7:77 Al-A'raaf (The Heights)

{ فَعَقَرُوا النَّاقَةَ } التي توعدهم إن مسوها بسوء أن يصيبهم عذاب أليم، { وَعَتَوْا عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ } أي: قسوا عنه، واستكبروا عن أمره الذي من عتا عنه أذاقه العذاب الشديد. لا جرم أحل اللّه بهم من النكال ما لم يحل بغيرهم { وَقَالُوا } مع هذه الأفعال متجرئين على اللّه، معجزين له، غير مبالين بما فعلوا، بل مفتخرين بها: { يَا صَالِحُ ائْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَا } إن كنت من الصادقين من العذاب فقال: { تَمَتَّعُوا فِي دَارِكُمْ ثَلاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ ذَلِكَ وَعْدٌ غَيْرُ مَكْذُوبٍ }

قال علماء التفسير والنسب ثمود بن عاثر بن إرم بن سام بن نوح وهو أخو جديس بن عاثر وكذلك قبيلة طسم كل هؤلاء كانوا أحياء من العرب العاربة قبل إبراهيم الخليل عليه السلام وكانت ثمود بعد عاد ومساكنهم مشهورة فيما بين الحجاز والشام إلى وادي القرى وما حوله وقد مر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم على ديارهم ومساكنهم وهو ذاهب إلى تبوك في سنة تسع قال الإمام أحمد حدثنا عبدالصمد حدثنا صخر بن جويرية عن نافع عن ابن عمر قال لما نزل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بالناس علي تبوك نزل بهم الحجر عند بيوت ثمود فاستقى الناس من الآبار التي كانت تشرب منها ثمود فعجنوا منها ونصبوا لها القدور فأمرهم النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فأهرقوا القدور وعلفوا العجين الإبل ثم ارتحل بهم حتى نزل بهم على البئر التي كانت تشرب منها الناقة ونهاهم أن يدخلوا علي القوم الذين عذبوا وقال "إني أخشى أن يصيبكم مثل ما أصابهم فلا تدخلوا عليهم" وقال أحمد أيضا حدثنا عفان حدثنا عبدالعزيز بن مسلم حدثنا عبدالله بن دينار عن عبدالله بن عمر قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو بالحجر "لا تدخلوا على هؤلاء المعذبين إلا أن تكونوا باكين فإن لم تكونوا باكين فلا تدخلوا عليهم أن يصيبكم مثل ما أصابهم" وأصل هذا الحديث مخرج في الصحيحين من غير وجه وقال الإمام أحمد أيضا حدثنا يزيد بن هارون المسعودي عن إسماعيل بن أوسط عن محمد بن أبي كبشة الأنماري عن أبيه قال لما كان في غزوة تبوك تسارع الناس إلى أهل الحجر يدخلون عليهم فبلغ ذلك رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فنادى في الناس "الصلاة جامعة" قال فأتيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو ممسك بعنزة وهو يقول "ما تدخلون على قوم غضب الله عليهم "فناداه رجل منهم نعجب منهم يا رسول الله؟ قال "أفلا أنبئكم بأعجب من ذلك: رجل من أنفسكم ينبئكم بما كان قبلكم وبما هو كائن بعدكم فاستقيموا وسددوا فإن الله لا يعبأ بعذابكم شيئا وسيأتي قوم لا يدفعون عن أنفسهم شيئا "لم يخرجه أحد من أصحاب السنن وأبو كبشة اسمه عمر بن سعد ويقال عامر بن سعد والله أعلم وقال الإمام أحمد حدثنا عبدالرزاق حدثنا معمر عن عبدالله بن عثمان بن خيثم عن أبي الزبير عن جابر قال لما مر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بالحجر قال "لا تسألوا الآيات