Al-Haaqqa (The Reality)

5. As for Thamud, they were destroyed by an incontrollable torment!

the people of Thamud inhabited a mountainous region between Hijaz and Syria. Prophet Salih was Divinely appointed to call them onto obedience to God Almighty, though they never believed and rose against him and even asked him to send down the promised torment if he was true in his Prophetic Call.

Then, a destructive lightning was sent down on them. Their firmly built palaces and mansions trembled in a few moments and destroyed them all and their dead bodies were cast on the ground. It is worthy of note that the Holy Qur’an mentions an incontrollable torment as the cause behind their destruction.

Such incontrollable torment (al-taghiya) is also mentioned as

“earthquake” (rajfa)

in 7:78,

“lightning” (sa‘iqa)

in 41:13, and

“loud cry” (sayha)

in 11:67 which all imply the same meaning, since lightning is accompanied by loud noises and makes the stricken place tremble and it is an uncontrollable torment.