“…Tell them that water (of the well) is to be shared between them (and the She-camel), so as the right of having water shall be attended by each (alternatively).” (Surah Al-Qamar, 54:28)
A strict rotation was established:
- The Day of the Camel: On one day, the She-Camel would drink all the water from the well. The people were forbidden from taking water on this day. However, in exchange, the She-Camel provided endless milk—enough to satisfy every man, woman, and child in the tribe.
- The Day of the People: On the next day, the camel would refrain from drinking, and the people could collect water for themselves and their livestock.
While many were moved by the miracle and converted to Islam daily, the hatred of the elite only deepened. The presence of the camel was a constant, living reminder of their defiance and the truth of Prophet Saleh.
The Divine Ultimatum: Miracles and Consequences
The destruction of the Tribe of Thamud serves as a timeless theological precedent: those who stubbornly demand miracles, only to reject them once revealed, face immediate and total destruction. There is no second chance after the sign has been made manifest.
The Parallel: Prophet Isa (Jesus) and the Table Spread
This severity is not unique to the time of Saleh; it is a consistent Divine law. The Quran draws a powerful parallel with the disciples of Prophet Isa (Jesus), peace be upon him.
When the disciples asked for a tangible miracle to reassure their hearts, they requested a “Table Spread” of food from heaven.
“O Jesus, son of Mary! Would your Lord be willing to send down to us a table spread with food from heaven?” (Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5:112)
Prophet Isa warned them to fear Allah, but when they insisted, he prayed for it. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) granted the request but issued a terrifying ultimatum that echoes the fate of Thamud:
“Indeed, I will send it down to you, but whoever disbelieves afterwards from among you – then indeed will I punish him with a punishment by which I have not punished anyone among the worlds.” (Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5:115)
The disbelievers of Thamud violated this exact ultimatum. They demanded the She-Camel, received it, and then killed it. Consequently, they had no ally on the day of judgment and incurred the full wrath of Allah.
The Aftermath: Prophet Saleh’s Farewell
While the blast (the Sayhah or Rajfah) annihilated the disbelievers in their homes, Allah’s grace enveloped Prophet Saleh (‘alayhi al-salam) and the believers, saving them from the destruction.
After the dust settled, Prophet Saleh returned to the silent ruins of Al-Hijr. He did not gloat over their death; rather, he looked upon the destruction of his own kinsmen with a heavy heart. His final words to them were a sorrowful testament to his mission:
“O my people, I had certainly conveyed to you the message of my Lord and advised you, but you do not like advisors.” (Surah Al-A’raf, 7:79)
Modern-Day Al-Hijr: A Place of Warning, Not Vacation
Today, the ruins of Al-Hijr (Madain Saleh) stand as a UNESCO World Heritage site, attracting tourists from around the world. However, the Islamic perspective on visiting these sites is one of caution and reflection, not leisure.
The Prophetic Warning
During the expedition to Tabuk, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his companions passed by the dwellings of Al-Hijr. His instruction to his companions established the etiquette for visiting such sites:
“Do not enter (the dwelling places) of these people unless you enter weeping, but if you weep not, then do not enter upon them, lest you be afflicted with what they were afflicted with.” (Narrated by Abdullah bin Umar, Sahih Al-Bukhari)
This teaches that these ruins are preserved by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) as a lesson (Ibrah). They are reminders of a civilization that was destroyed for its arrogance and ingratitude.
The Fear of the Wind
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) lived with a deep consciousness of these historical events. He did not view nature as merely random weather; he saw the power of Allah in the elements.
‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) saw storm clouds, he would become visibly anxious, pacing back and forth. When she asked him why, he recalled the destruction of Ad (the predecessors of Thamud):
“What do I know? Maybe it is as Allah, Most High said: ‘And when they saw it as a cloud approaching their valleys, they said, “This is a cloud bringing us rain!” But [Hud] replied “Rather, it is that for which you were impatient: a wind, within it a painful punishment.”‘” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3257)
This concludes the story of Prophet Saleh and the lessons of Al-Hijr. The ruins remain standing not as monuments to human achievement, but as silent witnesses to the consequence of defying the Divine.