Story of Hud and Salih - Collection

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The People of 'Ad and Thamud

Hud; Salih and the She-Camelrom the writings of Muhammad and Bahá'u'lláh

Hud; Salih and the She-Camel

om "The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh" vol 4 by Adib Taherzadeh

. . Hud and Salih were prophets of God who appeared befor

braham, but they are not mentioned in the Old or the Ne

estament. The people of 'Ad and Thamud inhabited a large tract o

ountry in Southern Arabia. Tradition has it that 'Ad was a fourth

eneration descendant of Noah. His people, who are said to be of

ll race, were idolators and aggressive people. In the Qur'án it

ated that the People of both 'Ad and Thamud were fine builder

fted with intelligence and skills, but that they were guided by th

vil One, Satan.

od chose Hud to be a prophet to the people of 'Ad. He too is sa

be a fourth-generation descendant of Noah, and therefore

ousin of 'Ad. Hud proclaimed to his people that God had chosem as a prophet, and preached to them the one true God and th



estruction of their idols. But they rejected him and only a fe

ecame his followers. When the people did not respond to h

eaching, he warned them of an impending calamity. This too

ace, and all perished except Hud and his followers. The nature

s calamity is given in the Qur'án:

. and 'Ad were destroyed by a roaring and furious wind; which Goaused to assail them for seven nights and eight days successivel

ou mightest have seen people, during the same, lying prostrate, a

ough they had been the roots of hollow palm-trees, and could

ou have seen any of them remaining?'

ccording to tradition Hud is buried in Hadhramaut, in the south e Arabian peninsula.

he people of Thamud were the successors to the culture an

vilization of 'Ad. Tradition has it that they were a younger branch o

e same tribe and lived in the same regions of the Arabia

eninsula. Thamud himself is also said to be a descendant of Noa

he people of Thamud were skilful in carving stone. They are reputehave made buildings out of solid rock. Like the people of 'Ad, the

ere idolators. According to the Qur'án, God had bestowed upo

em skills: they had plenty of cornfields and date farms, but the

ere unholy, oppressive and unkind to the poor.

hen God sent Salih to them as a prophet. He was one of the peopThamud like Hud, he exhorted people to believe in God and sto

orshipping idols. He argued with them for a long time, but they sa

at they could not find in him the signs of prophethood. Thereupo

od brought forth a she-camel as a sign. Tradition has it that th

he-camel came out of a rock. Salih asked the people to take ca

the she-camel and to drink of her milk, but they did not. And whe

he came to drink of their water, which was scarce in that land anerefore vital to their existence, they raised great objections an



ventually they hamstrung the she-camel and killed her.

alih repeatedly warned the people that if they did not respond to h

essage they would be struck by a calamity and would be seized b

od with a grievous punishment. When the sign from God, the she

amel, had no effect on the people and the animal was killed, a

arthquake wiped them out, all except Salih and his followers, where saved. The Qur'án describes this episode in this way:

hen they hamstrung the she-camel, and insolently defied the orde

their Lord, saying: 'O Salih, I bring about thy threats, If thou art a

postle.' --So the earthquake took them unawares, and they la

ostrate in their homes in the morning.

he versions we have given in these pages are based on the verse

the Qur'án. However, there are further details derived from variou

aditions other than the Qur'án, but these seem to be unreal an

ure fantasy.

he stories of Hud and Salih are somewhat similar to the story oah, the flood and the Ark. They are all symbolic. In the Bahá

Writings we find explained the significance of such terms as Noah

rk, the flood, the she-camel and other incidents. For exampl

bdu'l-Bahá in a Tablet explains that the she-camel was symbolic o

e holy spirit of Salih, and the milk was symbolic of the spiritual foo

hich his spirit offered to the people. The significance of the sheamel being hamstrung is the suffering inflicted by the wicked peop

n that holy soul, Salih. The spring of water which the people denie

the she-camel signifies life on this earth. The people were s

tached to earthly things that they could not recognize the gifts

od to them, and so they rose up in opposition to Salih, and when h

eparted from their midst they became deprived of his spiritu

fluence. His absence was the calamity which caused them to beprived of the bounties of God and consequently they perishe



piritually. There is a chapter in the Qur'án known as the Surah o

ud. It tells the story of all the Prophets including Hud and Salih.

