The Reasons for the Destruction of the People of Thamud;
Injustice
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 (15)
Oppression is one of the greatest causes of the downfall of civilizations. It has a broad and comprehensive meaning that leads to an imbalance in all aspects of life, affecting a person's relationship with themselves, with Allah, and with others. From this imbalance arise psychological, social, and economic illnesses, as well as corrupt perceptions of existence as a whole, leading to the spread of corruption throughout human life.
Allah Almighty says: {And your Lord would not have destroyed the cities unjustly while their people were reformers.} [Hud: 117].
And He also says: {And thus is the seizure of your Lord when He seizes the cities while they are committing wrong. Indeed, His seizure is painful and severe.} [Hud: 102].
The people of Thamud were deeply entrenched in oppression, making it a widespread societal issue, committing all forms of injustice persistently. Allah describes them as oppressors in the verse: {Has there not reached them the news of those before them - the people of Noah and [the tribes of] ʿAad and Thamud and the people of Abraham and the companions [i.e., dwellers] of Madyan and the towns overturned?1 Their messengers came to them with clear proofs. And Allah would never have wronged them, but they were wronging themselves.} [At-Tawbah: 70].
Allah Almighty also says: {And We gave Thamud the she-camel as a visible sign, but they wronged her. And We send not the signs except as a warning.} [Al-Isra: 59].
The divine punishment befell the people of Thamud due to their oppression, fulfilling the decree of Allah: {And how many a city which was unjust have We shattered and produced after it another people.} [Al-Anbya: 11].
Destruction due to oppression is a divine law applied to towns, societies, nations, and civilizations.
The people of Thamud fell into oppression by associating partners with Allah. Justice requires recognizing His oneness, His laws, and worshiping Him alone. Associating partners with Allah and disbelieving in Him is among the greatest forms of oppression, as He says: {And [mention, O Muhammad], when Luqman said to his son while he was instructing him, "O my son, do not associate [anything] with Allah. Indeed, association [with Him] is great injustice."} [Luqman: 13].
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, Prophet Salih (peace be upon him) and the Reasons for the Destruction of the People of Thamud, pp. 334-336.
- Reasons for the Destruction of Nations, Adel Al-Shorbagy, p. 27.
- Allah’s Sunnahs in the Establishment of Civilizations, Muhammad Haythour, Dar Al-Wafa, Cairo, First Edition, 1417 AH - 1997 AD, p. 23.
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:
