AL ASHARI SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

 *Hazrat Salih (Peace be upon him) – Part 3*

For a long time the matter went on like this. Finally their chiefs gathered, and after consultation they unanimously decided to kill the she-camel so they would be rid of her and get all the water. The person who took responsibility for killing the she-camel was named Qidar bin Salif bin Junda. He was red-complexioned and blue-eyed. It is also said that he was born as a result of an illicit relationship of Salif’s wife with another man. Because he killed the she-camel following the unanimous decision of all the people, the act was attributed to all of them.

Imam Ibn Jarir (may Allah have mercy on him) and other commentators state that there were two women among the people of Thamud. One was named Saduq bint Mahya bin Suhair bin Mukhtar. She was wealthy and of noble lineage. She had married a man from the tribe of Aslam but then took a divorce. She called her paternal cousin Masda‘ bin Mehraj bin Mahya and said, “If you kill the she-camel, I will marry you.”

The second woman was the daughter of Unaiza bin Ghunaim. Her kunya was Umm Ghanam. She was a disbelieving old woman. Her husband was a chief. This woman said to Khidar bin Salim, “These are my four daughters. If you kill the she-camel, I will marry you to whichever girl you wish.”

It is said both stirred the people for this task. They also encouraged the individuals of the tribe. Seven more people joined them. They tried to get the rest of the tribe to join as well, and the people supported them. They lay in ambush to kill the she-camel. When she returned after drinking water, Masda‘, who was hiding, shot an arrow at her which lodged in the bone of her shin.

Unaiza and her daughters also came to encourage Khidar. To rouse him, they lifted the veils from their faces. Qidar bin Salim quickly attacked the she-camel with a sword and cut her hamstring. She fell to the ground and let out a loud cry. Hearing it, her calf was startled and ran to a distant mountain and bleated three times. Qidar struck the she-camel’s throat with a spear and killed her.

When evening came, they planned to martyr Hazrat Salih (Peace be upon him) as well. So they all swore an oath, saying, “Come, let us attack him and his family by night.” That is, we will enter Salih’s house at night and martyr him along with his family. Then if his relatives seek retribution or demand blood money, we will deny it and say we did not kill him.

So Salih said, “Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days. That is a promise not to be belied.” Then when Our command came, We saved Salih and those who believed with him by Our mercy, and kept them safe from the disgrace of that day. Indeed, your Lord is the Strong, the Mighty.

As for those who wronged, the punishment seized them in the form of a shriek, and they became fallen prone in their homes — as if they had never lived there. So beware: Thamud disbelieved in their Lord, and beware: a curse is upon Thamud.

We sent upon them one terrible shriek, and they became like the dry, broken twigs of a fence-builder. Allah Ta‘ala had already sent punishment upon them before their nation, and crushed them by raining stones upon them and destroyed them. When the sun rose, a severe sound came from the sky and an earthquake came from below. So the souls of all the individuals departed. They died and became motionless and silent. They were transformed into lifeless bodies just as they were sitting in their homes, and could not move at all.

_Source: Al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya, Imam Ibn Kathir_