فقد سألها قوم صالح فكانت - يعني الناقة - ترد من هذا الفج وتصدر من هذا الفج فعتوا عن أمر ربهم فعقروها وكانت تشرب ماءهم يوما ويشربون لبنها يوما فعقروها فأخذتهم صيحة أخمد الله من تحت أديم السماء منهم إلا رجلا واحدا كان في حرم الله" فقالوا من هو يا رسول الله قال: أبو رغال فلما خرج من الحرم أصاب ما أصاب قومه" وهذا الحديث ليس في شيء من الكتب الستة وهو على شرط مسلم. قوله تعالى "وإلى ثمود" أي ولقد أرسلنا إلى قبيلة ثمود أخاهم صالحا "قال يا قوم اعبدوا الله ما لكم من إله غيره" فجميع الرسل يدعون إلى عبادة الله وحده لا شريك له كما قال تعالى "وما أرسلنا من قبلك من رسول إلا نوحي إليه أنه لا إله إلا أنا فاعبدون" وقال "ولقد بعثنا في كل أمة رسولا أن اعبدوا الله واجتنبوا الطاغوت" وقوله "قد جاءتكم بينة من ربكم هذه ناقة الله لكم آية" أي قد جاءتكم حجة من الله على صدق ما جئتكم به وكانوا هم الذين سألوا صالحا أن يأتيهم بآية واقترحوا عليه بأن تخرج لهم من صخرة صماء عينوها بأنفسهم وهي صخرة منفردة في ناحية الحجر يقال لها الكاتبة فطلبوا منه أن تخرج لهم منها ناقة عشراء تمخض فأخذ عليهم صالح العهود والمواثيق لئن أجابهم الله إلى سؤالهم وأجابهم إلى طلبتهم ليؤمنن به وليتبعنه فلما أعطوه على ذلك عهودهم ومواثيقهم قام صالح عليه السلام إلى صلاته ودعا الله عز وجل فتحركت تلك الصخرة ثم انصدعت عن ناقة جوفاء وبراء يتحرك جنينها بين جنبيها كما سألوا فعند ذلك آمن رئيسهم جندع بن عمرو ومن كان معه على أمره وأراد بقية أشراف ثمود أن يؤمنوا فصدهم ذؤاب بن عمرو بن لبيد والحباب صاحب أوثانهم ورباب بن صعر بن جلهس وكان جندع بن عمرو بن عم له شهاب بن خليفة بن محلاة بن لبيد بن حراس وكان من أشراف ثمود وأفاضلها فأراد أن يسلم أيضا فنهاه أولئك الرهط فأطاعهم فقال في ذلك رجل من مؤمني ثمود يقال له مهوش بن عثمة بن الدميل رحمه الله. وكانت عصبة من آل عمرو إلى دين النبي دعوا شهابا عزيز ثمود كلهم جميعا فهم بأن يجيب فلو أجابــا لأصبح صالح فينا عزيزا وما عدلوا بصاحبهم ذؤابـا ولكن الغواة من آل حجر تولوا بعد رشدهم ذيابـــا وأقامت الناقة وفصيلها بعد ما وضعته بين أظهرهم مدة تشرب من بئرها يوما وتدعه لهم يوما وكانوا يشربون لبنها يوم شربها يحتلبونها فيملأوون ما شاء من أوعيتهم وأوانيهم كما قال في الآية الأخرى "ونبئهم أن الماء قسمة بينهم كل شرب محتضر" وقال تعالى "هذه ناقة لها شرب ولكم شرب يوم معلوم" وكانت تسرح في بعض تلك الأودية ترد من فج وتصدر من غيره ليسعها لأنها كانت تتضلع من الماء وكانت على ما ذكر خلقا هائلا ومنظرا رائعا إذا مرت بأنعامهم نفرت منها فلما طال عليهم واشتد تكذيبهم لصالح النبي عليه السلام عزموا على قتلها ليستأثروا بالماء كل يوم فيقال إنهم اتفقوا كلهم على قتلها قال قتادة بلغني أن الذي قتلها طاف عليهم كلهم أنهم راضون بقتلها حتى على النساء في خدورهن وعلى الصبيان قلت وهذا هو الظاهر لقوله تعالى "فكذبوه فعقروها فدمدم عليهم ربهم بذنبهم فسواها" وقال "وآتينا ثمود الناقة مبصرة فظلموا بها" وقال "فعقروا الناقة" فأسند ذلك على مجموع القبيلة فدل على رضى جميعهم بذلك والله أعلم وذكر الإمام أبو جعفر بن جرير وغيره من علماء التفسير أن سبب قتلها أن امرأة منهم يقال لها عنيزة ابنة غنم بن مجلز وتكنى أم عثمان كانت عجوزا كافرة وكانت من أشد الناس عداوة لصالح عليه السلام وكانت لها بنات حسان ومال جزيل وكان زوجها ذؤاب بن عمرو أحد رؤساء ثمود وامرأة أخرى يقال لها صدقة بنت المحيا بن زهير بن المختار ذات حسب ومال وجمال وكانت تحت رجل مسلم من ثمود ففارقته فكانتا تجعلان لمن التزم لهما بقتل الناقة فدعت صدقة رجلا يقال له الحباب فعرضت عليه نفسها إن هو عقر الناقة فأبى عليها فدعت ابن عم لها يقال له مصدع بن مهرج بن المحيا فأجابها إلى ذلك ودعت عنيزة بنت غنم قدار بن سالف بن جذع وكان رجلا أحمر أزرق قصيرا يزعمون أنه كان ولد زنية وأنه لم يكن من أبيه الذي ينسب إليه وهو سالف وإنما هو من رجل يقال له صهياد ولكن ولد على فراش سالف وقالت له أعطيك أي بناتي شئت على أن تعقر الناقة فعند ذلك انطلق قدار بن سالف ومصدع بن مهرج فاستغويا غواة من ثمود فاتبعهما سبعة نفر فصاروا تسعة رهط وهم الذين قال الله تعالى "وكان في المدينة تسعة رهط يفسدون في الأرض ولا يصلحون" وكانوا رؤساء في قومهم فاستمالوا القبيلة الكافرة بكمالها فطاوعتهم على ذلك فانطلقوا فرصدوا الناقة حين صدرت من الماء وقد كمن لها قدار بن سالف في أصل صخرة على طريقها وكمن لها مصدع في أصل أخرى فمرت على مصدع فرماها بسهم فانتظم به عضلة ساقها وخرجت بنت غنم عنيزة وأمرت ابنتها وكانت من أحسن الناس وجها فسفرت عن وجهها لقدار وزمرته وشد عليها قدار بالسيف فكشف عن عرقوبها فخرجت ساقطة إلى الأرض ورغت رغاة واحدة تحذر سقبها ثم طعن في لبتها فنحرها وانطلق سقبها وهو فصيلها حتى أتى جبلا منيعا فصعد أعلى صخرة فيه ورغا فروى عبدالرزاق عن معمر عمن سمع الحسن البصري أنه قال يا رب أين أمي ويقال أنه رغا ثلات مرات وأنه دخل في صخرة فغاب فيها ويقال إنهم اتبعوه فعقروه مع أمه فالله أعلم. فلما فعلوا ذلك وفرغوا من عقر الناقة وبلغ الخبر صالحا عليه السلام فجاءهم وهم مجتمعون فلما رأى الناقة بكى وقال "تمتعوا في داركم ثلاثة أيام" الآية. وكان قتلهم الناقة يوم الأربعاء فلما أمسى أولئك التسعة الرهط عزموا على قتل صالح وقالوا إن كان صادقا عجلناه قبلنا وإن كان كاذبا ألحقناه بناقته "قالوا تقاسموا بالله لنبيتنه وأهله ثم لنقولن لوليه ما شهدنا مهلك أهله وإنا لصادقون ومكروا مكرا ومكرنا مكرا وهم لا يشعرون فانظر كيف كان عاقبة مكرهم" الآية. فلما عزموا على ذلك وتواطئوا عليه وجاءوا من الليل ليفتكوا بنبي الله فأرسل الله سبحانه وتعالى وله العزة ولرسوله عليهم حجارة فرضختهم سلفا وتعجيلا قبل قومهم وأصبح ثمود يوم الخميس وهو اليوم الأول من أيام النظرة ووجوههم مصفرة كما وعدهم صالح عليه السلام وأصبحوا في اليوم الثاني من أيام التأجيل وهو يوم الجمعة ووجوههم محمرة وأصبحوا في اليوم الثالث من أيام المتاع وهو يوم السبت ووجوههم مسودة فلما أصبحوا من يوم الأحد وقد تحنطوا وقعدوا ينتظرون نقمة الله وعذابه عياذا بالله من ذلك لا يدرون ماذا يفعل بهم ولا كيف يأتيهم العذاب وأشرقت الشمس جاءتهم صيحة من السماء ورجفة شديدة من أسفل منهم ففاضت الأرواح وزهقت النفوس في ساعة واحدة.

Thamud: Their Land and Their Lineage

Scholars of Tafsir and genealogy say that (the tribe of Thamud descended from) Thamud bin `Athir bin Iram bin Sam bin Nuh, and he is brother of Jadis son of `Athir, similarly the tribe of Tasm, and they were from the ancient Arabs, Al-`Aribah, before the time of Ibrahim, Thamud came after `Ad. They dwelled between the area of the Hijaz (Western Arabia) and Ash-Sham (Greater Syria). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed by the area and ruins of Thamud when he went to Tabuk (in northern Arabia) during the ninth year of Hijrah. Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Umar said, "When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went to the area of Al-Hijr in Tabuk with the people, he camped near the homes of Thamud, in Al-Hijr and the people brought water from the wells that Thamud used before. They used that water to make dough and placed the pots (on fire) for cooking. However, the Prophet commanded them to spill the contents of the pots and to give the dough to their camels. He then marched forth with them from that area to another area, near the well that the camel (as will follow) used to drink from. He forbade the Companions from entering the area where people were tormented, saying,

«إِنِّي أَخْشَى أَنْ يُصِيبَكُمْ مِثْلُ مَا أَصَابَهُمْ فَلَا تَدْخُلُوا عَلَيْهِم»

(I fear that what befell them might befall you as well. Therefore, do not enter on them.)" Ahmad narrated that `Abdullah bin `Umar said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said while in the Hijr area,

«لَا تَدْخُلُوا عَلَى هؤُلَاءِ الْمُعَذَّبِينَ إِلَّا أَنْ تَكُونُوا بَاكِينَ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُونُوا بَاكِينَ فَلَا تَدْخُلُوا عَلَيْهِمْ أَنْ يُصِيبَكُمْ مِثْلَ مَا أَصَابَهُم»

(Do not enter on these who were tormented, unless you do so while crying. If you are not crying, then do not enter on them, so that what befell them does not befall you, as well.) The basis of this Hadith is mentioned in Two Sahihs.

The Story of Prophet Salih and Thamud

Allah said,

وَإِلَى ثَمُودَ

(And to Thamud), meaning, to the tribe of Thamud, We sent their brother Salih,

قَالَ يَاقَوْمِ اعْبُدُواْ اللَّهَ مَا لَكُمْ مِّنْ إِلَـهٍ غَيْرُهُ

(He said: "O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other god but Him.") All Allah's Messengers called to the worship of Allah alone without partners. Allah said in other Ayat,

وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلاَّ نُوحِى إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ أَنَاْ فَاعْبُدُونِ

(And We did not send any Messenger before you but We revealed to him (saying): "None has the right to be worshipped but I, so worship Me.") 21:25 and,

وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولاً أَنِ اعْبُدُواْ اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُواْ الْطَّـغُوتَ

(And verily, We have sent among every Ummah a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid Taghut (all false deities)") 16:36.

