Tarikh (al-Tabari) 112
The story of Salih (peace and blessings be upon him)
قَالَ تَعَالَى فِي سُورَةِ الْأَعْرَافِ: وَإِلَى ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَالِحًا قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ إِلَهٍ غَيْرُهُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُمْ بَيِّنَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ هَذِهِ نَاقَةُ اللَّهِ لَكُمْ آيَةً فَذَرُوهَا تَأْكُلْ فِي أَرْضِ اللَّهِ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ وَاذْكُرُوا إِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفَاءَ مِنْ بَعْدِ عَادٍ وَبَوَّأَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِنْ سُهُولِهَا قُصُورًا وَتَنْحِتُونَ الْجِبَالَ بُيُوتًا فَاذْكُرُوا آلَاءَ اللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ قَالَ الْمَلَأُ الَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُوا مِنْ قَوْمِهِ لِلَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُوا لِمَنْ آمَنَ مِنْهُمْ أَتَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ صَالِحًا مُرْسَلٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِ قَالُوا إِنَّا بِمَا أُرْسِلَ بِهِ مُؤْمِنُونَ قَالَ الَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُوا إِنَّا بِالَّذِي آمَنْتُمْ بِهِ كَافِرُونَ فَعَقَرُوا النَّاقَةَ وعَتَوْا عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ وَقَالُوا يَا صَالِحُ ائْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَا إِنْ كُنْتَ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الرَّجْفَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا فِي دَارِهِمْ جَاثِمِينَ فَتَوَلَّى عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَا قَوْمِ لَقَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكُمْ رِسَالَةَ رَبِّي وَنَصَحْتُ لَكُمْ وَلَكِنْ لَا تُحِبُّونَ النَّاصِحِينَ [ الْأَعْرَافِ: 73 - 79 ]. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى فِي سُورَةِ هُودٍ: وَإِلَى ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَالِحًا قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ إِلَهٍ غَيْرُهُ هُوَ أَنْشَأَكُمْ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ وَاسْتَعْمَرَكُمْ فِيهَا فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ثُمَّ تُوبُوا إِلَيْهِ إِنَّ رَبِّي قَرِيبٌ مُجِيبٌ قَالُوا يَا صَالِحُ قَدْ كُنْتَ فِينَا مَرْجُوًّا قَبْلَ هَذَا أَتَنْهَانَا أَنْ نَعْبُدَ مَا يَعْبُدُ آبَاؤُنَا وَإِنَّنَا لَفِي شَكٍّ مِمَّا تَدْعُونَا إِلَيْهِ مُرِيبٍ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُ عَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّي وَآتَانِي مِنْهُ رَحْمَةً فَمَنْ يَنْصُرُنِي مِنَ اللَّهِ إِنْ عَصَيْتُهُ فَمَا تَزِيدُونَنِي غَيْرَ تَخْسِيرٍ وَيَا قَوْمِ هَذِهِ نَاقَةُ اللَّهِ لَكُمْ آيَةً فَذَرُوهَا تَأْكُلْ فِي أَرْضِ اللَّهِ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ قَرِيبٌ فَعَقَرُوهَا فَقَالَ تَمَتَّعُوا فِي دَارِكُمْ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ ذَلِكَ وَعْدٌ غَيْرُ مَكْذُوبٍ فَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا صَالِحًا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِنَّا وَمِنْ خِزْيِ يَوْمِئِذٍ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ الْقَوِيُّ الْعَزِيزُ وَأَخَذَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا الصَّيْحَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا فِي دِيَارِهِمْ جَاثِمِينَ كَأَنْ لَمْ يَغْنَوْا فِيهَا أَلَا إِنَّ ثَمُودَ كَفَرُوا رَبَّهُمْ أَلَا بُعْدًا لِثَمُودَ [ هُودٍ: 61 - 68 ]. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى فِي سُورَةِ الْحِجْرِ: وَلَقَدْ كَذَّبَ أَصْحَابُ الْحِجْرِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَآتَيْنَاهُمْ آيَاتِنَا فَكَانُوا عَنْهَا مُعْرِضِينَ وَكَانُوا يَنْحِتُونَ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا آمِنِينَ فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّيْحَةُ مُصْبِحِينَ فَمَا أَغْنَى عَنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ [ الْحِجْرِ: 80 - 84 ]. وَقَالَ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى فِي سُورَةِ سُبْحَانَ: وَمَا مَنَعَنَا أَنْ نُرْسِلَ بِالْآيَاتِ إِلَّا أَنْ كَذَّبَ بِهَا الْأَوَّلُونَ وَآتَيْنَا ثَمُودَ النَّاقَةَ مُبْصِرَةً فَظَلَمُوا بِهَا وَمَا نُرْسِلُ بِالْآيَاتِ إِلَّا تَخْوِيفًا [ الْإِسْرَاءِ: 59 ]. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى فِي سُورَةِ الشُّعَرَاءِ: كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ الْمُرْسَلِينَ إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ أَخُوهُمْ صَالِحٌ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ إِنِّي لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ وَمَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ أَتُتْرَكُونَ فِي مَا هَاهُنَا آمِنِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ وَزُرُوعٍ وَنَخْلٍ طَلْعُهَا هَضِيمٌ وَتَنْحِتُونَ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا فَارِهِينَ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ وَلَا تُطِيعُوا أَمْرَ الْمُسْرِفِينَ الَّذِينَ يُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا يُصْلِحُونَ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا أَنْتَ مِنَ الْمُسَحَّرِينَ مَا أَنْتَ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُنَا فَأْتِ بِآيَةٍ إِنْ كُنْتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ قَالَ هَذِهِ نَاقَةٌ لَهَا شِرْبٌ وَلَكُمْ شِرْبُ يَوْمٍ مَعْلُومٍ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ فَعَقَرُوهَا فَأَصْبَحُوا نَادِمِينَ فَأَخَذَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَةً وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ [ الشُّعَرَاءِ: 141 - 159 ]. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى فِي سُورَةِ النَّمْلِ: وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَى ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَالِحًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ فَإِذَا هُمْ فَرِيقَانِ يَخْتَصِمُونَ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ لِمَ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ قَبْلَ الْحَسَنَةِ لَوْلَا تَسْتَغْفِرُونَ اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ قَالُوا اطَّيَّرْنَا بِكَ وَبِمَنْ مَعَكَ قَالَ طَائِرُكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ قَوْمٌ تُفْتَنُونَ وَكَانَ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ تِسْعَةُ رَهْطٍ يُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا يُصْلِحُونَ قَالُوا تَقَاسَمُوا بِاللَّهِ لَنُبَيِّتَنَّهُ وَأَهْلَهُ ثُمَّ لَنَقُولَنَّ لِوَلِيِّهِ مَا شَهِدْنَا مَهْلِكَ أَهْلِهِ وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ وَمَكَرُوا مَكْرًا وَمَكَرْنَا مَكْرًا وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ مَكْرِهِمْ أَنَّا دَمَّرْنَاهُمْ وَقَوْمَهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ فَتِلْكَ بُيُوتُهُمْ خَاوِيَةً بِمَا ظَلَمُوا إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَةً لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ وَأَنْجَيْنَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَكَانُوا يَتَّقُونَ [ النَّمْلِ: 45 - 53 ].. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى فِي سُورَةِ حم السَّجْدَةِ: وَأَمَّا ثَمُودُ فَهَدَيْنَاهُمْ فَاسْتَحَبُّوا الْعَمَى عَلَى الْهُدَى فَأَخَذَتْهُمْ صَاعِقَةُ الْعَذَابِ الْهُونِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ وَنَجَّيْنَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَكَانُوا يَتَّقُونَ. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى فِي سُورَةِ اقْتَرَبَتْ: كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ بِالنُّذُرِ فَقَالُوا أَبَشَرًا مِنَّا وَاحِدًا نَتَّبِعُهُ إِنَّا إِذًا لَفِي ضَلَالٍ وَسُعُرٍ أَؤُلْقِيَ الذِّكْرُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ بَيْنِنَا بَلْ هُوَ كَذَّابٌ أَشِرٌ سَيَعْلَمُونَ غَدًا مَنِ الْكَذَّابُ الْأَشِرُ إِنَّا مُرْسِلُو النَّاقَةِ فِتْنَةً لَهُمْ فَارْتَقِبْهُمْ وَاصْطَبِرْ وَنَبِّئْهُمْ أَنَّ الْمَاءَ قِسْمَةٌ بَيْنَهُمْ كُلُّ شِرْبٍ مُحْتَضَرٌ فَنَادَوْا صَاحِبَهُمْ فَتَعَاطَى فَعَقَرَ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ صَيْحَةً وَاحِدَةً فَكَانُوا كَهَشِيمِ الْمُحْتَظِرِ وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْآنَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِنْ مُدَّكِرٍ [ الْقَمَرِ: 23 - 32 ]. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ بِطَغْوَاهَا إِذِ انْبَعَثَ أَشْقَاهَا فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ نَاقَةَ اللَّهِ وَسُقْيَاهَا فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَعَقَرُوهَا فَدَمْدَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ بِذَنْبِهِمْ فَسَوَّاهَا وَلَا يَخَافُ عُقْبَاهَا [ الشَّمْسِ: 11 - 15 ]. وَكَثِيرًا مَا يَقْرِنُ اللَّهُ فِي كِتَابِهِ بَيْنَ ذِكْرِ عَادٍ وَثَمُودَ، كَمَا فِي سُورَةِ بَرَاءَةَ، وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَالْفُرْقَانِ، وَسُورَةِ ص، وَسُورَةِ ق، وَالنَّجْمِ، وَالْفَجْرِ.
Translation
✧ God, exalted is He, said in Sūrat al-Aʿrāf: And to Thamūd [We sent] their brother Ṣāliḥ. He said, “O my people, worship God; you have no god other than Him. There has come to you a clear proof from your Lord. This is the she-camel of God, a sign for you. So leave her to eat in God’s land and do not touch her with harm, lest a painful punishment seize you. And remember when He made you successors after ʿĀd and settled you in the land, [so that] you take for yourselves palaces from its plains and carve the mountains into houses. So remember the favors of God and do not commit abuse in the earth, spreading corruption.” The notables who were arrogant among his people said to those who were deemed weak—to those who believed among them, “Do you [really] know that Ṣāliḥ is sent from his Lord?” They said, “Indeed we believe in what he was sent with.” Those who were arrogant said, “Indeed we disbelieve in what you have believed.” So they hamstrung the she-camel and defied the command of their Lord, and said, “O Ṣāliḥ, bring us what you promise us, if you are of the messengers.” So the earthquake seized them, and they became in their abode [bodies] fallen prone. Then he turned away from them and said, “O my people, I have certainly conveyed to you the message of my Lord and advised you, but you do not like advisers.” [al-Aʿrāf: 73–79]. And He, exalted is He, said in Sūrat Hūd: And to Thamūd [We sent] their brother Ṣāliḥ. He said, “O my people, worship God; you have no god other than Him. He produced you from the earth and made you dwell in it. So ask His forgiveness, then turn to Him in repentance. Indeed my Lord is near, responsive.” They said, “O Ṣāliḥ, you had been among us one in whom hope was placed before this. Do you forbid us to worship what our fathers worshipped? Indeed we are in disquieting doubt about what you call us to.” He said, “O my people, have you considered: if I am upon a clear proof from my Lord and He has given me mercy from Him, who would help me against God if I disobeyed Him? Then you would not increase me except in loss. And O my people, this is the she-camel of God, a sign for you. So leave her to eat in God’s land and do not touch her with harm, lest a near punishment seize you.” But they hamstrung her, so he said, “Enjoy yourselves in your abode for three days; that is a promise not to be belied.” Then when Our command came, We saved Ṣāliḥ and those who believed with him by mercy from Us, and [We saved them] from the disgrace of that day. Indeed your Lord is the Strong, the Mighty. And the cry seized those who had wronged, and they became in their homes [bodies] fallen prone, as if they had never dwelt there. Unquestionably, Thamūd disbelieved in their Lord; unquestionably, away with Thamūd. [Hūd: 61–68]. And He, exalted is He, said in Sūrat al-Ḥijr: And the companions of al-Ḥijr certainly denied the messengers. And We gave them Our signs, but they turned away from them. And they used to carve from the mountains houses, feeling secure. Then the cry seized them at morning. So what they used to earn did not avail them. [al-Ḥijr: 80–84]. And He, glorified and exalted is He, said in Sūrat Subḥān: And nothing prevented Us from sending signs except that the former peoples denied them. And We gave Thamūd the she-camel as a visible sign, but they wronged it. And We do not send signs except as a warning. [al-Isrāʾ: 59]. And He, exalted is He, said in Sūrat al-Shuʿarāʾ: Thamūd denied the messengers, when their brother Ṣāliḥ said to them, “Will you not fear God? Indeed I am to you a trustworthy messenger. So fear God and obey me. And I do not ask you for any reward for it; my reward is only upon the Lord of the worlds. Will you be left secure in what is here, in gardens and springs, and fields and date-palms with slender spathes, and you carve from the mountains houses with skill? So fear God and obey me, and do not obey the command of the extravagant, those who corrupt in the earth and do not set things right.” They said, “You are only of the bewitched. You are nothing but a human like us. So bring a sign, if you are of the truthful.” He said, “This is a she-camel; she has a share of drinking, and you have a share of drinking on a known day. And do not touch her with harm, lest a punishment of a great day seize you.” But they hamstrung her, then became regretful. So the punishment seized them. Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not believers. And indeed your Lord—He is the Mighty, the Merciful. [al-Shuʿarāʾ: 141–159]. And He, exalted is He, said in Sūrat al-Naml: And We sent to Thamūd their brother Ṣāliḥ, [saying], “Worship God.” Then they became two parties disputing. He said, “O my people, why do you hasten the evil before the good? Why do you not ask forgiveness of God, that you may receive mercy?” They said, “We augur ill of you and those with you.” He said, “Your omen is with God. Rather, you are a people being tested.” And in the city there were nine rahṭ who corrupted in the land and did not set things right. They said, “Swear by God to one another: we will kill him and his family by night, then we will say to his heir, ‘We did not witness the destruction of his family, and indeed we are truthful.’” And they plotted, and We plotted, while they did not perceive. So look how was the outcome of their plot: We destroyed them and their people all together. So those are their houses, empty, because of what they wronged. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who know. And We saved those who believed and used to fear God. [al-Naml: 45–53]. And He, exalted is He, said in Sūrat Ḥā Mīm al-Sajdah: And as for Thamūd, We guided them, but they preferred blindness over guidance. So the thunderbolt of humiliating punishment seized them for what they used to earn. And We saved those who believed and used to fear God. And He, exalted is He, said in Sūrat Iqtarabat: Thamūd denied the warnings, and said, “A human from among us, one [alone], we should follow him? Indeed then we would be in error and madness. Has the reminder been cast upon him from among us? Rather, he is an insolent liar.” They will know tomorrow who the insolent liar is. Indeed We are sending the she-camel as a trial for them, so watch them and be patient. And inform them that the water is to be shared between them; each share of drinking is attended. But they called their companion, and he took [his sword] and hamstrung [her]. Then how was My punishment and My warning? Indeed We sent upon them one cry, and they became like the dry twigs of a fence-maker. And We have certainly made the Qurʾān easy for remembrance, so is there any who will take heed? [al-Qamar: 23–32]. And He, exalted is He, said: Thamūd denied by their transgression, when the most wretched of them arose. Then the messenger of God said to them, “[This is] the she-camel of God and her drinking.” But they denied him and hamstrung her. So their Lord crushed them for their sin and leveled [the punishment]. And He does not fear its consequence. [al-Shams: 11–15]. Often God joins in His Book the mention of ʿĀd and Thamūd, as in Sūrat Barāʾah, Ibrāhīm, al-Furqān, Sūrat Ṣād, Sūrat Qāf, al-Najm, and al-Fajr.
Grades by grader
No grade is recorded for this wording.