She-Camel of

AllahSTORY OF PROPHET SALIH (P)

Shamsul Hoque Siddique

She-Camel of Allah

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The first edition 2016 Copyright: Shamsul Hoque Siddique

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Pages: 91

Price: TK: 400

Shamsul Hoque Siddique

Once upon a time there lived a nation in Arabia.They lived in a land between Tabuk and Hizaj.They lived there a life of abundance. They hadpalm gardens, fruits – soft and delicious. Theyhad ponds and well with clean water. Theyenjoyed a life of luxury and extravagance in thenorth eastern part of Arabia.

They had been caliphs (successors) of Ad, who were tall and strong; who made tall buildings with lofty pillars. Who carve big houses out of mountains? But because of their disbelief they had been punished and ruined by a furious wind, which was exceedingly violent.

Allah placed them on earth after Ad and rendered them strength and skills for cutting rocks and building large and big houses.

People of Salih (p)

They would cut rocks in the valley. They cut huge rocks and used them in the houses they built, in the idols they worshiped. They even worshiped a particular rock to which they offered sacrifices, for which they arranged festival once a year.

People of Salih (p)

They were heedless and they were astray. They believed in many deities and they worshiped many Idols.

People of Salih (p)

This was their biggest gilt. This was their biggest sin.

Because the world we live in is created by one God, Who is none but Allah.

The universe we read about in our books is created by one God, Who is Allah. He created this universe without taking help from anyone. He alone created this universe and everything therein. So if someone is worthy of worship it is He alone.

He created human and what he needs of foods, water, oxygen and all other things.

He did not take anyone as partner while He created. He doesn’t need anyone to sustain what He created by his own decision. He created human and provided Him with everything. He decreed that there will not be any mediator between Him and human. Anybody can call Him directly.

Anybody can come closer to Him directly. There will not be any mediator between Him and between His creation.

There is no Idols or deities who can help anybody in anything. Idols are not mediators nor are they partners of Allah.

So worshiping any deity or any idol is simply going against the will of Allah, going against Him directly. This is the biggest sin which will not be forgiven. This is the severe crime which leads to the fire of hell and eternal torment

This was the major sin of the nation of prophet Salih(Peace be upon him).

Allah sent prophet Salih (p) to warn his people from this sin. To tell them that there is no God beside Allah. Allah is the one Who gives

life

and who gives death.

He is the one Who sustains

And He is the one Who destroys.

He is the one Who can answer the supplications of His creations. He alone gives refuge from devil and evil to someone who asks Him.

Allah sent Salih (P) to tell his people that if they gave up evil belief and ended up to accept one God, who is Allah, and worshiped none other than Him, then they would be given the chance to live happy life in the life to come.

They would be fortunate to enter paradise where they will get anything they desire, anything they may want for cherish and relish and enjoyment.

Salih (p) took a place for prayer. He took it for praying to Allah. This was his mosque where he went every day, where he prayed every day. He observed there Salah that he received from Allah. People didn’t stop him from observing Salah. Because he was kind and friendly. He was gentle and benevolent. None among Thamud was comparable to him in piety, in truthfulness, in honesty and decency. He was a wonderful man ever born to Thamud.

People go by his mosque and see him praying, they see him kneeling down and putting his forehead on the ground. They see him worshiping an unseen God. No idol, no statue, no image of any deity in front him. He prayed to the creator of the universe Who has no image, because there is nothing like Him.

One day he started to call his people to one God – Allah. He called them to give up all other deities they used to worship. He called them to reject all idols, because they are not God, they are not creators and sustainers. They do not deserve even a bit of worship.

He would spent months after months, years after years calling them to the oneness of Allah. He would explain to them the signs of Allah that are out there in the earth and in the horizons.

But they had been heedless. They didn’t care about what Salih (p) was saying.

One day the prophet Salih(p) addressed them and said: ‘O my people! Worship Allah! You don’t have any God except Him. It is He Who has produced you from the earth and settled you therein. So ask His forgiveness and turn to Him in repentance. Indeed my lord is near, ready to answer.’ (Quran: 7:73 )

Salih (p) reminded them of Allah’s bounty upon them. He reminded them that they had been nothing. It is Allah Who created them. Reminded them of the father of human being who was created from the earth. So all human being is from the earth.

