Exegesis of the saying of Allah the Exalted: (Thamud denied the warnings.)
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Exegesis of His saying, the Exalted: (Thamud denied the warnings)
We begin this session, as is our custom, by speaking about what Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has facilitated regarding the exegesis of His great speech.We have reached the saying of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He): [Al-Qamar: 23] Meaning: by what came to them of the warnings, which are the signs brought by Salih (peace be upon him). Their dwellings are known today in the land of al-Hijr, on the road from Madinah to Tabuk. Salih (peace be upon him) was sent to his people, calling them to worship Allah alone, having no partner, like the other prophets.Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Anbiya: 25],And Allah the Exalted said: [An-Nahl: 36] Allah (Mighty and Majestic) sent him to his people and gave him a sign, which was a she-camel: it had its day of drinking, and they had their day of drinking.Meaning: The well of the she-camel was large and abundant with water. It had a specific day when the she-camel would come to it and drink. It is reported that whoever watered it with a vessel of water would milk from its milk an amount equal to what he had given it to drink. This is among the signs of Allah (Mighty and Majestic): a she-camel drinks water and immediately produces milk. This is not its usual nature, but it is a sign from the signs of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) that He showed them so that they would take heed. For Allah did not send a messenger except that He gave him signs by which people would be assured, out of His mercy and wisdom; for it is not reasonable that a man among people would come and say: "I am the messenger of Allah to you," unless Allah gave him signs indicating his truthfulness.
The scholars said: And there is no sign given to any of the previous prophets except that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) had something like it or greater.
However, it may not have been available during the lifetime of the Messenger (peace be upon him), but it exists in his Ummah (community) who followed him. Therefore, it is an established principle among the scholars: that every karamah (miracle granted to a righteous person) of a wali (close friend of Allah) is a sign for the prophet he followed. Because this karamah testifies to the truth of what the wali was upon, and this wali is a follower of a previous messenger. Thus, it serves as a sign that the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) upon which this wali is is the truth, and this becomes a sign for the prophet.So the rule now is: That every karamah of a wali is a sign for the prophet he followed.
And based on this, we say: Among the signs of Musa (Moses) was that he struck the stone, and when he struck it, it burst forth with springs gushing water from a dry stone. Did the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) have something like this?
He had something greater. A cup of water was brought to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the people had no water except what was in this well. He placed his hand in it, and the water began to gush from between his fingers like springs—Glorified is Allah!—This is greater than the sign of Musa.Meaning: The sign of Musa was water coming out of the stone, and water coming out of the stone is a common occurrence.As Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Baqarah: 74] But is it customary for water to come out of a vessel that is separated from the ground? No.
So this is greater.
Musa (peace be upon him) struck the sea, and it split, becoming dry paths. This is undoubtedly a great sign. Something greater than this occurred for this Ummah. They walked on the water without a dry path being made for them. They walked on the flowing, soft water in which anyone who fell in would drown, with their animals and their feet, and they did not drown. This is in the story of al-Ala al-Hadrami and in the story of Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him). They walked on the water, and this is greater than walking on land from which the water parts.
So the important thing is: That there is no prophet sent by Allah except that He gave him signs by which people would be assured.We said: This is mercy and wisdom. Mercy for the people, so that these signs would lead them to believe and they would be saved from the punishment of Allah. Wisdom, because it is not wise for a person among people to stand up and say: "I am the messenger of Allah," until he is given signs.
Among the signs of Salih was this she-camel: it had its day of drinking, and Thamud had their day. It had its day, and they had their day. This is among the signs of Allah. Something similar occurred to the Messenger (peace be upon him) during the Hijrah (migration). He passed by a shepherd of sheep who had goats or ewes that had no milk. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) wiped their udders, and they began to flow with milk.
We begin this session, as is our custom, by speaking about what Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has facilitated regarding the exegesis of His great speech.We have reached the saying of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He):
Thamud denied the warning
كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ بِالنُّذُرِAnd We sent not before you any messenger except that We revealed to him that, "There is no deity except Me, so worship Me."
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِAnd We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], "Worship Allah and avoid Taghut." And among them were those whom Allah guided, and among them were those upon whom error was [deservedly] decreed.
وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَسُولاً أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ هَدَى اللَّهُ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الضَّلالَةُThe scholars said: And there is no sign given to any of the previous prophets except that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) had something like it or greater.
However, it may not have been available during the lifetime of the Messenger (peace be upon him), but it exists in his Ummah (community) who followed him. Therefore, it is an established principle among the scholars: that every karamah (miracle granted to a righteous person) of a wali (close friend of Allah) is a sign for the prophet he followed. Because this karamah testifies to the truth of what the wali was upon, and this wali is a follower of a previous messenger. Thus, it serves as a sign that the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) upon which this wali is is the truth, and this becomes a sign for the prophet.So the rule now is: That every karamah of a wali is a sign for the prophet he followed.
And based on this, we say: Among the signs of Musa (Moses) was that he struck the stone, and when he struck it, it burst forth with springs gushing water from a dry stone. Did the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) have something like this?
He had something greater. A cup of water was brought to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the people had no water except what was in this well. He placed his hand in it, and the water began to gush from between his fingers like springs—Glorified is Allah!—This is greater than the sign of Musa.Meaning: The sign of Musa was water coming out of the stone, and water coming out of the stone is a common occurrence.As Allah the Exalted said:
For indeed, there are stones from which rivers burst forth
وَإِنَّ مِنَ الْحِجَارَةِ لَمَا يَتَفَجَّرُ مِنْهُ الْأَنْهَارُSo this is greater.
Musa (peace be upon him) struck the sea, and it split, becoming dry paths. This is undoubtedly a great sign. Something greater than this occurred for this Ummah. They walked on the water without a dry path being made for them. They walked on the flowing, soft water in which anyone who fell in would drown, with their animals and their feet, and they did not drown. This is in the story of al-Ala al-Hadrami and in the story of Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him). They walked on the water, and this is greater than walking on land from which the water parts.
So the important thing is: That there is no prophet sent by Allah except that He gave him signs by which people would be assured.We said: This is mercy and wisdom. Mercy for the people, so that these signs would lead them to believe and they would be saved from the punishment of Allah. Wisdom, because it is not wise for a person among people to stand up and say: "I am the messenger of Allah," until he is given signs.
Among the signs of Salih was this she-camel: it had its day of drinking, and Thamud had their day. It had its day, and they had their day. This is among the signs of Allah. Something similar occurred to the Messenger (peace be upon him) during the Hijrah (migration). He passed by a shepherd of sheep who had goats or ewes that had no milk. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) wiped their udders, and they began to flow with milk.