Thamud and the Messenger Saleh (Part 1)

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Jun 30, 2007, 2:35:54 PM6/30/07
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Thamud and the Messenger Saleh (Part 1)
By Layth (e-mail lay...@hotmail.com)

Amongst the many narrations of people and places that God has revealed in the Quran, one story deals with the people of `Thamud` who inherited power after the people of Aad and to whom the messenger Saleh was sent from amongst them to warn them of their misdeeds and to ask they change their ways...

"And to Thamud was sent their brother Saleh. He said: `My people, serve God, you have no god besides Him. He established you in the land and gave you control over it, so seek His forgiveness, then repent to Him. My Lord is Near, Responsive.` They said: `O Saleh, you were well liked amongst us before this. Do you deter us from serving what our fathers served? We are in serious doubt as to what you are inviting us.`" (11:61-62)

The people of Thamud doubted that Saleh was indeed a messenger from God and asked him to bring forth a sign:

"You are but a human being like us. So bring a sign if you are of the truthful ones." (26:154)

As a granting of their request, God sent to Saleh a giant camel which was a sign unto itself and which required an entire day to drink water...However, the camel was not to be harmed, else a terrible retribution would follow:

 

 

 

 

"And my people, this is God's camel, in her you have a sign. So leave her to eat from God's land freely, and do not harm her, or else a close retribution will take you." (11:64)

"He said: `This is a female camel which will have to drink and you will drink on a different day. And do not afflict her with harm, else the retribution of a great day will seize you.`" (26:155-156)

Unfortunately, as is common when dealing with those who reject the guidance of the Almighty, the camel was slaughtered:

"But they slaughtered her. So he said: `You will only have three days of enjoyment in your homes. This is a promise that will not be denied.`" (11:65)

"They thus killed the camel and defied their Lord's command, and they said: `O Saleh, bring us what you promised us if you are of the messengers!`" (7:77)

And thus, the people of Thamud were destroyed for their crime of disobeying the Lord God:

"The Earthquake took them, so they became lifeless in their homes. Thus he turned away from them, and said: `My people, I had delivered to you the message of my Lord and advised you; but you do not like the advisers.`" (7:78-79)

"So, when Our command came, We saved Saleh and those who believed with him by a mercy from Us against the disgrace of that day. Your Lord is the Powerful, the Noble. And those who wronged were taken by the scream, thus they lay motionless in their homes. It is as if they never lived there. For Thamud rejected their Lord. There is no more Thamud." (11:66-68)

(To be Continued).

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