Get the Muslim Alim app
Salih, the prophet of Thamud and the she-camel of Allah
Salih
The Call to His People
The Miracle of the She-Camel
The Warning
The Fate of the She-Camel
The Patience of Salih
The Punishment
The Believers Saved
The Lesson for Mankind
Important Note
This collection brings together a selection of authentic texts about the Prophet Salih (peace be upon him). The English translations are given as a guide.
- Refer to the original Arabic texts
- Consult the commentaries of the scholars
- Study the historical context of each account
- Check the authentic sources
Salih: discover the remarkable story of this prophet of Islam
The Prophet Salih holds an important place in the story of the messengers Allah sent. He was appointed to guide the people of Thamud, an Arab tribe who lived in the region of Al-Hijr, in present-day Saudi Arabia. They were known for their skill in carving houses out of the rock and for their material prosperity.
Salih called his people to the worship of Allah alone and to the abandonment of idolatry. Thamud had grown proud because of their wealth and their impressive buildings. They refused to listen to their prophet's counsel and demanded a miracle to prove he spoke the truth.
Allah then brought a miraculous she-camel out of a rock, as a clear sign of Salih's prophethood. That she-camel had a particular arrangement: she drank the water of the well on one day, and the people could use the water on the next. The prophet warned Thamud sternly not to harm this blessed animal.
Despite this clear warning, some members of the tribe killed the she-camel out of defiance and disbelief. Salih then told them they had three days before the divine punishment fell upon them. When that time was up, Allah destroyed the people of Thamud with a terrifying cry and an earthquake.
The story of Salih is told several times in the Quran, in particular in the surahs Al-A'raf, Hud and Ash-Shu'ara. It is a precious lesson on what pride and the rejection of divine messages lead to. Muslims can deepen their knowledge of the prophets of Islam to understand these foundational accounts better.
Also worth reading
All of Prophets
The Prophet's Farewell Sermon
Arabic text and translation of the Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ farewell sermon at Arafat during the Farewell Pilgrimage: equality, women's rights, Quran and Sunnah.
Read
The Prophet Adam
The story of the Prophet Adam in Islam: his creation from clay, the prostration of the angels, the refusal of Iblis, the slip, the repentance and his offspring.
Read
The Prophet Al-Yasa
Who is the Prophet Al-Yasa (Elisha) in Islam? His two mentions in the Quran, his mission to the Children of Israel and his link with the Prophet Ilyas.
Read
The Prophet Ayyub
The story of the Prophet Ayyub (Job) in Islam: the loss of his wealth, his children and his health, his prayer, his healing and his patience rewarded.
Read
Famous hadiths of the Prophet
The best-known hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ translated into English with their source: intention, sincerity, lawful and unlawful, patience, anger…
Read
The Prophet's Mosque live
Watch the Prophet's Mosque in Medina live, the second holiest place in Islam: the five prayers, Ramadan tarawih and the architecture of Masjid an-Nabawi.
ReadYou may be wondering…
Who is the Prophet Salih?
Salih is an Arab prophet sent by Allah to the people of Thamud, a prosperous tribe settled in the region of Al-Hijr, in present-day Saudi Arabia. He has no known biblical counterpart. The Quran presents him as their brother, come to call them to worship Allah alone and to seek His forgiveness (Surah Hud, 61).
Who were the people of Thamud?
Thamud came after the people of Ad. Skilled builders, they raised palaces on the plains and carved their houses out of the mountains (Surah Al-A'raf, 74). Made proud by their wealth and their buildings, they refused Salih's message and demanded a miracle to prove he spoke the truth.
What is the miracle of Salih's she-camel?
In answer to the challenge of Thamud, Allah brought a she-camel out of a rock as a clear sign. Salih ordered them to let her graze freely on Allah's earth and to do her no harm, on pain of a punishment close at hand (Surah Al-A'raf, 73). The water of the well was hers one day, and the people's the next.
How were Salih's people destroyed?
Members of the tribe killed the she-camel in defiance. Salih announced a respite of three days (Surah Hud, 65). When that time was up, the Cry seized the wrongdoers, who lay lifeless in their homes. Allah saved Salih and those who had believed with him, by a mercy from Him (Surah Hud, 66-68).
In which surahs is the story of Salih told?
The story of Salih and Thamud appears in several surahs of the Quran, in particular Al-A'raf, Hud and Ash-Shu'ara, as well as Al-Qamar and Ash-Shams, which recall the killing of the she-camel. It is a lesson in what pride and the rejection of Allah's messengers lead to.