Who was Prophet Salih? His life and story

Full story

1. 1

   The call to the Thamud

   Salih (peace be upon him) was sent to the Thamud. This was a wealthy people who carved solid houses and mansions out of the rocks. He said to them: "O my people, worship Allah! You have no god other than Him" (Al-A'raf, 73).

   Salih called them to remember Allah's blessings and to submit to the truth.

2. 2

   The miracle of the she-camel

   When the people asked Salih (peace be upon him) for a sign, Allah gave them a she-camel (naqah) as a clear miracle. Salih instructed them not to touch the camel, not to harm it in any way, and to observe the turns for water (Al-A'raf, 73).

   This camel was a clear sign of Allah's power, and it became a test for the people.

3. 3

   The killing of the camel and the destruction

   The arrogant leaders of the people killed the camel and paid no attention to Salih's (peace be upon him) warning. In doing so, they openly defied Allah's command.

   After this, a mighty blast (sayhah) and an earthquake seized them; the people fell down dead, on their knees, in their homes (Al-A'raf, 78; Ash-Shams, 14). Salih and those who believed with him were saved by Allah's mercy.

4. 4

   A lesson from the land of Hijr

   The remains of the Thamud people stayed in a land called "Hijr" (al-Hijr). When our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by these ruins during the expedition to Tabuk, he instructed the Companions to enter the land of this destroyed, wrongdoing people only while weeping and taking heed: "Do not enter the dwellings of those who wronged themselves except weeping, lest what befell them befall you too" (Sahih Bukhari).

   This teaches that one should not pass by the fate of past peoples heedlessly, but with fear and reflection.

The story of Salih (peace be upon him) and the Thamud is narrated in the Quran in Surah Al-A'raf (7) and Surah Hud (11), as well as in Surah Ash-Shams. The Quran describes the miracle of the she-camel, the people's arrogance and their destruction, and presents it as a lesson about the fate of defying Allah's command.

• Even clear miracles cannot bring an arrogant heart to the truth.
• Defying Allah's command leads a people to ruin.
• The sin of a few can bring disaster upon an entire people.
• Those who believe are protected from Allah's punishment.
• One must pass by the dwellings of destroyed, wrongdoing peoples with reflection and fear, not heedlessly.

This page is based on Quran verses and authentic hadith sources.

• QuranSurah Al-A'raf, 73

  This verse states Salih's (peace be upon him) call of the Thamud to Tawhid and the miracle of the she-camel.

• QuranSurah Al-A'raf, 78

  This verse narrates the destruction of the Thamud by an earthquake.

• QuranSurah Ash-Shams, 14

  This verse describes the people killing the she-camel and being destroyed by punishment.

• HadithSahih Bukhari, 3380

  This hadith contains our Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) warning to enter the land of the Thamud (al-Hijr) only while weeping and reflecting.

• Classical sourceTDV İslam Ansiklopedisi, "Sâlih"

  Referenced for academic information about Prophet Salih and the Thamud.

Other Prophets connected with this story.

• Prophet Hud

  The Prophet sent to the people of Ad

• Prophet Nuh

  The Prophet who built the ark, one of the Ulul-Azm

Common questions about this Prophet.

• Who was Prophet Salih?

  Salih (peace be upon him) is the Prophet sent to the Thamud, who carved houses out of the rocks, calling them to worship Allah alone. His miracle was the she-camel given as a sign from Allah.

• What was Prophet Salih's miracle?

  When the people asked for a sign, Allah gave them a she-camel (naqah) as a clear miracle; Salih instructed them not to touch the camel (Al-A'raf, 73).

• How was the Thamud people destroyed?

  When the people killed the she-camel and defied Allah's command, they were destroyed by a mighty blast and an earthquake; Salih and the believers were saved (Al-A'raf, 78; Ash-Shams, 14).

• What did our Prophet say about the land of the Thamud?

  While passing by the ruins of Hijr during the expedition to Tabuk, he instructed the Companions to enter the land of this wrongdoing people only while weeping and taking heed, so that the punishment that came upon them would not be repeated (Sahih Bukhari).