The Thamud Civilization
Selections from the Book Prophet Salih (peace be upon him) and the Reasons for the Destruction of the People of Thamud …
Written by Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi...
Episode (06)
The people of Thamud were the successors of ‘Aad in civilization and urban development, constructing palaces in the plains and carving homes into the mountains. Their remains stand as testimony to their material civilization. Commentators have mentioned that they were the first to carve mountains and rocks, building hundreds of cities. Their ruins reveal their intelligence and exceptional skill in constructing homes within the mountains. Inscriptions found on the rocks indicate the status of the cave dwellers among their people—some carvings are intricate and highly decorated, while others are simpler. These mountains, separated in a stunning geometric pattern, each with distinct engravings, display remarkable precision, mastery, and beauty.
Allah had granted them long lifespans; it was said that a person would build a house of clay, only for it to collapse while he was still alive. Seeing this, they chose to carve their homes into the mountains.
The Thamud were the successors of ‘Aad in strength and resilience. Their bodies were extraordinarily tall and robust, enabling them to cut and carve rocks to create dwellings.
However, this physical strength and extended lifespan led them to arrogance and denial of their prophet Salih (peace be upon him). They grew tyrannical over the weak among them and became known for their harsh nature and hardened hearts, especially as their wealth increased and their dominion expanded. Just as the people of ‘Aad before them had corrupted the land, oppressed others, and denied the blessings Allah had bestowed upon them, the Thamud followed the same path.
The Thamud had a great king named Jund‘a ibn ‘Amr, who was known for his harsh temperament and cruelty. A group of people who had survived from the remnants of ‘Aad came to him, warning him of what had befallen their people due to their disbelief, tyranny, and arrogance. They described to him the wrath of Allah that had descended upon ‘Aad following the prayer of their prophet Hud (peace be upon him) because they refused to worship Allah. They had hoped that Jund‘a would take heed from the fate of those before him and restrain his oppression and tyranny.
However, he arrogantly and boastfully replied: "The people of ‘Aad perished because they did not know how to build homes properly as we do. We construct our homes in the mountains and carve them into the rocks, so no storm, no matter how fierce, can destroy us as it did them."
Thamudic inscriptions have revealed significant aspects of the civilization of this doomed nation.
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, Prophet Salih (peace be upon him) and the Reasons for the Destruction of the People of Thamud, pp. 39-41.
- Ibn Khaldun’s History, Mahmoud Abdo Nour El-Din (2/23); Prophets in the Quran who left traces, p. 85.
- History of the Prophets, Dr. Mahmoud Abdel Nour El-Din, p. 111.
For further information and review of the sources for the article, see:
The Book of Prophet Salih (peace be upon him) and the Reasons for the Destruction of the People of Thamud on the official website of Sheikh Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi:
