The Reasons for the Destruction of the People of Thamud;
Arrogance
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 (16)
One of the causes of the destruction of the people of Thamud was arrogance. They denied the truth, belittled the believers, sought greatness without deserving it, and became arrogant towards Allah, turning away from His worship and from submitting to His commands and prohibitions. They were also arrogant towards Prophet Salih (peace be upon him), and this arrogance in its various forms was the cause of their destruction. They were described as arrogant in several verses, including a verse using the word "arrogance" to describe the elite among them. Allah Almighty said: {Said the eminent ones who were arrogant among his people to those who were oppressed} [Al-A'raf: 75]. Then, Allah's punishment and torment descended upon them, and His Sharia against the arrogant was carried out.
Arrogance and pride are among the prominent causes of the downfall of civilizations mentioned in the Holy Quran. When people reach a high degree of certainty in their superiority and distinction over others, and when they act in ways that oppose religion, logic, nature, or reason, or try to reject new things calling for the worship of Allah Almighty, this exposes civilizations to weakness, decay, or destruction. At that point, they do not allow themselves to correct their course and return to the truth.
Arrogance prevented the people of Thamud from responding to Prophet Salih’s (peace be upon him) call and the guidance of Allah that he brought. Therefore, the punishments that befell them were severe, tremendous, and catastrophic. Arrogance is one of the crimes for which Allah punished the people of Thamud.
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, Prophet Salih (peace be upon him) and the Reasons for the Destruction of the People of Thamud, pp. 338-339.
- Civilizational Exchange in the Holy Quran, Farag Allam, Rawabet Publishing and Information Technology House and Al-Shaqri Publishing House, 2018, p. 142.
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:
