THE STORY OF THE PROPHET SALIH - Da'wah of the Prophet Salih and the Camel of Miracles

Prophet Salih is the descendant of Noah. His genealogy is Salih bin 'Ubaid bin ‘Ashif bin Masih bin‘ Abid bin Hazir bin Thamud bin' Amir bin Iram bin Sam bin Noah. The Prophet Shalih was sent by Allah SWT to the Thamud who occupied the former ruins of the Ad people. The Thamud turned out to be smarter and more advanced than the Ad people. They are able to make irrigation channels more perfect for irrigating their agricultural and plantation land. They also built more magnificent buildings in the hills. Dairy animals and livestock that breed. Beautiful flower gardens. They prosper and compete in grandeur and luxury.

The Thamud apparently also worshiped idols like the Ad people. They also like to commit crime and disobedience. Therefore, Allah SWT has sent the Prophet Salih to them. The Prophet Shalih came from a respectable family, famous for being agile, clever, humble, and good-natured. The Prophet Salih warned the Thamud to worship Allah SWT only and leave kufr. But the Thamud did not want to accept the invitation of the Prophet Salih. The Thamud even denied the Prophet Salih and considered the Prophet Salih a mere bragger.

Da'wah is a task that must be done for the Prophet Salih. He did not ask for compensation in preaching. He just conveyed. The Prophet Salih continued to invite his people to worship Allah SWT and leave kufr. This was done patiently, painstakingly, and never gave up. The story of the mission of the Prophet Salih is explained in several verses of the Holy Qur'an.

Surah Hud verses 61-63:

۞وَإِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمۡ صَٰلِحٗاۚ قَالَ يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنۡ إِلَٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُۥۖ هُوَ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱسۡتَعۡمَرَكُمۡ فِيهَا فَٱسۡتَغۡفِرُوهُ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهِۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي قَرِيبٞ مُّجِيبٞ  ٦١ قَالُواْ يَٰصَٰلِحُ قَدۡ كُنتَ فِينَا مَرۡجُوّٗا قَبۡلَ هَٰذَآۖ أَتَنۡهَىٰنَآ أَن نَّعۡبُدَ مَا يَعۡبُدُ ءَابَآؤُنَا وَإِنَّنَا لَفِي شَكّٖ مِّمَّا تَدۡعُونَآ إِلَيۡهِ مُرِيبٖ  ٦٢ قَالَ يَٰقَوۡمِ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ إِن كُنتُ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٖ مِّن رَّبِّي وَءَاتَىٰنِي مِنۡهُ رَحۡمَةٗ فَمَن يَنصُرُنِي مِنَ ٱللَّهِ إِنۡ عَصَيۡتُهُۥۖ فَمَا تَزِيدُونَنِي غَيۡرَ تَخۡسِيرٖ  ٦٣

61.  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."

62.  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."

63.  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.

Surah Ash-Shu'ara verses 142-152:

إِذۡ قَالَ لَهُمۡ أَخُوهُمۡ صَٰلِحٌ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ  ١٤٢ إِنِّي لَكُمۡ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٞ  ١٤٣ فَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ  ١٤٤ وَمَآ أَسۡ‍َٔلُكُمۡ عَلَيۡهِ مِنۡ أَجۡرٍۖ إِنۡ أَجۡرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ  ١٤٥ أَتُتۡرَكُونَ فِي مَا هَٰهُنَآ ءَامِنِينَ  ١٤٦ فِي جَنَّٰتٖ وَعُيُونٖ  ١٤٧ وَزُرُوعٖ وَنَخۡلٖ طَلۡعُهَا هَضِيمٞ  ١٤٨ وَتَنۡحِتُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡجِبَالِ بُيُوتٗا فَٰرِهِينَ  ١٤٩ فَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ  ١٥٠ وَلَا تُطِيعُوٓاْ أَمۡرَ ٱلۡمُسۡرِفِينَ  ١٥١ ٱلَّذِينَ يُفۡسِدُونَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَا يُصۡلِحُونَ  ١٥٢

142.  When their brother Salih said to them, "Will you not fear Allah?

143.  Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger.

144.  So fear Allah and obey me.

145.  And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds.

146.  Will you be left in what is here, secure [from death],

147.  Within gardens and springs

148.  And fields of crops and palm trees with softened fruit?

149.  And you carve out of the mountains, homes, with skill.

150.  So fear Allah and obey me.

151.  And do not obey the order of the transgressors,

152.  Who cause corruption in the land and do not amend."

If the Prophet Salih is actively carrying out da'wah, then the Thamud are also actively trying to make the preaching of the Prophet Salih ignored by his people. All efforts were made so that all Thamud would demean the Prophet Salih.

One day, the unbelievers of the Thamud met the Prophet Salih. They ask for proof of Salih's prophetic truth, which is to bring miracles. The Prophet Salih must be able to face the demands and ask Allah SWT to bring miracles to him.

Allah SWT granted the prayer of the Prophet Salih. One day the Prophet Salih invited his people to go to the foot of the mountain. The unbelievers followed him not because they trusted the Prophet Salih but hoped that the Prophet Salih could not bring miracles. That way they can make fun of the Prophet Salih.

They also arrived at the foot of the mountain. The disbelievers of the Thamud were surprised. It appears a female camel comes out of a rock gap. Camels are big and fat. They have never seen a camel as good as that. The Prophet Salih told his people that the camel was a miracle. They may milk camels, but the camel must be free to move and get a quota of drinking well water from the residents. The Thamud agreed. The camel goes to the well and drinks the water. Whereas the population immediately took the camel's milk. This miracle in the form of a female camel is explained in several verses of the Holy Qur’an.

Surah Al-A'raaf verse 73:

وَإِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمۡ صَٰلِحٗاۚ قَالَ يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنۡ إِلَٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُۥۖ قَدۡ جَآءَتۡكُم بَيِّنَةٞ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡۖ هَٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةُ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمۡ ءَايَةٗۖ فَذَرُوهَا تَأۡكُلۡ فِيٓ أَرۡضِ ٱللَّهِۖ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٖ فَيَأۡخُذَكُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٞ  ٧٣

73.  And to the Thamud [We sent] 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 leave her to eat within Allah 's land and do not touch her with harm, lest there seize you a painful punishment.

Surah  Hud verse 64:

وَيَٰقَوۡمِ هَٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةُ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمۡ ءَايَةٗۖ فَذَرُوهَا تَأۡكُلۡ فِيٓ أَرۡضِ ٱللَّهِۖ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٖ فَيَأۡخُذَكُمۡ عَذَابٞ قَرِيبٞ  ٦٤

64.  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."

Surah Ash-Shu'ara verses 153-156:

قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُسَحَّرِينَ  ١٥٣ مَآ أَنتَ إِلَّا بَشَرٞ مِّثۡلُنَا فَأۡتِ بِ‍َٔايَةٍ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ  ١٥٤ قَالَ هَٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةٞ لَّهَا شِرۡبٞ وَلَكُمۡ شِرۡبُ يَوۡمٖ مَّعۡلُومٖ  ١٥٥ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٖ فَيَأۡخُذَكُمۡ عَذَابُ يَوۡمٍ عَظِيمٖ  ١٥٦

153.  They said, "You are only of those affected by magic.

154.  You are but a man like ourselves, so bring a sign, if you should be of the truthful."

155.  He said, "This is a she-camel. For her is a [time of] drink, and for you is a [time of] drink, [each] on a known day.

156.  And do not touch her with harm, lest you be seized by the punishment of a terrible day."