The Hamstringing of the She-Camel and Thamud's Destruction

Despite Salih (AS)'s clear warning, the people of Thamud committed the very act they had been forbidden from doing.

فَعَقَرُوا۟ ٱلنَّاقَةَ وَعَتَوْا۟ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ وَقَالُوا۟ يَٰصَٰلِحُ ٱئْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

"So they hamstrung the she-camel and were insolent toward the command of their Lord and said, 'O Ṣāliḥ, bring us what you promise us, if you should be of the messengers.'"

— Surah Al-A'raf 7:77

In open defiance, they hamstrung the she-camel — killing the very sign that Allah had sent them. Then, in their arrogance, they mockingly demanded that Salih (AS) bring forth the punishment he had warned them about, daring Allah's decree to manifest.

فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلرَّجْفَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ فِى دَارِهِمْ جَٰثِمِينَ

"So the earthquake seized them, and they became within their home [corpses] fallen prone."

— Surah Al-A'raf 7:78

The punishment came swiftly. A violent earthquake seized them, and they were left lifeless in their own homes — the very mountains they had so skillfully carved into dwellings became their tombs.

فَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ لَقَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكُمْ رِسَالَةَ رَبِّى وَنَصَحْتُ لَكُمْ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُحِبُّونَ ٱلنَّٰصِحِينَ

"And he [i.e., Ṣāliḥ] turned away from them and said, 'O my people, I had certainly conveyed to you the message of my Lord and advised you, but you do not like advisors.'"

— Surah Al-A'raf 7:79

Salih (AS) turned away from the ruins of his people with sorrow, declaring that he had fulfilled his duty completely — delivering the message and offering sincere advice. But they had simply never welcomed those who genuinely cared for their wellbeing. His grief was not for losing an argument, but for watching an entire nation choose destruction over guidance.