Ash-Shu'araa (The Poets)

141. “The Thamud (people) belied the messengers.”

142. “When their brother Salih said to them: ‘Will you not fear (Allah)?”

143. “Verily I am unto you a trustworthy messenger.”

144. “Then be in awe of Allah and obey me.”

145. “And I do not ask you any recompense for it, my recompense is only from the Lord of the worlds.”

The life stories of a few prophets have been told in this Surah, each of which begins with the word ‘Belied’. This is because in these stories the most important point is the subject of prophets being rejected by the ancient people and their destruction.

Yes, in writing and speaking, the important points must come first. Therefore, in these stories there have been stated nothing about the number of their people, the name of their places, the date of the events and other details, because what is a gazing-stock is to show the manifestations of right and wrong and to state the victory of divine truth and the defeat of wrong.

However, the fifth part of the story of the prophets, which has been mentioned in this Surah, is the story of the people of Thamud and their prophet Salih (as) which is told precisely and briefly.

They lived in a land called/wadiyul qura/, locateid between Medina and Syria, and they had a comfortable life, but as the result of disobedience and contumacy, they were so destroyed that there is no sign from them today.

This story beings from the people of ‘Ad and the people of Noah, and it shows how the events of history repeat.

The verse says:

“The Thamud (people) belied the messengers.”

The Divine prophets preached the same call, and when the people of Thamud belied their prophet, Salih, indeed they belied all the Divine messengers.

After mentioning this short explanation, the Qur’an talks in details, where it says:

“When their brother Salih said to them: ‘Will you not fear (Allah)?”

Salih (as) who, as a brother, was a kind leader and a guide for his people, had no superiority over them and no material benefits did he demand from them. Therefore, the Qur’an introduces him as their brother to them.

Like all prophets of Allah, Salih (as) begins his invitation with piety and feeling responsibility. Then he (as) implicitly refers to his good background among them as a reference for the veracity of his claim.

He says:

“Verily I am unto you a trustworthy messenger.”

Therefore, Salih recommended them that they should be pious, be in awe of Allah, and obey him, because he wanted for them nothing but the pleasure of Allah, their goodness, and prosperity.

He said to them:

“Then be in awe of Allah and obey me.”

As a reason for the truthfulness of his statement, and that his struggle was for Allah, he added:

“And I do not ask you any recompense for it, my recompense is only from the Lord of the worlds.”