Thamud asked that a Camel appear from a Stone, and it did

Prophet Salih said,

قَدْ جَآءَتْكُم بَيِّنَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ هَـذِهِ نَاقَةُ اللَّهِ لَكُمْ ءَايَةً

("Indeed there has come to you a clear sign from your Lord. This she-camel of Allah is a sign unto you;") meaning, a miracle has come to you from Allah testifying to the truth of what I came to you with. Salih's people asked him to produce a miracle and suggested a certain solid rock that they chose, which stood lonely in the area of Hijr, and which was called Al-Katibah. They asked him to bring a pregnant camel out of that stone. Salih took their covenant and promises that if Allah answers their challenge, they would believe and follow him. When they gave him their oaths and promises to that, Salih started praying and invoked Allah (to produce that miracle). All of a sudden, the stone moved and broke apart, producing a she-camel with thick wool. It was pregnant and its fetus was visibly moving in its belly, exactly as Salih's people asked. This is when their chief, Jundu` bin `Amr, and several who followed him believed. The rest of the noblemen of Thamud wanted to believe as well, but Dhu'ab bin `Amr bin Labid, Al-Habbab, who tended their idols, and Rabbab bin Sum`ar bin Jilhis stopped them. One of the cousins of Jundu` bin `Amr, whose name was Shihab bin Khalifah bin Mikhlat bin Labid bin Jawwas, was one of the leaders of Thamud, and he also wanted to accept the message. However, the chiefs whom we mentioned prevented him, and he conceded to their promptings. The camel remained in Thamud, as well as, its offspring after she delivered it before them. The camel used to drink from its well on one day and leave the well for Thamud the next day. They also used to drink its milk, for on the days she drank water, they used to milk her and fill their containers from its milk. Allah said in other Ayat,

وَنَبِّئْهُمْ أَنَّ الْمَآءَ قِسْمَةٌ بَيْنَهُمْ كُلُّ شِرْبٍ مُّحْتَضَرٌ

(And inform them that the water is to be shared between (her and) them, each one's right to drink being established (by turns)) 54:28 and,

هَـذِهِ نَاقَةٌ لَّهَا شِرْبٌ وَلَكُمْ شِرْبُ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُومٍ

(Here is a she-camel: it has a right to drink (water), and you have a right to drink (water) (each) on a day, known) 26:155 The camel used to graze in some of their valleys, going through a pass and coming out through another pass. She did that so as to be able to move easily, because she used to drink a lot of water. She was a tremendous animal that had a strikingly beautiful appearance. When she used to pass by their cattle, the cattle would be afraid of her. When this matter continued for a long time and Thamud's rejection of Salih became intense, they intended to kill her so that they could take the water for themselves every day. It was said that all of them (the disbelievers of Thamud) conspired to kill the camel. Qatadah said that he was told that, "The designated killer of the camel approached them all, including women in their rooms and children, and found out that all of them agreed to kill her." This fact is apparent from the wording of the Ayat,

فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَعَقَرُوهَا فَدَمْدمَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ بِذَنبِهِمْ فَسَوَّاهَا

(Then they denied him and they killed it. So their Lord destroyed them because of their sin, and made them equal in destruction!) 91:14, and,

وَءَاتَيْنَا ثَمُودَ النَّاقَةَ مُبْصِرَةً فَظَلَمُواْ بِهَا

(And We sent the she-camel to Thamud as a clear sign, but they did her wrong.) 17:59 Allah said here,

فَعَقَرُواْ النَّاقَةَ

(So they killed the she-camel) Therefore, these Ayat stated that the entire tribe shared in agreeing to this crime, and Allah knows best.

