The Reasons for the Destruction of the People of Thamud;
Criminality
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 (17)
It is similar to oppression/Injustice, and it includes polytheism and other sins. Polytheism is the most atrocious and severe form of crime. The polytheist commits a crime against his Lord by associating someone who does not deserve worship alongside Allah, and he commits a crime against himself by submitting to someone other than Allah. He leads himself to destruction in this world and to the abode of ruin in the Hereafter. Al-Firuzabadi mentioned six meanings of crime, and he placed polytheism first among them. He said in his explanation of the meanings of crime: "The first is crime meaning polytheism, and the criminal is the polytheist."
Allah said regarding the destruction of past nations: {Say, [O Muhammad], "Proceed [i.e., travel] through the land and observe how was the end of the criminals."} [An-Naml: 69].
That terrible fate was not reached except because of their being characterized by criminality, and one of the most heinous types of this crime is associating others with Allah Almighty.
Among the crimes of the people of Thamud, after their polytheism, was their denial of the prophethood of Salih (peace be upon him). Among their crimes was their superstition against the Prophet of Allah and against those who believed with him. Among their crimes was their preference for misguidance over guidance. Among their crimes was their attempt to prevent the believers from their faith and threaten them. Among their crimes was their hatred of the advisers. Among their crimes was their killing of the she-camel that Allah sent as a sign of Salih's (peace be upon him) message. And other crimes for which they deserved Allah’s punishment as criminals.
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, Prophet Salih (peace be upon him) and the Reasons for the Destruction of the People of Thamud, pp. 339-341.
- Reasons for the destruction of previous nations, p. 114.
- Insights of the Discerning, Al-Fayruzabadi, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs - Committee for the Revival of Islamic Heritage, Cairo, 1996 AD (2/255).
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:
