This article tells the story of the miracle of the she-camel that Allah brought forth from the rock of the mountain as proof of Salih's prophethood to the people of Thamud, and their attitude of continuing to mock and reject despite witnessing it.
The Miracles of the Prophet Salih Given by Allah the Exalted
The Miracles of the Prophet Salih Given by Allah the Exalted
That call would not be opposed except by those whose minds are shackled by the thinking of the ancients and the imaginations of the old. Although the Prophet Salih's call was conveyed with complete sincerity, his people did not believe it.
They doubted his call instead. They thought the Prophet Salih was bewitched. They asked him to bring a miracle that would prove he was truly a messenger of Allah the Exalted. Allah the Exalted willed to grant their request. The people of Thamud carved large dwellings from the mountain. They used large stones for building.
They were strong people to whom Allah the Exalted opened the doors of provision from all things. They came after the people of Aad and then dwelt on the earth and developed it. The Prophet Salih said to his people when they asked him for a miracle:
"O my people, this is the she-camel of Allah as a sign for you, so leave her to eat on Allah's earth and do not touch her with any harm lest you be seized by a punishment that is near." (Qur'an 11:64)
The Miracles of the Prophet Salih Given by Allah the Exalted
What is meant by the verse in that surah is a miracle. It is reported that the camel was a miracle because on one day the rock of the mountain split and the camel came forth from it, and her young came forth after her. She was born in an unusual way in the process of birth. It is also reported that she was a miracle because she drank from the wells on one day and then other animals did not dare approach that water on that day.
Another report says that she was a miracle because she produced milk that was sufficient to drink for all people on the day that she drank all the water so that not a drop of it remained. This camel was a miracle in which Allah the Exalted described her with the name: "naqatullah" (the camel of Allah). That means the camel was not an ordinary camel, but she was a miracle from Allah the Exalted.
Allah the Exalted sent down a command to the Prophet Salih to forbid his people from harming or killing her. He commanded them to leave her to eat on Allah's earth and not cause her harm. He reminded them that when they tried to harm her, they would receive punishment in the near future.
The Miracles of the Prophet Salih Given by Allah the Exalted
At first the people of Thamud were very amazed when they saw the camel born from the rocks of the mountain. She was a blessed camel whose milk was sufficient for thousands of men, women, and children. When the camel lay down in a place, other animals would move away from her. It was clear that she was not an ordinary camel, but rather a sign of the greatness of Allah the Exalted. The camel lived among the people of the Prophet Salih.
Some of those who believed among them became believers, but the majority of them remained in opposition and disbelief. The hatred of the Prophet Salih transformed into hatred of the blessed camel. They began to conspire against the camel. The disbelievers greatly hated this great miracle and they devised an evil plan to eliminate her. As usual, the leaders of his people gathered to plot. Allah the Exalted said:
"And [We sent] to the Thamud their brother Salih. He said, 'O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. There has come to you clear evidence from your Lord. This is the she-camel of Allah - [sent] to you as a sign. So let her eat within Allah's land and do not touch her with harm, lest there seize you a painful punishment. And remember, [O people], when He made you successors after the people of Aad and settled you in the land, [and] you took for yourselves palaces of its plains and carved out of the mountains, homes. So remember the favors of Allah and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption.' The eminent ones who were arrogant among his people said to those who were oppressed - to those who had believed among them, 'Do you [actually] know that Salih is sent from his Lord?' They said, 'Indeed, we, in that with which he was sent, are believers.' Those who were arrogant said, 'Indeed, we in that which you have believed, are disbelievers.'" (Qur'an 7:73-76)
The Prophet Salih called to his people with great compassion and love. He invited them to worship only Allah the Exalted and reminded them that Allah the Exalted had brought forth a miracle for them, namely the camel. This miracle was as proof of the truth of his call. He beseeched them to allow the camel to eat from the produce of the earth, and all earth belongs to Allah the Exalted.
He also reminded them not to harm her because such an act would be feared to bring punishment upon them. Indeed he reminded them of the blessings of Allah the Exalted that came to them: "How He made them rulers who came after the people of Aad, how He gave them palaces and carved mountains as well as various blessings and strength."
The Miracles of the Prophet Salih Given by Allah the Exalted
This is what the Prophet Salih did, but his people answered him with a strange response. They paid no heed to the advice of their prophet. They confronted those who believed in the Prophet Salih. They questioned with questions that aimed to belittle and mock: "Do you know that Salih is someone sent from his Lord?" This question was not fitting to raise after they had witnessed the miracle of the camel. As a result, they belittled the followers of the Prophet Salih and mocked them.
A small group who believed in the Prophet Salih said: "Indeed we believe in that which the Prophet Salih has brought." Pay attention to the answer of the believers. That answer is in stark contrast to the answer of the chiefs of the people of the Prophet Salih. The chiefs doubted the prophethood of Salih, while the believers affirmed their belief in the truth brought by the Prophet Salih.
The truth brought by the Prophet Salih was not related to the camel, but to his call and teachings. They said: "We believe in that which the Prophet Salih has brought," and they did not say: "We believe in his camel." They did not say that it was the camel that established Salih's prophethood.
The believers paid greater attention to the truth of the teaching brought by the Prophet Salih, not to the extraordinary miracle. Through this dialogue we can see the attitude of the disbelievers where they actually felt noble in opposing the truth: "The arrogant ones said: 'Indeed, we are those who do not believe in that in which you believe.'"
Thus their insults, their arrogance, and their rage. It seems futile to seek arguments that could satisfy the disbelievers when reasoning with them. They always reject the truth, even though they are people who are free to choose the truth.
Loading the full version…