Thamud kills the She-Camel

Imam Abu Ja`far Ibn Jarir and other scholars of Tafsir said that the reason behind killing the camel was that a disbelieving old woman among them named Umm Ghanm `Unayzah, the daughter of Ghanm bin Mijlaz, had the severest enmity among Thamud towards Salih, peace be upon him. She had beautiful daughters and she was wealthy, and Dhu'ab bin `Amr, one of the leaders of Thamud, was her husband. There was another noblewoman whose name was Saduf bint Al-Muhayya bin Dahr bin Al-Muhayya, who was of noble family, wealthy and beautiful. She was married to a Muslim man from Thamud, but she left him. These two women offered a prize for those who swore to them that they would kill the camel. Once, Saduf summoned a man called Al-Habbab and offered herself to him if he would kill the camel, but he refused. So she called a cousin of hers whose name was Musaddi` bin Mihraj bin Al-Muhayya, and he agreed. As for `Unayzah bint Ghanm, she called Qudar bin Salif bin Jundu`, a short person with red-blue skin, a bastard, according to them. Qudar was not the son of his claimed father, Salif, but the son of another man called, Suhyad. However, he was born on Salif's bed (and thus named after him). `Unayzah said to Qudar, "I will give you any of my daughters you wish, if you kill the camel." Qudar bin Salif and Musaddi` bin Mihraj went along and recruited several mischievous persons from Thamud to kill the camel. Seven more from Thamud agreed, and the group became nine, as Allah described, when He said,

وَكَانَ فِى الْمَدِينَةِ تِسْعَةُ رَهْطٍ يُفْسِدُونَ فِى الاٌّرْضِ وَلاَ يُصْلِحُونَ

(And there were in the city nine men, who made mischief in the land, and would not reform.) These nine men were chiefs of their people, and they lured the entire tribe into agreeing to kill the camel. So they waited until the camel left the water well, where Qudar waited beside a rock on its path, while Musaddi` waited at another rock. When the camel passed by Musaddi` he shot an arrow at her and the arrow pierced her leg. At that time, `Unayzah came out and ordered her daughter, who was among the most beautiful women, to uncover her face for Qudar, encouraging Qudar to swing his sword, hitting the camel on her knee. So she fell to the ground and screamed once to warn her offspring. Qudar stabbed her in her neck and slaughtered her. Her offspring went up a high rock and screamed. `Abdur-Razzaq recorded from Ma`mar that someone reported from Al-Hasan Al-Basari that the offspring said, "O my Lord! Where is my mother" It was said that her offspring screamed thrice and entered a rock and vanished in it, or, they followed it and killed it together with its mother. Allah knows best. When they finished the camel off and the news reached Prophet Salih, he came to them while they were gathered. When he saw the camel, he cried and proclaimed,

تَمَتَّعُواْ فِى دَارِكُمْ ثَلَـثَةَ أَيَّامٍ

("Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days.") 11:65

The Wicked Ones Plot to Kill Prophet Salih, But the Torment descended on Them

The nine wicked persons killed the camel on a Wednesday, and that night, they conspired to kill Salih. They said, "If he is truthful, we should finish him before we are finished. If he is a liar, we will make him follow his camel."

قَالُواْ تَقَاسَمُواْ بِاللَّهِ لَنُبَيِّتَنَّهُ وَأَهْلَهُ ثُمَّ لَنَقُولَنَّ لِوَلِيِّهِ مَا شَهِدْنَا مَهْلِكَ أَهْلِهِ وَإِنَّا لَصَـدِقُونَ - وَمَكَرُواْ مَكْراً وَمَكَرْنَا مَكْراً وَهُمْ لاَ يَشْعُرُونَ