He reminded them that whatever they have of lands, rocks, fruits, water all are given by Allah.

There is none who gave them any of these things. He called them and reminded them of all these bounties. He called them to thinking in whatever they have of bounties and believe in one true God to whom all things belong. .

He reminded them that they have wronged themselves when they resorted to idols, when they worshiped rocks, when they took other deities than Allah. He called to ask forgiveness of Allah for this big sin. He asked them for repentance from this dangerous sin. He would try to persuade them that Allah will answer their call if they decide to turn to Him in repentance. Because He is very near and answers all the calls.

People of Salih (p) said in reply: ‘O Salih! You have been among us a center of hope. Do you forbid us to worship of what our fathers worshiped? Indeed we are in troubling suspicion about what you are calling us to.’ (Quran: 11:62 )

Yes, prophet Salih (p) was center of their hope. He was the most pious man among them and owns all qualities of leadership. They wanted him to be their leader. A leader who will lead them to more and more earthly prosperity and affluence. Who will lead them to building more edifices in the plain land and more home in the mountains? They wanted him to hold their ancestral beliefs up and build them a strong nation of rock.

However Salih (p) deviated himself from such an earthly fame, from such a fragile leadership.

He rather wanted to accomplish his original duty which is to convey the message of Allah. To make the people know clearly Who is God and what is His creation plan. What are the true beliefs they have to bear in their mind. And what are the true actions they have to follow all along their life if they want to enter the paradise and protect themselves against the fire of hell.

People of Salih (p) were not living in the age of scientific thinking. They didn’t know that truth is something which is achieved after scientific research or after rational thinking. They thought: truth lies in fathers’ sayings. If they used to believe in something that means that belief must be true. If they used to say something that means that this saying is true. If someone say otherwise that is simply not but a lie. So they compared what Salih (p) said with what their fathers’ said about deities, with what their fathers used do about idols. So they rejected Salih (p) saying:‘We are in troubling doubt about what you are inviting us to.’ (Quran: 11:62)

Salih (p) said: ‘O my people! Do you see? If I am on the clarity which is given by my lord and he has sent mercy unto me from himself,- who then can help me against Allah if I were to disobey Him. You will add nothing but loses to me.’ (Quran: 11:63).

Salih (p) was upon deeper belief and clear idea of what he is saying and inviting people to. Because Allah has sent revelation to him and made him upon a clear knowledge. He cannot betray this vivid knowledge. He cannot let this rich gen go down for any earthly gain. He cannot do that simply to please the ignorant people. Because he knew clearly if he were to do any compromise in this matter then none could help him against Allah. Rather a slightest compromise to the demand of his people would mean losing everything on his part.

Salih (p) was steadfast on his attitude. He went on inviting his people to the oneness of God. He did it relentlessly. He didn’t compromise and rely on the policy of give and take.

Affluent people of Thamud have not been listening to Salih (p) at all. They were rather preventing ordinary people from listening to him.

He hoped that ordinary people would believe in what he is saying. So one day he addressed them saying: ‘Will you not protect yourselves against Allah? Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger. So protect yourselves against Allah and obey me. And I do not ask you against what I am doing any payment. My payment is only from Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Will you be left in what is here, secure (from death), within gardens and springs and fields of crops and palm trees with softened fruit? And you carve out of mountain, homes, with skill. So fear Allah and obey me. And do not obey the transgressors. Who cause corruption in the land and do not amend.’ (Quran: 26:142-152)

People heard what he said. Many of them believed and became his followers.

But the the rich and affluent people rejected him. They had been careless. They had a very little desire to use their mind and explore the truth he is calling to.

Rather they brought unpleasing image of him in their mind. They assumed he has lost his balance; he has missed his soundness. They thought, Salih(p) was affected by a kind of black magic which caused him to speak the untruth. They whispered to each other, ‘let’s tell him what we have just thought of him. So they said: ‘You are only of those affected

by magic.’ (Quran: 26:153)

This conversation was taking place in a festive day. A day when they offer special respect and worship to a big rock they believed to be one of their Gods.

In this day they also carry with them idols to worship.

Since it was a festive day they thought this is a deciding day between them and Salih (p). They wanted to defeat salih (p) by asking him to bring a miracle. Not any miracle. He must bring a she-camel out of the very rock they worship. Not any she-camel, the camel should be ten month pregnant and tall enough.

They thought this will be heard for Salih (p). Because the rock they referred to is their God-Rock. Coming a she-camel of ten month pregnant out of this rock is impossible. So they asked Salih (p) this very special miracle. They said: ‘You are a man like ourselves, so bring a miracle if you should be one of the truthful.’ (Quran: 26: 154)

Salih (p) wanted to seize the opportunity. Because this was a festive day. All people are together. He decided to ask Allah for a miracle. But before that he wanted to take the promise of his people that they will believe him if he bring the miracle they demanded. He will bring them in the same shape and type they wanted. But they have to promise first they will believe in him and they obey him. Because he loved them and wanted all of them to be happy in the life to come.

He wanted all of them to avoid the fire of hell. He said:“Do you thing that if I answered to your demand of a miracle and make it happen the way you asked are you going to believe in what I came with to you and believe as true the message I am sent with? They replied: Yes, we shall do.

Salih (p) headed to his mosque. He will ask Allah for a miracle his people demanded. Maybe this miracle will open the eyes of his people and finally they will believe in the message he brought to them. He went to his mosque and prayed. He asked the miracle his people wanted.

All eyes were stuck on the rock. All are waiting for seeing the impossible.

The Almighty Allah answered to the prayer of Salih (p). The rock suddenly started shaking. It began swelling as if it were pregnant. The heartbeat of people quickened and accelerated. Their breathing picked up more speed. Then all of a sudden the rock splittedinto parts. The miracle came out. A She-Camel came out which was big and ten month pregnant. People screamed and shouted: unbelievable, amazing, we could not believe our eyes. What is this?

Salih (p) came to his people and said:‘O my people! This is the She-Camel of Allah. It has been given to you as a miracle. So leave her to feed in the earth of Allah and don’t inflict any herm on her. If you do any harm to her, a swift penalty will seize you.’ (Quran:11:46).

Having seen the camel coming out of the rock some of the leaders become believers. They had been lucky to discover the truth through the miracle of camel.

While the majority of them remained unbelievers. They considered the fact as a mere magic.

This She-Camel was a miracle given by Allah to prophet Salih(p). It was given as a clear proof that Salih (p) was true. It was also a means of test for his people. Test of belief, test of action. Allah puts human into test in different ways; in diverse methods. The means Allah uses for testing is called Shariah.

We have our own Shariah based on the Quran

and the traditions of prophet Mohammad (p).

Allah has prohibited a few things for us as a means of test, like alcohol,

meat of pig,

sexual relation without being lawfully married to each other, etc.

People of Salih (p) had the test of not doing harm to the She-Camel. Not taking water of the pond on the day She-Camel would drink. In addition to pray and fast.

This was the basic Sharia law for the people of Salih(p). The prophet Salih (p) conveying this law to his people by saying: ‘So don’t inflict any harm on her.’ ( Quran:11:46)

He also said:‘This is a She-Camel. It has the right of drinking and you have the right of drinking on a (alternately) appointed day’ (Quran:26:155).

People of Salih (p) agreed on the arrangement in the beginning. Because they saw with their own eyes an unbelievable miracle, an overwhelming event that left them all in awe.

So the She-Camel consumed the water on alternate days. She consumed all their water on her day. However She didn’t leave them in thirst , instead she gave them her sweet milk. She was milked on the day she would drink water. She gave them very delicious and lovely milk. All the people relished her milk, they liked it too much. On other days, the people drank water, and she did not come near the pond.

This continued as long as the Almighty desired.

Then the time came when the people began to deviate and go astray.

Satan inspired to the people that they should think in killing the camel.

Two women got very inspired. They wanted to be famous by contributing in this task for the nation of Thamud. One of them was Sudaf. She had been wealthy and belonged to a prestigious family. She left her husband because he followed Salih (p) and believed in Allah. Her heart was as hard and tough as rock. She called on her cousin Misda. She told him: ‘I am for you if you only could kill the camel.’ Misda agreed.

