The Death of Salih (peace be upon him), and His Pilgrimage Before His Death
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 (25)
Some of the scholars of interpretation mentioned that Salih (peace be upon him) and those who believed with him went to the region of Palestine after the destruction of their people. The people of Hadramawt say that they went to Hadramawt and settled there, as their origin was from that area, or that they were a tribe from the people of the Ahqaf (the sand dunes). There is a grave there that they claim is for Salih (peace be upon him).
Others said that they stayed in their homes after the destruction of their people. Some also said that they went to Mecca and stayed there until their deaths, with their graves being west of the Kabbah. Sheikh Abdul Wahhab al-Najjar (may Allah have mercy on him) favored one of these opinions, stating: "The most likely opinion to be true is that they went to Ramla and the surrounding areas of Palestine, because it was the closest fertile land to them. The Arabs seek pasture for their livestock, and the land with water". Al-Alusi also mentioned that those who were saved with Salih were 120, while the destroyed were 5,000 households. These opinions are not supported by authentic evidence, and they are merely the views of historians and some interpreters.
It is said that Salih (peace be upon him) passed away at the age of 58 and lived among his people for twenty years. There is no authentic evidence for this. Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "It is said that Salih (peace be upon him) moved to the sanctuary of Allah and stayed there until his death." In a narration from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: "When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by the valley of Usfan, he said: 'Hud and Salih passed through it riding red camels, with their noses tied with palm fiber, their waistbands made of cloaks, and their covers of animal skins, uttering the talbiyah and performing Hajj to the ancient House.'"
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, Prophet Salih (peace be upon him) and the Reasons for the Destruction of the People of Thamud, pp. 398-399.
- Stories of the Prophets, Abdul Wahhab Al-Bukhari, p. 108.
- The Best Stories, Naila Hashem Sabry, p. 134.
- Stories of the Prophets, Ibn Kathir, p. 130.
- Authentic Hadiths of the News and Stories of the Prophets, may God’s prayers and peace be upon them, Ibrahim Muhammad al-Ali, p. 54; Musnad Ahmad (1/232); Stories of the Prophets, Ibn Kathir, p. 131, its chain of transmission is good.
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:
