ANGEL and MAN
THE PEOPLE OF THAMUD
 

....THE PEOPLE OF THAMUD
....The People of Thamud originated between Medina and Damascus, and were known for their work in stone. They built huge buildings on the plains, hewing beautiful homes out of the hills, and making sculptures of famous people.
....Subsequently, the Thamud people built a temple for their idols and began to worship them. They associated partners with Allah and organized ceremonies for these partners. Allah Almighty says:
...."To the Thamud People (We sent) Salih, one of their own brethren. He said: "O my people! Worship Allah: ye have no other god but Him. It is He Who hath produced you from the earth and settled you therein: then ask forgiveness of Him, and turn to Him (in repentance): for my Lord is (always) near, ready to answer." (Hud, 61)
....Hazrat Salih called his people to worship Allah alone, and not to associate partners with Him. He said: "He created you from the Earth and made you dwell in it. So ask forgiveness of Him and turn to Him for He is the Seeing, Mighty and All-Forgiving."

Salih had been greatly respected by his people and they had wished that he be their chief before Allah's revelation came to him. When he admonished his people to worship only Allah and not to associate partners with Him, they said:
...." O Salih! Surely you were one amongst us in whom great expectations were placed before this; do you (now) forbid us from worshipping what our fathers worshipped? And as to that which you call us to, most surely we are in disquieting doubt." (Hud, 62)
....Hazrat Salih asked them what he should do to dismiss their concerns. His people, pointing at a rock, demanded: "If your Lord can make a she-camel, ten months pregnant, tall and attractive, issue from this rock for us, then we will believe in Him."
....Hazrat Salih agreed on the condition that they fulfill the following requirement: they would first ask the same from their idols. If the idols would not do what they had asked for, then Hazrat Salih would pray to his Lord. They agreed to do this, and set a day. On that day, all gathered and began to pray to their idols. They prayed, prostrated before them, stood at attention, sacrificed animals; yet, nothing happened. When it was Salih's turn, everybody was very excited. What if Salih's Lord could do what the idols had not been able to do?
....Hazrat Salih prayed two rakahs of salat and asked Allah to grant their request. The distant rock split asunder, bringing forth a large she-camel that was ten months pregnant. The camel took three steps, and gave birth to a calf.
....What happened then? Most of the unbelievers continued in their disbelief and stubbornness. Thus, Hazrat Salih said:
...."And O my people! This she-camel of Allah is a symbol to you: leave her to feed on Allah's (free) Earth, and inflict no harm on her, or a swift penalty will seize you!" (Hud, 64)
....They witnessed the miracle and were asked not to inflict harm on the she-camel.
....Allah Almighty said:
...."So they slew the she-camel and revolted against their Lord's commandment, and they said: O Salih! bring us what you threatened us with, if you are one of the messengers." (Araf, 77)
....Those miserable people ambushed the she-camel and slew her, and tried to kill the calf as well . Yet, the calf escaped and disappeared over the hill where the camel had come from, but only after giving out three bitter cries.
....Things went too far and the people of Thamud found themselves in a situation which had no way out.
....As soon as Hazrat Salih was informed of the murder of the camel, he said to his people:
...."Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days: (Then will be your ruin): (Behold) there a promise not to be belied!" (Hud, 65).
....Three bitter cries of calf were a sign that the people of Thamud would last for three more days and that they would be ruined on the fourth day. The destruction of the People of Thamud
....Allah Almighty says:
...."And the (awful) Cry overtook those who did wrong, so that morning found them prostrate in their dwellings." (Hud, 67)
....All of a sudden, the divine torture began. There was one terrific cry, the cry of Gabriel, which had hardly ended when the disbelievers of Salih's people were struck dead, one and all, all at the same time.
....And then,
...."But they revolted against the commandment of their Lord, so the rumbling overtook them while they saw." (Dhariyat, 44)
....The disbelievers were struck dead by the terrific cry of Gabriel; thunderbolts filled the air, followed by severe earthquakes that destroyed the entire tribe and its homeland.
....Allah Almighty says:
...."Then the earthquake overtook them, so they became motionless bodies in their abode." (Araf, 78)