Prophet's Story
THE STORY OF PROPHET SALEH
The prophet Saleh was the fifth prophet and apostle to be believed. Nabi Saleh preached in Al-Hijr, now known as Madain Shalih, the US cities of Nabi Saleh, between Saudi Arabia and Syria. Some houses and stones are believed to be relics of the Prophet Saleh. UNESCO designated the relic as a world heritage
Allah SWT sent the prophet Saleh to bring the Thamud people back on the right path. Before being made an apostle, Saleh was a role model in the tribe of Thamud.
The Thamud people are famous for having reliable stone and building science. However, on the other hand they worship idols. This is in accordance with Surat Al-A'raf verse 73.
"And [We have sent] to the Thamud their brother Saleh. He said: "O my people, worship Allah, there is no God for you but Him. Verily, there has come to you a clear proof from your Lord. This she-camel of God is a sign to you, so let her eat in the earth of God, and do not disturb her with any disturbance, [for which] you will be subjected to a painful torment," translation of Al-A'raf verse 73.
The female camel described in the verse is a miracle given by Allah SWT to the Prophet Saleh, as a sign of His greatness.
When calling on the teachings of God, Saleh asked the Thamud to abandon idols and worship Allah SWT. Saleh called on the Thamud to repent.
"Hi Shaleh, indeed you were one of us before whom we wished, did you forbid us to worship what our fathers worshiped? And indeed we are deeply in doubt concerning the religion which you call upon us" said the Thamudites to the Prophet Saleh, as in Hud 62.
Instead of hearing the prophet Saleh, the Thamud opposed him. The people of Thamud asked the Prophet Saleh to bring about a miracle.
"You are none other than a man like us; then bring a miracle, if you are of the righteous" the Thamudites said to the Prophet Saleh as in the letter of Ash-Shu'ara' verse 154.
The Thamud people asked Saleh to create a 10-month pregnant female camel on a rocky hill. The prophet Saleh took up the challenge and prayed that Allah would show His power.
Allah then cut the rock on the hill and in it appeared a female camel according to the request of the Thamudites. The female camel is known as the female camel of Allah.
Nabi Saleh asked the Thamud to watch the camel and let it eat freely. Nabi Saleh also warned that the female camel was not disturbed because she was able to meet the milk needs of the entire Thamud.
"And do not touch the female camel with any evil thing, which causes you to be struck by a great torment of the day" said Nabi Saleh according to Sura Assy-Shu'ara verse 156.
Those who disbelieve are increasingly disbelieving and disturbing the female camel. The female camel of God is thought to disturb other farm animals, drink plenty of water, and walk freely.
The leaders of the Thamudites then made plans to kill the camel. A nobleman even made a contest with a big reward for killing a female camel.
At nightfall, nine men launched the act of killing the camel. The camel was harvested and stabbed along with its newborn child. The story of the camel's murder is found in the letter of Al-Qamar ayar 54.
The disbelievers of Thamud came back against the prophet Saleh to bring about the punishment after the camel was killed.
The prophet Saleh again reminded the people of Thamud to repent before the punishment actually came.
The people of Thamud were increasingly displeased with the advice of the prophet Saleh. They even planned the assassination of Nabi Saleh.
But not yet until that plan. Allah has commanded the Prophet Pious and those who believe to leave Al-Hijr because the punishment will soon come.
The torment appeared on the fourth day after the killing of the camel. On that day, lightning struck, the earth shook, and destroyed the people of Thamud. The people of Thamud perished because of the lightning and the earthquake.
"Therefore they were struck by an earthquake, so they became corpses scattered in their dwellings," following the translation of the letter of Al-A'raf verse 78.
From the story of Nabi Saleh there are a number of wisdom that can be learned. First, Allah showed His power through the miracle of the female camel to the Prophet Saleh.
Second, those who violate the commandments of Allah SWT will have a real punishment. The idols that the Thamud worshiped could not help them when the punishment of Allah came.
Third, Allah also gave time to the Thamud to repent starting from the command of the Prophet Saleh, the appearance of the female camel, and then after the killing of the camel. But when the punishment comes, repentance is meaningless with Allah.