escribes how they were all denied, opposed and persecuted b

eir own people. Bahá'u'lláh refers to this in the Kitáb-i-Iqán:

o them that are possessed of true understanding and insight th

urah of Hud surely sufficeth. Ponder a while those holy words our heart, and, with utter detachment, strive to grasp their meanin

xamine the wondrous behaviour of the Prophets, and recall th

efamations and denials uttered by the children of negation an

lsehood, perchance you may cause the bird of the human heart t

ng its flight away from the abodes of heedlessness and doubt unt

e nest of faith and certainty, and drink deep from the pure waters oncient wisdom, and partake of the fruit of the tree of divin

nowledge.

e also dwells briefly upon the story of Hud and Salih in these word

nd after Noah the light of the countenance of Hud shone forth abov

e horizon of creation. For well-nigh seven hundred years, accordinthe sayings of men, He exhorted the people to turn their faces an

aw nearer unto the Ridvan of the divine presence. What showers

flictions rained upon Him, until at last His adjurations bore the fru

increased rebelliousness, and His assiduous endeavours resulte

the wilful blindness of His people. 'And their unbelief shall on

crease for the unbelievers their own perdition.'[1]

Qur'án 35:9]

nd after Him there appeared from the Ridvan of the Eternal, th

visible, the holy person of Salih, Who again summoned the peop

the river of everlasting life. For over a hundred years H

dmonished them to hold fast unto the commandments of God anschew that which is forbidden. His admonitions, however, yielde



o fruit, and His pleading proved of no avail. Several times H

tired and lived in seclusion. All this, although that eternal Beau

as summoning the people to no other than the city of God. Even a

is revealed: 'And unto the tribe of Thamud We sent their brothe

alih. 'O my people,' said He, 'Worship God, ye have none othe

od beside Him....' They made reply: 'O Salih, our hopes were fixe

n thee until now; forbiddest thou us to worship that which our fatheorshipped? Truly we misdoubt that whereunto thou callest us a

uspicious.'[1] All this proved fruitless, until at last there went up

eat cry, and all fell into utter perdition.

Qur'án 11:61 and 11:62.]

Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh v 4, p. 424)

rom the Koran (Chapter 7 The Heights)

nd to the tribe of 'Ad We sent their kinsman Hud. He said: 'Servod, my people, for you have no god but Him. Will you not guar

ourselves against evil?'

he unbelievers among the elders of his tribe said: 'We can see yo

e a foolish man, and, what is more, we think that you are lying.'

oolish I am not, my people,' he replied. 'I am sent forth by the Lorthe Worlds to make known to you His will and to give you hone

ounsel. Do you think it strange that an admonition should come t

ou from your Lord through a mortal like yourselves and that h

hould warn you? Remember that He has made you the heirs

oah's people and endowed you with greater power than He ha

ven to other men. Remember God's favours, so that you maosper.'



hey said: 'Would you have us serve God only and renounce th

ods which our fathers worshipped? Bring down the scourge yo

reaten us wit, if what you say be true.'

e answered: 'Your Lord's punishment and wrath have alread

sited you. Would you dispute with me about mere names which yo

nd your fathers have invented, and for which God has revealed nanction? Wait if you will; I too am waiting.'

70 We delivered him and those who were with him through Ou

ercy, and annihilated those that disbelieved Our revelations. The

ere unbelievers all.

nd to Thamud We sent their kinsman Salib. He said:

erve God, my people, for you have no god but Him. A veritabl

oof has come to you from your Lord. Here is God's she-camel:

gn for you. Leave her to graze at will in God's own land and do no

olest her, lest a woeful scourge should take you.

emember, He has made you the heirs of 'Ad, and provided you wi

wellings in the land. You have built mansions on its plains an

ewed out houses on the mountains. Remember God's favours an

o not corrupt the earth with wickedness.'

he haughty elders of his people said to the believers who wer

ppressed: 'Do you really believe that Salih is sent forth from h

ord?'

hey answered: 'We believe in the message he has been sent with

he haughty elders said: 'We deny all that you believe in.' The

aughtered the she-camel and defied the commandment of the

ord, saying to Salih: 'Bring down the scourge you threaten us with,ou truly are an apostle.'



hereupon the earthquake felled them, and when morning came the

ere crouching lifeless in their dwellings. He left them, saying:

onveyed to you, my people, the message of my Lord and gave yo

ood counsel; but you had no love for those who give good counsel

*

Whenever We sent a prophet to a city We afflicted its people wi

alamities and misfortunes so that they might abase themselves.

hen We changed adversity to good fortune, so that when they ha

ultiplied they said: 'Our fathers also had their sorrows and the

ys.' And in their heedlessness We suddenly smote them.

ad the people of those cities believed and kept from evil, We wou

ave showered upon them blessings from heaven and earth. But the

sbelieved, and We punished them for their misdeeds.

Were the people of those cities secure from Our power when

vertook them in the night while they were sleeping?

Were the people of those cities secure from Our power when

vertook them in the morning at their play? Did they feel themselve

ecure from God's cunning? None feels secure from God's cunnin

xcept the losers.

it not plain to the present generation that if We pleased, We cou

unish them for their sins and set a seal upon their hearts, leavin

em bereft of hearing?

We have recounted to you the history of those nations. Their apostle

ame to them with veritable proofs, yet they persisted in the

nbelief. Thus God seals up the hearts of the unbelievers.



he Qur'an, s07-heights_dawood)

rom the Koran (Chapter 11 Hud)

o 'Ad We sent their kinsman Hud. He said: 'Serve God, my people

ou have no god but Him. False are your inventions. I demand of yo

o recompense, my people, for none can reward me except mreator. Will you not understand?

My people, seek forgiveness of your Lord and turn to Him

enitence. He will send from the sky abundant rain upon you; He w

dd strength to your strength. Do not turn away from Him wi

rongdoing.'

hey replied: 'Hud, you have given us no proof. We will not forsak

ur gods at your behest, nor will we believe in you. We can on

uppose that our gods have afflicted you with evil.'

e said: 'God is my witness, and you are my witnesses too: I disow

our idols. Scheme against me if you will, and give me no respiteave put my trust in God, my Lord and your Lord. There is not a livin

eature on the earth whose destiny He does not govern. Straight

e path of my Lord.

you pay no heed, I have made known to you my message, and m

ord will replace you by other men. You will in no way harm Him. M

ord is watching over all things.'

nd when Our judgement came to pass, We delivered Hud throug

ur mercy, together with those who shared his faith.

:60 We delivered them from a horrifying scourge. Such were 'Ad

hey denied the revelations of their Lord, disobeyed His apostlend did the bidding of every headstrong reprobate. Cursed we



ey in this world, and cursed they shall be on the Day

esurrection.

d denied their Lord. Gone are 'Ad, the people of Hud.

nd to Thamud We sent their kinsman Salih. He said:

erve God, my people; you have no god but Him. It was He wh

ought you into being from the earth and gave you means to dwe

pon it. Seek forgiveness of Him, and turn to Him in penitence. M

ord is near at hand and answers all.'

alih,' they replied, 'great were the hopes we placed in you. Wou

ou now forbid us to serve the gods our fathers worshipped? Trulye strongly doubt the faith to which you call us.'

e said: 'Do but consider, my people! If my Lord has revealed to m

s will and bestowed on me His grace? who would protect me fro

od if I rebelled against Him? You would surely aggravate my ruin.

:64 'My people, here is God's she-camel, a sign for you. Leave h

graze at will in God's own land, and do not molest her lest a

stant scourge should fall upon you.'

et they slew her. He said: 'You have but three days to take you

ase in your dwellings. This prophecy shall not prove false.'

nd when Our judgement came to pass, We delivered Salih throug

ur mercy from the ignominy of that day, together with those wh

hared his faith. Mighty is your Lord and all-powerful.

he Cry took the evil-doers, and when morning came they wer

ouching lifeless in their dwellings, as though they had neve

ospered there.



hamud denied their Lord. Gone are the people of Thamud. (Th

ur'an, s11-hud_dawood)

rom the Koran (Chapter 26 The Poets)

6:120 (Of Noah) We delivered him and those who were with him

e laden ark, and overwhelmed the others with the Flood. Surely at there was a sign; yet most of them did not believe.

our Lord is the Mighty One, the Merciful.

d, too, disbelieved the apostles. Their kinsman Hud had said t

em:

Will you not fear God? I am indeed your true apostle. Fear Go

en, and follow me. For this I demand of you no recompense; non

an reward me except the Lord of the Worlds. '

Will you erect a monument on every hill? Vain is your work. You buil

rong fortresses, hoping that you may last for ever.

6:130 'When you exercise your power, you act like cruel tyrant

ave fear of God, and follow me.

ear Him who has given you all the things you know. He has give

ou flocks and children, gardens and fountains. Beware the torme

a fateful day.'

hey replied: 'We care nothing whether or not you preach to us. Th

th which you threaten us is but an ancient myth. Surely we shall n

e punished.'

hey rejected him, and thus We utterly destroyed them. Surely in th

ere was a sign; yet most of them did not believe.



6:140 Your Lord is the Mighty One, the Merciful. Thamud, too

sbelieved the apostles.

heir kinsman Salih had said to them:

Will you not fear God? I am indeed your true apostle. Fear God an

llow me. For this I demand of you no recompense; none caward me except the Lord of the Worlds.

re you to be left secure in this land, arnidst gardens and fountain

ornfields and palm-trees laden with fine fruit, hewing your dwelling

the mountains and leading a wanton life?

6:150 Have fear of God and follow me.

o not obey the bidding of transgressors who perpetrate corruptio

the land and do no good at all.'

hey replied: 'Surely you are bewitched. You are but a mortal lik

urselves. Show us a sign, if what you say be true.'

ere,' he said, 'is this she-camel. She shall have her share of wate

s you have yours, each drinking on an appointed day. Do no

olest her, or the scourge of a fateful day shall take you.'

et they slew her, and then repented of their deed. The scourge too

em. Surely in that there was a sign. Yet most of them did noelieve. Your Lord is the Mighty One, the Merciful.

he Qur'an, s26-poets_dawood)

rom the Koran (Chapter 17 The Night Journey)

othing hinders us from giving signs except that the anciensbelieved them. To Thamud We gave the she-camel as a visibl



gn, yet they laid violent hands on her. We give signs only by way o

arning. -- (The Qur'an, s17-night-journey_dawood)

rom the Koran (Chapter 54 The Moon)

We have made the Koran easy to remember: but will any take heed

d, too, did not believe. How grievous was My scourge, and hoear My warning!

4:20 On a day of unremitting woe, We let loose on them a howlin

nd which snapped them off like trunks of uprooted palm trees. Ho

ievous was My scourge, and how clear My warning!


hamud, too, disbelieved Our warnings. They said: 'Are we to follo

mortal who stands alone among us? That would surely be error an

adness. Did he alone among us receive the admonition? He

deed a foolish liar.'

o him We said: 'Tomorrow they shall learn who the foolish liar is

We are sending to them the she-camel, that We may put them to th

oof. Observe them closely and have patience. Tell them that the

ust share their drink with her, and that for every draught they mus

tend in person.'

hey called their friend, who took a knife and slew her.

4:30 How grievous was My scourge, and how clear My warning!

ngle cry was heard, and they became like the dry twigs of th

heep-fold builder.


*



l their deeds are in their books: every action, small or great,

oted down. The righteous shall dwell in gardens watered by runnin

ooks, honourably seated in the presence of a Mighty King. -- (Th

ur'an, s54-moon_dawood)

rom Koran (Chapter 91 The Sun)

the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

:1 By the sun and his midday brightness; by the moon, which rise

ter him; by the day, which reveals his splendour; by the night, whic

eils him!

y the heaven and Him that built it; by the earth and Him that sprea

by the soul and Him that moulded it and inspired it with knowledg

sin and piety;

:9 Blessed shall be the man who has kept it pure, and ruined h

at has corrupted it!

their presumptuous pride the people of Thamud denied the

postle when their arch-sinner rose against him.

od's apostle said: 'This is God's own she-camel. Let her drink.'

hey disbelieved him, and slaughtered her.

nd for that crime their Lord let loose His scourge upon them an

zed their city to the ground. He did not fear the consequences.

he Qur'an, s91-sun-journey_dawood)

rom the Koran (Chapter 25 Al-Furqan)

5:40 The tribes of 'Ad and Thamud were also destroyed, and s



ere those who dwelt at Rass, and many generations in between. T

ach of them We gave examples, and each of them W

xterminated.

hey must surely have passed by the city which was destroyed by th

tal rain: have they never seen its ruins? -- (The Qur'an, s25

rqan_dawood)

rom the Koran (Chapter 27 The Ant)

o Thamud We sent their kinsman Salih. He said:

erve none but God.' But they divided themselves into tw

scordant factions.

My people,' he said, 'why do you wish to hasten evil rather tha

ood? If you seek forgiveness of God, you may be shown mercy.'

hey said: 'We presage evil from you and from your followers.'

e replied: 'The evil you presage can come only from God; you are

eople put to the proof.'

7:50 In the town there was a band of nine men, who did evil in th

nd and nothing that was good. They said: 'Let us swear in the nam

God to kill him in the night, together with all his household.

We will say to his next of kin: "We were not even present when the

ere slain. It is the truth we are telling."'

hus they plotted: but We too plotted, without their knowledge. An

ehold the consequences of their plots! We destroyed them utterly

gether with all their people. Because they sinned, their dwelling

e desolate ruins. Surely in this there is a sign for prudent men.



et We delivered the true believers and those who kept from evil.

* *

ay: 'Roam the earth and see what was the end of the guilty.' Do no

ieve for them, nor be distressed at their intrigues.

nd they ask: 'When will this promise be fulfilled, if what you say b

ue?' Say: 'A part of what you challenge may well be near at hand.'

urely your Lord is bountiful to men: yet most of them do not giv

anks. Your Lord surely knows what their bosoms hide and wh

ey say in public. There is no secret in heaven or earth but

corded in a glorious book.

he Qur'an, s27-ant_dawood)

they pay no heed, say: 'I have given you warning of a thunderbo

e the thunderbolt which struck 'Ad and Thamud. When the

postles came to them from before them and from behind themaying: "Serve none but God," they answered:

Had it been our Lord's will He would have sent down angels. W

ll never believe in your message. As for 'Ad, they conducte

emselves with arrogance and injustice in the land. 'Who is mightie

an we?' they used to say. Could they not see that God, who ha

eated them, was mightier than they? Yet they denied Ouvelations.

o, over a few ill-omened days We let loose on them a howling gal

make them taste a shameful scourge in this nether life; but mor

hameful still will be the scourge of the life to come. They shall hav

one to help them.

s for Thamud, We offered them Our guidance, but they preferre



ndness to guidance.

herefore the thunderbolt of a humiliating scourge struck them fo

eir misdeeds; and We delivered those who believed and thos

ho feared God.

orewarn them of the day when the enemies of God will be brouggether and led into the Fire, so that when they enter it, their ear

eir eyes, and their very skins will testify to their misdeeds.

:20 'Why did you speak against us?' they will say to their skin

nd their skins will reply:

od, who gives speech to all things, has made us speak. It was Hho in the beginning created you, and to Him shall you be recalle

ou did not hide yourselves, so that your ears and eyes and skin

ould not be made to testify against you. Yet you thought that Go

d not know much of what you did. It was the thoughts yo

ntertained about your Lord that ruined you, so that you are no

mong the lost.'

he Qur'an, s41-revelations_dawood)

rom the Koran (Chapter The Winds)

the fate of 'Ad there was another-sign. We let loose on them

ghting wind, which pounded into dust all that it swept before it.

nd in Thamud. They were allowed to take their ease awhile; b

ey disobeyed the commandments of their Lord. The thunderbo

ruck them as they looked on; they could not rise up from their fa

or did they gain their end.

nd the people of Noah before them. They too were impious men.



We built the heaven with Our might, giving it a vast expanse, an

retched the earth beneath it. Gracious is He who spread it out. An

things We have made in pairs, so that you may take thought.

herefore seek God. I come from Him to warn you plainly. Set up n

her deity besides God. I come from Him to warn you plainly.

hus whenever an apostle came to those that flourished before the

ey cried: 'Sorcerer!' or 'Madman!' Have they handed down this c

om one generation to the next? Surely they are transgressors a

ay no heed to them; you shall incur no blame. Exhort them

xhortation helps the true believers. -- (The Qur'an, s5

nds_dawood)

9:1 The Catastrophe: and what is the Catastrophe? Would that yo

new what the Catastrophe is!

hamud and 'Ad denied the Last Judgement. By a deafening sho

as Thamud destroyed, and 'Ad by a howling, violent gale which H

t loose on them for seven nights and eight successive days: yoight have seen them lying dead as though they had been hollo

unks of palm-trees. Can you see even one of them still alive?

he Qur'an, s69-catastrophe_dawood)

9:1 By the Dawn and the Ten Nights; by that which is dual, and tha

hich is single; by the night, when it comes!

there not in this a mighty oath for a man of sense?

ave you not heard how your Lord dealt with 'Ad? The people of th

any-columned city of Iram, whose like has never been built in th

hole land?

nd with Thamud, who hewed out their dwellings among the rocks

e valle ? -- The Qur'an s89-dawn dawood



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Story of Hud and Salih - Collection