The Story of Salih and the People of Thamud
Allah, the Exalted, says,
﴿æ﴾
(And) This is an introduction to that which is implied, "Verily, We sent.''
﴿Åöáóì ËóãõæÏó﴾
(to Thamud) They were a group of people who were living in cities carved from the rocks, between Tabuk and Al-Madinah (in Arabia). They lived after the people of `Ad, so Allah sent to them,
﴿ÃóÎóÇåõãú ÕóÜáöÍÇð﴾
(their brother Salih.) He (Salih) commanded them to worship Allah alone. He said to them,
﴿åõæó ÃóäÔóÃóßõãú ãøöäó ÇáÇøñÑúÖö﴾
(He brought you forth from the earth) This means: `He began your creation from it (the earth). From it He created your father, Adam.'
﴿æóÇÓúÊóÚúãóÑóßõãú ÝöíåóÇ﴾
(and settled you therein,) This means: `He made you prosperous in the earth. You are settled in it and you treasure it.'
﴿ÝóÇÓúÊóÛúÝöÑõæåõ﴾
(then ask forgiveness) `This is in reference to your previous sins. '
﴿Ëõãøó ÊõæÈõæÇú Åöáóíúåö﴾
(and turn to Him in repentance.) `This is in reference to the future.'
﴿Åöäøó ÑóÈøöì ÞóÑöíÈñ ãøõÌöíÈñ﴾
(Certainly, my Lord is Near (to all by His knowledge), Responsive.) This is similar to Allah's statement,
﴿æóÅöÐóÇ ÓóÃóáóßó ÚöÈóÇÏöí Úóäøöí ÝóÅöäøöí ÞóÑöíÈñ ÃõÌöíÈõ ÏóÚúæóÉó ÇáÏøóÇÚö ÅöÐóÇ ÏóÚóÇäö﴾
(And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed Near (to them by My knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me.) ﴿2:186﴾
﴿ÞóÇáõæÇú íÕóÜáöÍõ ÞóÏú ßõäÊó ÝöíäóÇ ãóÑúÌõæøðÇ ÞóÈúáó åóÜÐóÇ ÃóÊóäúåóÇäó Ãóä äøóÚúÈõÏó ãóÇ íóÚúÈõÏõ ÁÇÈóÇÄõäóÇ æóÅöäøóäóÇ áóÝöì Ôóßøò ãøöãøóÇ ÊóÏúÚõæäó Åöáóíúåö ãõÑöíÈò - ÞóÇáó íóÞóæúãö ÃóÑóÁóíúÊõãú Åöä ßõäÊõ Úóáóì ÈóíøöäóÉð ãøöä ÑøóÈøöì æóÁóÇÊóÜäöì ãöäúåõ ÑóÍúãóÉð Ýóãóä íóäÕõÑõäöì ãöäó Çááøóåö Åöäú ÚóÕóíúÊõåõ ÝóãóÇ ÊóÒöíÏõæäóäöì ÛóíúÑó ÊóÎúÓöíÑò ﴾
(62. They said: "O Salih! You have been among us as a figure of good hope until this! Do you (now) forbid us the worship of what our fathers have worshipped But we are really in grave doubt as to that to which you invite us.'') (63. He said: "O my people! Tell me, if I have a clear proof from my Lord, and there has come to me a mercy from Him, who then can help me against Allah, if I were to disobey Him Then you increase me not but in loss.'')