Surah An Naml Notes (45-51)

Source: Ibn Kathir

Salih and Thamud

 (45) And indeed We sent to Thamud their brother Salih (Saleh), saying: "Worship Allah (Alone and none else). Then look! They became two parties (believers and disbelievers) quarreling with each other."

Allah tells us about Thamud and how they responded to their Prophet Salih, when Allah sent him to call them to worship Allah alone, with no partner or associate.

(Then look! They became two parties quarreling with each other.) Mujahid said, "These were believers and disbelievers.'' This is like the Ayah,

(The leaders of those who were arrogant among his people said to those who were counted weak -- to such of them as believed: "Know you that Salih is one sent from his Lord.'' They said: "We indeed believe in that with which he has been sent.'' Those who were arrogant said: "Verily, we disbelieve in that which you believe in.'') (7:75-76)

(46) He said: "O my people! Why do you seek to hasten the evil (torment) before the good (Allah's Mercy)? Why seek you not the Forgiveness of Allah, that you may receive mercy?"

(He said: "O my people! Why do you seek to hasten the evil before the good'') meaning, `why are you praying for the punishment to come, and not asking Allah for His mercy' Then he said:

(47) They said: "We augur ill omen from you and those with you." He said: "Your ill omen is with Allah; nay, but you are a people that are being tested."

("Why seek you not the forgiveness of Allah, that you may receive mercy'' They said: "We augur an omen from you and those with you.'') This means: "We do not see any good in your face and the faces of those who are following you.'' Since they were doomed, whenever anything bad happened to any of them they would say, "This is because of Salih and his companions.'' Mujahid said, "They regarded them as bad omens.''

("We augur an omen from you and those with you.'' He said: "Your omen is of Allah;) meaning, Allah will punish you for that.

(nay, but you are a people that are being tested.) Qatadah said: "You are being tested to see whether you will obey or disobey.'' The apparent meaning of the phrase

(are being tested) is: you will be left to get carried away in your state of misguidance.

The Plot of the Mischief-Makers and the End of the People of Thamud

(48) And there were in the city nine men (from the sons of their chiefs), who made mischief in the land, and would not reform.

Allah tells us about the evildoers of Thamud and their leaders who used to call their people to misguidance and disbelief, and to deny Salih. Eventually they killed the she-camel and were about to kill Salih too. They plotted to let him sleep with his family at night, then they would assassinate him and tell his relatives that they knew nothing about what happened to him, and that they were telling the truth because none of them had seen anything. Allah says:

(And there were in the city) meaning, in the city of Thamud,

(nine Raht,) meaning, nine people,

(who made mischief in the land, and would not reform.) They forced their opinions on the people of Thamud, because they were the leaders and chiefs. Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said: "These were the people who killed the she-camel,'' Meaning, that happened upon their instigation, may Allah curse them. 

(49) They said: "Swear one to another by Allah that we shall make a secret night attack on him and his household, and afterwards we will surely say to his near relatives: 'We witnessed not the destruction of his household, and verily! We are telling the truth.'"

(They said: "Swear one to another by Allah that we shall make a secret night attack on him and his household...'') They took a mutual oath, pledging that during the night, whoever met the Allah's Prophet Salih, peace be upon him, he would assassinate him. But Allah planned against them and caused their plot to backfire. Mujahid said, "They took a mutual oath pledging to kill him, but before they could reach him, they and their people were all destroyed.'' 

 (50) So they plotted a plot, and We planned a plan, while they perceived not.

(51) Then see how was the end of their plot! Verily! We destroyed them and their nation, all together.

("Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days. This is a promise (i.e., a threat) that will not be belied.'') (11:65). 

They said: `Salih claims that he will finish with us in three days, but we will finish him and his family before the three days are over.' Salih had a place of worship in a rocky tract in a valley, where he used to pray. So they set out to go to a cave there one night, and said, `When he comes to pray, we will kill him, then we will return. When we have finished him off, we will go to his family and finish them off too.' Then Allah sent down a rock upon them from the mountains round about; they feared that it would crush them, so they ran into the cave and the rock covered the mouth of the cave while they were inside. Their people did not know where they were or what had happened to them. So Allah punished some of them here, and some of them there, and He saved Salih and the people who were with him. Then he recited:

(So, they plotted a plot, and We planned a plan, while they perceived not. Then see how was the end of their plot! Verily, We destroyed them and their nation, all together. These are their houses in utter ruin,) i.e., deserted.''