How Was Thamud Annihilated?

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How was Thamud Annihilated?

5 communities annihilated (أَهْلَكْ / ahlak) by God in one single event.

Transgressed so far from the right path there was no coming back

These communities rejected the 3 M’s: messenger, the message, and the miracle 

• People of Noah
• People of Hud
• People of Saleh
• People of Lot
• People of Shu'aib

The annihilation of these communities are mentioned consistently in this order in Suras: 7, 11, and 26.

[14:9] Have you not heard about those before you—the people of Noah, 'Ãd, Thamûd, and others who came after them and known only to GOD? Their messengers went to them with clear proofs, but they treated them with contempt and said, "We disbelieve in what you are sent with. We are skeptical about your message; full of doubt.”

Death of any disbeliever is annihilation

[6:6] Have they not seen how many generations before them we have annihilated? We established them on earth more than we did for you, and we showered them with blessings, generously, and we provided them with flowing streams. We then annihilated them because of their sins, and we substituted another generation in their place.

[10:13] Many a generation we have annihilated before you when they transgressed. Their messengers went to them with clear proofs, but they refused to believe. We thus requite the guilty people.

[8:54] Such was the case with the people of Pharaoh and others before them. They first rejected the signs of their Lord. Consequently, we annihilated them for their sins. We drowned Pharaoh's people; the wicked were consistently punished.

• People of Noah / flood
• People of Hud / Ad / storm
• People of Saleh / Thamud ?
• People of Lot / Sodom / shower of rocks
• People of Shu’aib / Midyan / quake

In this episode want to take a closer look at what exactly annihilated the people of Saleh.

[7:78] Consequently, the quake annihilated them, leaving them dead in their homes.

[51:43] In Thamûd (there is a lesson). They were told, "Enjoy temporarily.” [51:44] They rebelled against the command of their Lord. Consequently, the lightning struck them as they looked.

 

Saleh was a messenger sent to Thamud.

[26:141] Thamûd disbelieved the messengers. [26:142] Their brother Sãleh said to them, "Would you not be righteous? [26:143] "I am an honest messenger to you. [26:144] "You shall reverence GOD, and obey me. [26:145] "I do not ask you for any wage; my wage comes only from the Lord of the universe.

[26:146] "Do you suppose you will be left forever, secure in this state? [26:147] "You enjoy gardens and springs. [26:148] "And crops and date palms with delicious fruits.

[16:112] GOD cites the example of a community that used to be secure and prosperous, with provisions coming to it from everywhere. But then, it turned unappreciative of GOD's blessings. Consequently, GOD caused them to taste the hardships of starvation and insecurity. Such is the requital for what they did.

People of Sheba Sura 34

[34:15] Sheba's homeland used to be a marvel, with two gardens on the right and the left. Eat from your Lord's provisions, and be appreciative of Him—good land, and a forgiving Lord. [34:16] They turned away and, consequently, we poured upon them a disastrous flood, and we substituted their two gardens into two gardens of bad tasting fruits, thorny plants, and a skimpy harvest. [34:17] We thus requited them for their disbelief. Do we not requite only the disbelievers? [34:18] We placed between them and the communities that we blessed other oases, and we secured the journey between them: "Travel therein days and nights in complete security." [34:19] But they (turned unappreciative and) challenged: "Our Lord, we do not care if You increase the distance of our journeys (without any stations)." They thus wronged their own souls. Consequently, we made them history, and scattered them into small communities throughout the land. This should provide lessons for those who are steadfast, appreciative.

[26:149] "You carve out of the mountains luxurious mansions. [26:150] "You shall reverence GOD, and obey me. [26:151] "Do not obey the transgressors. [26:152] "Who commit evil, not good works."

[7:74] "Recall that He made you inheritors after 'Ãd, and established you on earth, building mansions in its valleys, and carving homes from its mountains. You shall remember GOD's blessings, and do not roam the earth corruptingly.” 

Al-Hijr

[29:38] Similarly, 'Ãd and Thamûd (were annihilated). This is made manifest to you through their ruins. The devil had adorned their works in their eyes, and had diverted them from the path, even though they had eyes.

[15:80] The people of Al-Hijr disbelieved the messengers. [15:81] We gave them our revelations, but they disregarded them. [15:82] They used to carve secure homes out of the mountains. [15:83] The disaster hit them in the morning. [15:84] What they hoarded did not help them.

Mada'in Saleh = Al-Hijr

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mada%27in_Saleh

One of three cities of the Nabateen Arabs = Hijr, Petra, and Busra

 

Camel

[11:62] They said, "O Sãleh, you used to be popular among us before this. Are you enjoining us from worshiping what our parents are worshiping? We are full of doubt concerning everything you have told us.”

[11:63] He said, "O my people, what if I have solid proof from my Lord, and mercy from Him? Who would support me against GOD, if I disobeyed Him? You can only augment my loss.

[11:64] "O my people, this is GOD's camel to serve as a proof for you. You shall let her eat from GOD's earth, and do not touch her with any harm, lest you incur an immediate retribution.”

[26:153] They said, "You are bewitched. [26:154] "You are no more than a human like us. Produce a miracle, if you are truthful." [26:155] He said, "Here is a camel that will drink only on a day that is assigned to her; a day that is different from your specified days of drinking. [26:156] "Do not touch her with any harm, lest you incur retribution on an awesome day." [26:157] They slaughtered her, and thus incurred sorrow.

[17:79] What stopped us from sending the miracles is that the previous generations have rejected them. For example, we showed Thamoud the camel, a profound (miracle), but they transgressed against it. We sent the miracles only to instill reverence.

• • Moses miracle turn staff into serpent
  • Jesus time of famine bring food from the sky heal the sick
  • Muhammad poetry is big - and Quran is far beyond anything they have ever heard before
  • Today we live in the information age and our miracle is the mathematical structure of the Quran via a cryptographic message for our generation. If we provided this to the people of Saleh it would be meaningless to them.

[27:45] We have sent to Thamûd their brother Sãleh, saying, "You shall worship GOD." But they turned into two feuding factions. [27:46] He said, "O my people, why do you hasten to commit evil instead of good works? If only you implore GOD for forgiveness, you may attain mercy." [27:47] They said, "We consider you a bad omen for us, you and those who joined you." He said, "Your omen is fully controlled by GOD. Indeed, you are deviant people."

[7:75] The arrogant leaders among his people said to the common people who believed, "How do you know that Sãleh is sent by his Lord?" They said, "The message he brought has made us believers."

It’s not necessarily the miracle that makes someone believe. Sometimes the message alone is enough to make someone believe. The opposite of this is the history of the magicians at the time of Moses.

[27:48] There were nine gangsters in the city who were wicked, and never did anything good. [27:49] They said, "Let us swear by GOD that we kill him and his people, then tell his tribe, 'We know nothing about their death. We are truthful.’"

[7:76] The arrogant ones said, "We disbelieve in what you believe in." [7:77] Subsequently, they slaughtered the camel, rebelled against their Lord's command, and said, "O Sãleh, bring the doom you threaten us with, if you are really a messenger." [7:78] Consequently, the quake annihilated them, leaving them dead in their homes. [7:79] He turned away from them, saying, "O my people, I have delivered my Lord's message to you, and advised you, but you do not like any advisers.”

Proverbs 12:

1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid.

[7:73] To Thamûd we sent their brother Sãleh. He said, "O my people, worship GOD; you have no other god beside Him. Proof has been provided for you from your Lord: here is GOD's camel, to serve as a sign for you. Let her eat from GOD's land, and do not touch her with any harm, lest you incur a painful retribution.

[27:50] They plotted and schemed, but we also plotted and schemed, while they did not perceive. [27:51] Note the consequences of their plotting; we annihilated them and all their people. [27:52] Here are their homes utterly ruined, because of their transgression. This should be a lesson for people who know. [27:53] We save those who believe and lead a righteous life.

[11:65] They slaughtered her. He then said, "You have only three days to live. This is a prophecy that is inevitable." [11:66] When our judgment came, we saved Sãleh and those who believed with him by mercy from us, from the humiliation of that day. Your Lord is the Most Powerful, the Almighty. [11:67] Those who transgressed were annihilated by the disaster, leaving them in their homes, dead. [11:68] It was as if they never lived there. Indeed, Thamûd have rejected their Lord. Absolutely, Thamûd have incurred their annihilation.

Sãleh: One and the Same Message

[11:61] To Thamûd we sent their brother Sãleh. He said, "O my people, worship GOD; you have no other god beside Him. He initiated you from the earth, then settled you in it. You shall seek His forgiveness, then repent to Him. My Lord is always near, responsive."

[26:158] The retribution overwhelmed them. This should be a lesson, but most people are not believers. [26:159] Most assuredly, your Lord is the Almighty, Most Merciful.

 

So what annihilated the people of Thamud?

[7:78] Consequently, the quake annihilated them, leaving them dead in their homes.

7	78	1	فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ	So [it] struck them	fa-akhadhathumu	ا خ ذ
7	78	2	الرَّجْفَةُ	the earthquake,	l-rajfatu	ر ج ف
7	78	3	فَأَصْبَحُوا	then they became	fa-aṣbaḥū	ص ب ح
7	78	4	فِي	in	fī	ف ي
7	78	5	دَارِهِمْ	their home(s)	dārihim	د و ر
7	78	6	جَاثِمِينَ	laying on their chest motionless / dead.	jāthimīna	ج ث م

**Quake is the same word used for Shuaib annihilation in 7:91 & 29:37

[51:43] In Thamûd (there is a lesson). They were told, "Enjoy temporarily.” [51:44] They rebelled against the command of their Lord. Consequently, the lightning struck them as they looked. [51:45] They could never get up, nor were they helped.

الصَّاعِقَةُ (l-ṣāʿiqatu) comes from the root ص ع ق and means thunderbolt, but also stunning noise (e.g. thunder), or something that stuns or strikes

51	44	1	فَعَتَوْا	But they rebelled	faʿataw	ع ت و
51	44	2	عَنْ	against	ʿan	ع ن
51	44	3	أَمْرِ	(the) command	amri	ا م ر
51	44	4	رَبِّهِمْ	(of) their Lord,	rabbihim	ر ب ب
51	44	5	فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ	so [it] stuck them	fa-akhadhathumu	ا خ ذ
51	44	6	الصَّاعِقَةُ	the (thunderous blast) lightning	l-ṣāʿiqatu	ص ع ق
51	44	7	وَهُمْ	while they	wahum	ه م
51	44	8	يَنْظُرُونَ	[they] were looking.	yanẓurūna	ن ظ ر

 

Same word used again in 41:17:

[41:17] As for Thamûd, we provided them with guidance, but they preferred blindness over guidance. Consequently, the disastrous and shameful retribution annihilated them, because of what they earned.

 

41	17	1	وَأَمَّا	And as for	wa-ammā	ا م م ا
41	17	2	ثَمُودُ	Thamud,	thamūdu	ث م د
41	17	3	فَهَدَيْنَاهُمْ	we guided them,	fahadaynāhum	ه د ي
41	17	4	فَاسْتَحَبُّوا	but they preferred	fa-is'taḥabbū	ح ب ب
41	17	5	الْعَمَىٰ	the blindness	l-ʿamā	ع م ي
41	17	6	عَلَى	over	ʿalā	ع ل ي
41	17	7	الْهُدَىٰ	the guidance,	l-hudā	ه د ي
41	17	8	فَأَخَذَتْهُمْ	so [it] struck them	fa-akhadhathum	ا خ ذ
41	17	9	صَاعِقَةُ	a terrifying cry / crack of thunder / disaster (of)	ṣāʿiqatu	ص ع ق
41	17	10	الْعَذَابِ	the retribution	l-ʿadhābi	ع ذ ب
41	17	11	الْهُونِ	the humiliating,	l-hūni	ه و ن
41	17	12	بِمَا	for what	bimā	ب م ا
41	17	13	كَانُوا	they used to	kānū	ك و ن
41	17	14	يَكْسِبُونَ	[they] earn.	yaksibūna	ك س ب

 

[69:4] Thamûd and 'Ãd disbelieved in the Shocker. [69:5] As for Thamûd, they were annihilated by the devastating (quake).

The word بِالطَّاغِيَةِ (bil-ṭāghiyati) also a meaning of something exceedingly wicked but also a meaning of a storm of lightning and thunder.

69	4	1	كَذَّبَتْ	[It] denied / disbelieved	kadhabat	ك ذ ب
69	4	2	ثَمُودُ	Thamud	thamūdu	ث م د
69	4	3	وَعَادٌ	and Ad	waʿādun	ع و د
69	4	4	بِالْقَارِعَةِ	in the Striking Calamity / Shocker.	bil-qāriʿati	ق ر ع
69	5	1	فَأَمَّا	So as for	fa-ammā	ا م م ا
69	5	2	ثَمُودُ	Thamud,	thamūdu	ث م د
69	5	3	فَأُهْلِكُوا	so they were annihilated	fa-uh'likū	ه ل ك
69	5	4	بِالطَّاغِيَةِ	by the thunderous blast / lightning	bil-ṭāghiyati	ط غ و

 

[54:31] We sent upon them one blow, whereupon they became like harvested hay.

 

Summary of what we know

• They were in their homes (11:67)

[11:67] Those who transgressed were annihilated by the disaster, leaving them in their homes, dead.

• Their homes were carved in mountains (7:74)

[7:74] "Recall that He made you inheritors after 'Ãd, and established you on earth, building mansions in its valleys, and carving homes from its mountains.

• The quake annihilated them (7:78)

[7:78] Consequently, the quake annihilated them, leaving them dead in their homes.

• In the morning (15:83)

[15:83] The disaster hit them in the morning.

• But before they were annihilated they saw lightning (51:44)

[51:44] They rebelled against the command of their Lord. Consequently, the lightning struck them as they looked.

• Their homes survived because we have their ruins (29:38)

[29:38] Similarly, 'Ãd and Thamûd (were annihilated). This is made manifest to you through their ruins.

• And whatever the event was left them like dried harvested hay (54:31)

[54:31] We sent upon them one blow, whereupon they became like harvested hay.

 

Earthquake lightning

Over the centuries, there have been many reports of earthquake lights, both before and while the ground is shaking.

Normal lightning results from the buildup of electrical charge in clouds. However, lab experiments now suggest earthquake lights may instead originate from the buildup of electrical charge in the ground surrounding geological faults….

Scientists previously sought to explain other mysteries regarding electrical charge. For example, it remains unclear how lightning can happen in sandstorms, even though sand is an electrical insulator, making lightning in sandstorms akin to seeing thunderbolts emerge from a storm full of rubber balls. The researchers suggested there may be some unknown material property that produces voltages whenever cracks appear in powders or grains.

Appearances of the earthquake light seem to occur when the quakes have a high magnitude, generally 5 or higher on the Richter scale.

There have also been incidents of yellow, ball-shaped lights appearing before earthquakes.

One hypothesis involves intense electric fields created piezoelectrically by tectonic movements of rocks containing quartz.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/1/140106-earthquake-lights-earthquake-prediction-geology-science/

https://www.livescience.com/43686-earthquake-lights-possible-cause.html

Rocks in the are are sandstone which is made of sand cemented by silica, iron, lime etc. It is quartz-based stone.

[54:31] We sent upon them one blow, whereupon they became like harvested hay.

 

54	31	1	إِنَّا	Indeed, [we]	innā	ا ن ن
54	31	2	أَرْسَلْنَا	we sent	arsalnā	ر س ل
54	31	3	عَلَيْهِمْ	upon them	ʿalayhim	ع ل ي
54	31	4	صَيْحَةً	blast / blow	ṣayḥatan	ص ي ح
54	31	5	وَاحِدَةً	single,	wāḥidatan	و ح د
54	31	6	فَكَانُوا	and they became	fakānū	ك و ن
54	31	7	كَهَشِيمِ	like dry twig fragments / harvested hay	kahashīmi	ه ش م
54	31	8	الْمُحْتَظِرِ	(used by) the fence builder / the one who builds enclosures.	l-muḥ'taẓiri	ح ظ ر

 

Because the disaster hit them in the morning  (15:83) there was moisture on the rock

When in the electric chair they would put wet sponges

When electricity runs through a body the energy is converted to thermal energy 

People who die in electric chair the body gets so hot that if anyone was to touch the body they can get 2nd or 3rd degree burns even after a few minutes can still blisters 

Body could catch fire or even melt 

Cooks the person inside out 

70% of our body is water a conductor 

When electrocuted all the moisture was taken out of their body leaving them like harvested hay

And their homes were like a fence builder (electric fence) cooking them alive

The homes that they used for their protection ended up being the source of their destruction.