(They said: "Swear one to another by Allah that we shall make a secret night attack on him and his household, and thereafter we will surely say to his near relatives: `We witnessed not the destruction of his household, and verily, we are telling the truth."' So they plotted a plot, and We planned a plan, while they perceived not.) 27:49-50 When they conspired to kill Salih and gathered at night to carry out their plot, Allah, to Whom belongs all might and Who protects His Messengers, rained down stones that smashed the heads of these nine people before the rest of the tribe. On Thursday, the first of the three days of respite, the people woke up and their faces were pale (yellow), just as Prophet Salih had promised them. On the second day of respite, Friday, they woke up and found their faces had turned red. On the third day of the respite, Saturday, they woke up with their faces black. On Sunday, they wore the fragrance of Hanut the perfume for enshrouding the dead before burial and awaited Allah's torment and revenge, we seek refuge with Allah from it. They did not know what will be done to them or how and from where the torment would come. When the sun rose, the Sayhah (loud cry) came from the sky and a severe tremor overtook them from below; the souls were captured and the bodies became lifeless, all in an hour.

فَأَصْبَحُواْ فِي دَارِهِمْ جَـثِمِينَ

(And they lay (dead), prostrate in their homes.) They became dead and lifeless and none among them, whether young, old, male or female, escaped the torment. The scholars of Tafsir said that none from the offspring of Thamud remained, except Prophet Salih and those who believed in him. A disbelieving man called Abu Righal was in the Sacred Area at the time and the torment that befell his people did not touch him. When he went out of the Sacred Area one day, a stone fell from the sky and killed him. `Abdur-Razzaq narrated that Ma`mar said that Isma`il bin Umayyah said that the Prophet passed by the gravesite of Abu Righal and asked the Companions if they knew whose grave it was. They said, "Allah and His Messenger know better." He said,

«أَتَدْرُونَ مَنْ هَذَا؟»

قالوا الله ورسوله أعلم، قال

«هَذَا قَبْرُ أَبِي رِغَالٍ رَجُلٍ مِنْ ثَمُودَ كَانَ فِي حَرَمِ اللهِ فَمَنَعَهُ حَرَمُ اللهِ عَذَابَ اللهِ، فَلَمَّا خَرَجَ أَصَابَهُ مَا أَصَابَ قَومهُ فَدُفِنَ هَاهُنَا وَدُفِنَ مَعَهُ غُصْنٌ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ، فَنَزَلَ الْقَوْمُ فَابْتَدَرُوهُ بِأَسْيَافِهِمْ فَبَحَثُوا عَنْهُ فَاسْتَخْرَجُوا الْغُصْن»

(This is the grave of Abu Righal, a man from Thamud. He was in the Sacred Area of Allah and this fact saved him from receiving Allah's torment. When he went out of the Sacred Area, what befell his people also befell him. He was buried here along with a branch made from gold.) So the people used their swords and looked for the golden branch and found it. `Abdur-Razzaq narrated that Ma`mar said that Az-Zuhri said that Abu Righal is the father of the tribe of Thaqif.

The she-camel was given the water one day and then another; but they soon tired of this So they hamstrung the she-camel — Qudār hamstrung her by their command killing her with a sword — and flouted the commandment of their Lord and said ‘O Sālih bring upon us that which you promised us in the way of chastisement for our killing it if you are indeed a messenger’.

Commentary

It has appeared in previous verses that the Du` a' of Sayyidna Salih (علیہ السلام) had made a big rock open up in the nearby mountain through which an extraordinary she-camel had come out. Then, Allah Ta` ala had made this she-camel the last trial for these people as she drank up all water from the well which was used by the people and animals of the locality for their needs. Therefore, Sayyidna Salih (علیہ السلام) had fixed turns, a day for the she-camel and another for the people of the area.

The people of Thamud were in trouble because of this she-camel. They wished she would somehow die. But, they did not dare do it themselves lest they are hit by some Divine punishment.

But, Satan has an unlimited array of weapons. One of his deadliest strategies of deception which makes human beings surrender whatever sense and sensibility they have is the trial through women. So, two beautiful damsels from the people of Thamud threw a wager: Whoever kills this she-camel could take us, or anyone from among our girls to become his own.

Two young men from Thamud, called Misda` and Qadhar, all drunk with the rosy prospect, went out to kill the she-camel. They hid themselves behind a big rock and waited for the she-camel to pass by them on its usual route. When the she-camel appeared before them, Misda` hit her with an arrow and Qadhar hamstrung her by cutting her legs with his sword. Thus, they killed the she-camel.

The Holy Qur'an calls this person the most cruel and wretched from among the people of Thamud: إِذِ انبَعَثَ أَشْقَاهَا ﴿12﴾ when the one, most wicked of them, was sent [ incited to kill her ] - 91:12) because that was what brought mass punishment on the people of Thamud.

Sayyidna Salih (علیہ السلام) ، after having found that the she-camel has been killed, told his people - as Divinely commanded - that they have only three days to live: تَمَتَّعُوا فِي دَارِ‌كُمْ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ وَعْدٌ غَيْرُ‌ مَكْذُوبٍ that is, ` enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days (only) [ after that the punishment is coming ]. That is a promise, not going to be false - 11:65.' But, when the undoing of a people becomes due, no advice or warning works. This is what happened with these wretched people. Even the very honest counsel of Sayyidna Salih (علیہ السلام) did not produce the desired effect. In turn, they started making fun of him by challenging him as to how and from where would this punishment come and what would be the signs of its coming.

Sayyidna Salih (علیہ السلام) said: ` You want signs, so hear this. Tomorrow, on Thursday, your faces will turn dark yellow. Men, women, the young and the old, no one will remain exempted. Then, day after tomorrow, on Friday, all faces will turn dark red; and on Saturday, the third day to come, all faces will turn jet black. And this day will be the last day of your life.' Despite having heard what was said, these wretched people, rather than repent and seek forgiveness, decided that they better kill Sayyidna Salih (علیہ السلام) himself. Their ` logic' was: If he is true and the punishment has to come upon them, why should they not finish him first before the punishment comes to finish them - and if he is a liar, then, let him have his punishment for lying. This intention of the people of Thamud finds mention in details at other places in the Qur'an. Under this unanimous verdict of the Thamudites, some of them went to the house of Sayyidna Salih (علیہ السلام) with the intention of killing him. But, as Allah Ta` ala would have it, they were killed by a hail of rocks while still on their way. Says the Qur'an: وَمَكَرُ‌وا مَكْرً‌ا وَمَكَرْ‌نَا مَكْرً‌ا وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُ‌ونَ ﴿50﴾that is, 'and they made a plan and We made a plan and they were not aware' - 27:50.

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When came the morning of Thursday, then, as stated by Sayyidna Salih (علیہ السلام) ، the faces of all of them turned as yellow as if painted with a deep yellow colour. The first sign of the coming of punishment stood proved true. Yet, those tyrants were not to be mellowed enough to believe in Allah Ta` ala and desist from their wrongdoings. In fact, their wrath on Sayyidna Salih (علیہ السلام) increased all the more and everyone started running around to find and kill him. May Allah Ta` ala protect everyone from His wrath, for that too has its signs which turn hearts and minds upside down, when people start taking their gain as their loss, and their loss as their gain, and their good as bad, and their bad as good.

At last came the second day and, true to the prophecy, everyone's face turned red; and then, came the third day when they turned jet black. Now there was nowhere to go. All disappointed, they stood waiting to see which way the punishment comes.

In this state of theirs, a severe earthquake struck from down below the earth, and. from above tore in a horrendously shrill cry, an awesomely severe sound. This cry or sound caused everyone to die, instantly and simultaneously, fallen upside down, (like some dead bird landing on the ground on its breast - see ` Jathimin' in Mufradat al-Qur'an). As for the coming of the earthquake, it does find mention in verse 78 which appears above, that is: فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الرَّ‌جْفَةُ (So, the earthquake seized them). The word:' الرَّ‌جْفَةُ (ar-rajfah) means earthquake.