Where did the people of Thamud reside, and what is the story of their slaying of the she-camel?
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The questioner : Where did the people of Thamud reside, and what is the story of their slaying of the she-camel?
The Shaykh : The people of Thamud resided in the land of al-Hijr, which is well known. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed through it on his way to Tabuk. These are the dwellings of a people whom Allah (Mighty and Majestic) destroyed with a shout, so they remained in their dwellings fallen prostrate. I mean by this that Thamud were the people of Salih. Allah the Exalted gave them a great sign, which was the she-camel. They had a designated day to drink from its milk, and it would drink water on the second day. But they, may Allah protect us from that, disbelieved in this blessing, slaughtered the she-camel, and rebelled against the command of their Lord. They defied their Prophet Salih by saying:[Al-A'raf 7:77-78] It is not permissible for anyone to enter these lands except as one who takes a lesson and fears. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The meaning is that it is not lawful for a person to enter them except as one who takes a lesson and is fearful and awestruck. As for going there for the purpose of recreation and leisure, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited that. He said: Sahih al-Bukhari 433 Yes.
The questioner : Yes, his last question.
The Shaykh : The people of Thamud resided in the land of al-Hijr, which is well known. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed through it on his way to Tabuk. These are the dwellings of a people whom Allah (Mighty and Majestic) destroyed with a shout, so they remained in their dwellings fallen prostrate. I mean by this that Thamud were the people of Salih. Allah the Exalted gave them a great sign, which was the she-camel. They had a designated day to drink from its milk, and it would drink water on the second day. But they, may Allah protect us from that, disbelieved in this blessing, slaughtered the she-camel, and rebelled against the command of their Lord. They defied their Prophet Salih by saying:
bring us what you promise us, if you should be of the messengers." (78) So the earthquake seized them, and they became within their home [corpses] fallen prone.
ائتنا بما تعدنا إن كنت من المرسلين * فأخذتهم الرجفة فأصبحوا في دارهم جاثمينDo not enter the dwellings of these people until you are weeping. If you are not weeping, do not enter them.
لا تدخلوا ديار هؤلاء إلى أن تكونوا باكين فإن لم تكونوا باكين فلا تدخلوهاIf you do not weep, do not enter (the places of these people)
إن لم تكونوا باكين فلا تدخلوهاThe questioner : Yes, his last question.