Another woman was Unaijah. She was an aged and a tough non-believer. She had four daughters. She called upon Qudar, who was a leader and a brave man. She called on him and told him: Look! If you kill the camel you will have any of my four daughters of your choosing. What do you think? Qurdar was very happy to have this offer. He could not help himself but to agree.

Now there are two men agreed on harming the camel. Leaders found the men they had been looking for. So they delegated them to kill the camel. However they wanted to add more people to their killing mission. They also wanted to accomplish a campaign among Thamud so that they become agreed on the killing task. When they started campaign they got other seven people who decided to participate in the mission directly. Now they became nine. All of them did campaign among the people of Thamud. They said:

“We are not prepared to continue with this arrangement. The she-camel consumes all the water on alternate days. We are Thamud. We are strong. The water is our water, why should we obey the command of Salih and let the camel drink all the water on alternate days. We should have access to the pond every day. Why shouldn’t we kill the camel and make the water accessible for everyone every day. Aren’t we the ones who cut huge rocks and make edifices in the plain land? Aren’t we the ones who carve homes out of mountains? So why should we continue with this arrangement.”

People convinced with what they said. The nine people became sure that none among Thamud will oppose them except Salih (p) and his small group of companions who are poor and weak. They took their weapons. They sat by the way the camel will pass through while returning from the pond.

When they saw the camel coming, Misdatook the initiative. He threw an arrow that hit her leg.

When he did it women of Thamudrushed to the spot. They wanted to encourage them, to keep them raised in spirit. They uncovered their faces which they used to keep behind the veil before. The nine culprits was full of enthusiasm when they saw the woman and their unveiled faces. Their soul became more polluted, more sinful.

Qudar rushed to the camel and hold his sword on its shank tightly. The She-Camel fell down onto the ground. She made a huge grunt to warn her calf. Qudar pushed his sword very harshly through its throat and killed her brutally. Afterward all the killers came and took their part in harming the miracle.

Upon seeing this her calf ran onto a secure mountain. It grunted three times there.

Upon seeing this her calf ran onto a secure mountain. It grunted three times there.

Salih (p) was very sorry for the crime his people committed. It was a cruel and barbarian crime that will bring a severe punishment. Because it was not simply disobeying Allah, it was rather inflicting severe harm on the very miracle Allah sent to nation of Thamud. They will face eternal punishment in the life to come. Because they rejected the divine message brought by the prophet Salih(p). They harmed the miracle. But the commencement of that eternal punishment will start right here on the earth. Because they failed to prove they are worthy of enjoying the bounty of Allah.

Salih (p) warned his people that punishment will come very soon. It will come surely after three days from now. Salih (p) said: "Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days: (Then will be your ruin): (Behold) there a promise not to be belied!" (Quran: 11:65).

When Salih (p) said this, their stubbornness and transgression increased more and more. They said:“O Salih! Bring us what you are threatening us with If you are one of the messengers.” (Quran:7:77)

Salih (p) said, “Indeed tomorrow morning your faces shall turn yellow, the next day red and then black on the third day.”They didn’t believe in what Salih (p) said. Rather the nine criminals plotted to kill the prophet at night. But Allah didn’t let them go ahead. He sent them a huge rock that smashed them and killed them on the spot.

Next morning faces of all non-believers turned yellow. Some of them told others, “What Salih had predicted was true and the chastisement has come to you.” The transgressors said, “We shall not accept the word of Salih and would not believe him even if what he says is true.”

On the second day, their faces turned red. Again, some of them said:“What Salih had predicted has come true. Transgressors said:“Even though we perish, we shall still

not believe in Salih. We shall not give up worshipping the deities of our forefathers.” They did not repent and neither did they stop sinning.

On the third day, their faces turned black. Again some people went to them and repeated that whatever Salih had predicted was true but the arrogant said, “Indeed whatever Salih predicted has come to pass.”

At last, in the morning of fourth day, a very loud sound came from heaven. Is was so loud that it shattered their eardrums. Their hearts exploded and livers disintegrated. There was severe earthquake as well. The Almighty killed them all. All of them lay dead in their houses and their bedrooms.

Thus was the end of Thamud. They got severe punishment for their harming the miracle; for their heedlessness, faithlessness.

The End