O my people! Worship God, you have no other god than He. A proof from your Lord has come to you. This is the she-camel of God, a sign for you, so let her feed in God’s earth and hurt her not, lest a painful torment seize you. And remember how He made you to succeed Ad, and lodged you in the land. You built mansions on the plains and hewed hills into houses. So remember God’s favors and do not work corruption in the land. (7:73–74)

We are sending the she-camel as a test for them; so watch them and be patient. (54:27)

One of the noblemen declared that he was convinced and believed in Salih (may peace be upon him). His clan followed suit. Another nobleman who was on the verge of doing the same was sharply rebuked by other noblemen and desisted.

The she-camel was unique in that she required an exceptionally large amount of water to quench her thirst. The land of the Thamud was a fertile oasis, but was in the middle of an arid rocky desert where water was scarce. Some kind of arrangement had to be made. God said,

We are sending the she-camel as a test for them; so watch them and be patient. And inform them that the water is to be shared between them and every drinking is to be witnessed. (54:27–28)

Salih said, “This is a she-camel; to her a draught and to you a draught, on a day appointed. Do not touch her with malice, else there shall seize you the torment of a dreadful day.” (26:155–156)

The disbelievers, disconcerted by what they had witnessed, agreed to leave the she-camel to drink from the well one day and for the tribe to draw water the next. They thus had to draw enough water every other day to last them for two days. Once the she-camel started drinking on her day, she carried on until no more water could be reached from the well, but then she allowed the people to milk her and produced so much milk that they not only drank their fill but also filled their vessels for the next day. When it was hot, she would climb to the crests of the hills,[6] causing the people’s cattle, sheep and camels to flee to the hot and dry valley. In the winter, she sought the warmth of the lowlands, so the animals fled to the crests of the hills. This angered the tribesman so much that eventually they accused Salih (may peace be upon him) of being bewitched and a sorcerer. They said, “You are merely one of those that are bewitched, you are but a human being like us.” (26:153–154)

The she-camel lived among the hills and eventually gave birth. But the disbelievers grew impatient with her, for not only did she prevent them from using their well as they liked, but she also was a living reminder that they were obstinate deniers of manifest truth. They seem to have tried to annul their agreement with Salih (may peace be upon him), for the Qur’an says, Thamud cried lies in their insolence when the most wretched of them rose up, then the Messenger of God said to them, “The she-camel of God, let her drink!” But they cried lies and hamstrung her. (91:11–14)

One day, the leaders met in council and decided to get rid of her. Two young noblemen volunteered for the task, and the whole tribe, except for a few believers, was behind them. Soon, seven other men joined them. The nine lay in wait for the she-camel to finish drinking the water, perhaps because then she would be too heavy to run away. When she began heading back, one of the men shot an arrow that transfixed her leg and then the leader of the party hamstrung her with his sword. But they called their companion, and he took and hamstrung her. (54:29) Once she fell to the ground, they finished her off by stabbing her at the base of her neck. Her calf ran away and was able to ascend a hill. He was heard to cry out three times before he disappeared into the hills. According to another version, the men caught and slaughtered him along with his mother. Salih (may peace be upon him) said the three sounds the calf made were a warning that chastisement would befall the Thamud in three days. Salih (may peace be upon him) said, Take your comfort in your dwelling place for three days, this is a promise not to be belied. (11:65) The people remained arrogant and defiant. They said,

“O Salih! Bring upon us what you have promised us if you are one of the Messengers.” (7:77)

By evening, those who had killed the camel began plotting to kill Salih (may peace be upon him) as well. Now in the town there were nine persons who wrought corruption in the land, but no good. They said, “Swear a mutual oath, by God: We will attack him and his family by night, then we will tell his ally: We were not witnesses of the destruction of his family, and assuredly we are truthful.” (27:49) The leader of the party was a certain Qeddar, son of Salif. He was mentioned by the Prophet (may God’s blessings and peace be upon him), but not by name, on more than one occasion.

So they hamstrung the she-camel and turned in disdain from the commandment of their Lord, saying, “O Salih! Bring upon us what you threaten if you are indeed one of the Messengers!” So the quake seized them, and morning found them prostrate in their habitation. (7:77–78)

As for Thamud, We guided them, but they preferred blindness over guidance, so a thunderbolt of humiliating punishment seized them for that they had earned. And We saved those who believed and were God-fearing. (41:17–18)

Then We sent against them one cry and they became like the dry twigs of a cattle-fold builder. (54:31)