The story of the people of Thamud and the she-camel - in the Quran

The story of the people of Thamud and the she-camel is a well-known story in Islamic tradition and is mentioned in several verses of the Quran. According to the Quran, the people of Thamud were a tribe who lived in the Arabian Peninsula and were known for their skill in carving homes out of rocks. However, they were also known for their arrogance and disobedience to Allah.

One day, Allah sent a she-camel as a sign and blessing for the people of Thamud. The she-camel was a unique and miraculous creature, capable of providing milk to the people of Thamud in the midst of a dry and barren desert. However, instead of being grateful for this blessing, the people of Thamud began to mistreat and abuse the she-camel.

The Prophet Salih, who was sent by Allah to guide the people of Thamud, warned them to treat the she-camel with respect and to fear the punishment of Allah. However, the people of Thamud continued to harm and mistreat the she-camel. As a result, Allah punished them severely by sending a loud blast that destroyed the entire tribe, including their homes and buildings.

The story of the people of Thamud and the she-camel is mentioned in several verses of the Quran, including Surah Al-Shams (91:11-15), Surah Al-Araf (7:73-79), Surah Al-Haqqa (69:4-14), and Surah Ash-Shu'ara (26:141-159). It serves as a reminder of the consequences of arrogance and disobedience to Allah, as well as the importance of showing gratitude for blessings and signs from Allah.

The story of the people of Thamud and the she-camel is mentioned in several verses in the Quran, including:

Surah Ash-Shu'ara, verses 141-159

Surah Al-A'raf, verses 73-79

Surah Al-Qamar, verses 23-31

Surah Al-Fajr, verses 6-14

Surah Al-Haqqah, verses 4-15.

In total, there are 41 verses that mention this story in various surahs (chapters) of the Quran.

Surah Ash-Shu'ara, verses 141-159:

[141] And We destroyed the cities around you, and We diversified the signs, perhaps they might return.

[142] So why did the gods they had taken besides Allah, as a means of approach, not help them? Rather, they vanished from them. And that was their falsehood and what they had been inventing.

[143] And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham said to his father and his people, "Indeed, I am disassociated from that which you worship

[144] Except for He who created me; and indeed, He will guide me."

[145] And he made it a word remaining among his descendants that they might return [to it].

[146] However, I gave enjoyment to these [people of Makkah] and their fathers until there came to them the truth and a clear Messenger.

[147] But when the truth came to them, they said, "This is magic, and indeed we are, concerning it, disbelievers."

[148] And they said, "Why was this Qur'an not sent down upon a great man from [one of] the two cities?"

[149] Do they distribute the mercy of your Lord? It is We who have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of this world and have raised some of them above others in degrees [of rank] that they may make use of one another for service. But the mercy of your Lord is better than whatever they accumulate.

[150] And if it were not that the people would become one community [of disbelievers], We would have made for those who disbelieve in the Most Merciful - for their houses - ceilings and stairways of silver upon which to mount

[151] And for their houses - doors and couches [of silver] upon which to recline

[152] And gold ornament. But all that is not but the enjoyment of worldly life. And the Hereafter with your Lord is for the righteous.

[153] And whoever is blinded from remembrance of the Most Merciful - We appoint for him a devil, and he is to him a companion.

[154] And indeed, the devils avert them from the way [of guidance] while they think that they are [rightly] guided

[155] Until, when he comes to Us [at Judgement], he says [to his companion], "Oh, I wish there was between me and you the distance between the east and west - how wretched a companion."

[156] And never will it benefit you that Day, when you have wronged, that you are [all] sharing in the punishment.

[157] Then will you make the deaf hear, [O Muhammad], or guide the blind or he who is in clear error?

[158] And whether [or not] We take you away [in death], indeed, We will take retribution upon them.

[159] Or whether We show you that which We have promised them, indeed, We are Perfect in Ability.

Surah Al-A'raf, verses 73-79:

[73] And to Thamud [We sent] their brother Salih. He said, "O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. He has produced you from the earth and settled you in it, so ask forgiveness of Him and then repent to Him. Indeed, my Lord is near and responsive."

[74] They said, "O Salih, you were among us a man of promise before this. Do you forbid us to worship what our fathers worshipped? And indeed we are, about that to which you invite us, in disquieting doubt."

[75] He said, "O my people, have you considered: if I should be upon clear evidence from my Lord and He has given me mercy from Himself, who would protect me from Allah if I disobeyed Him? So you would not increase me except in loss."

[76] And O my people, this is the she-camel of Allah - [she is] to you a sign. So let her feed upon Allah 's earth and do not touch her with harm, or you will be taken by an impending punishment."

[77] But they hamstrung her, so he said, "Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days. That is a promise not to be denied."

[78] So when Our command came, We saved Salih and those who believed with him, by mercy from Us, and [saved them] from the disgrace of that day. Indeed, it is your Lord who is the Powerful, the Exalted in Might.

[79] And the shriek seized those who had wronged, and they became within their homes [corpses] fallen prone.

Surah Al-Qamar, verses 23-31:

"And We have certainly sent Moses with Our signs and a clear authority

To Pharaoh and his establishment, but they followed the command of Pharaoh, and the command of Pharaoh was not [at all] discerning.

He will precede his people on the Day of Resurrection and lead them into the Fire; and wretched is the place to which they are led.

And they were followed in this [world] with a curse and on the Day of Resurrection. And wretched is the gift which is given.

That is from the news of the cities, which We relate to you; of them, some are [still] standing and some are [as] a harvest [mowed down].

And We did not wrong them, but they wronged themselves. And they were not availed at all by their gods which they invoked other than Allah when there came the command of your Lord. And they did not increase them in other than ruin.

And thus is the seizure of your Lord when He seizes the cities while they are committing wrong. Indeed, His seizure is painful and severe."

Surah Al-Fajr, verses 6-14:

O man! What has deluded you concerning your Lord, the Generous,

who created you, fashioned you, and proportioned you?

In whatever form He willed, He assembled you.

No indeed; but you deny the Judgment.

And surely there are guardians over you,

noble, recording,

who know all that you do.

Surely the righteous shall be in bliss,

and the wicked shall be in Hell,

Surah Al-Haqqah, verses 4-15:

"And what can make you know what is the Inevitable Reality? Thamud and 'Ad people denied the Striking Calamity. So as for Thamud, they were destroyed by the overpowering [blast]. And as for 'Ad, they were destroyed by a screaming, violent wind. Which Allah imposed upon them for seven nights and eight days in succession, so you would see the people therein fallen as if they were hollow trunks of palm trees. Then do you see of them any remains? And there came Pharaoh and those before him and the overturned cities with sin. And they disobeyed the messenger of their Lord, so He seized them with a seizure exceeding [in severity]. Indeed, when the water overflowed, We carried your ancestors in the sailing ship. That We might make it for you a reminder and [that] a conscious ear would be conscious of it."

In summary, the story of the people of Thamud and the she-camel in the Quran is about a community that received a miraculous sign from Allah in the form of a she-camel. The people of Thamud were commanded not to harm the she-camel, but they disobeyed and killed her. As a result of their disobedience and arrogance, Allah sent a severe punishment upon them in the form of a loud blast that destroyed them all. The story serves as a warning to those who reject the signs of Allah and the consequences of their actions.