The story of Prophet Saleh (as) and his miracles: A she-camel was born from a rock

 

The story of Prophet Saleh (as) and his miracles: A she-camel was born from a rock

Prophet Saleh As is the fifth prophet in the sequence of 25 messengers sent by Allah SWT. Its existence must be believed. One of the stories that is quite interesting and worthy of emulation at the time of Prophet Saleh is the miracle of a female camel born from a stone. Before Nabi Saleh As, Allah SWT had already sent 4 prophets earlier. In order namely Prophet Adam As, Prophet Idris As, Prophet Noah As, and Prophet Hud As.

Prophet Saleh's lineage is directly connected to Noah's. The complete details are Saleh bin Ubaid bin 'Ashif bin Masih bin 'Abid bin Hazir bin Samud bin Amir bin Irim bin Sham bin Nuh As. In fact , it is said that the name "Saleh" owned by the Prophet Saleh As was the first name used by mankind. Prophet Saleh As lived among the Thamud. They inhabited what is now Syria and Yemen. The Thamud's residence is part of the former area that the A'ad once belonged to. A people who lived in the time of Prophet Hud As and were destroyed by Allah SWT through a big hurricane because they disobeyed His command. Thus, the Tsamud people actually occupy a very fertile, prosperous place, with abundant natural wealth. As the people of A'ad experienced before they collapsed due to His punishment. 

Exactly the same as the A'ad people of the era of Prophet Hud As, the Thamud people also worship idols. They consider the stones that have been carved from the mountain to be God. They created it and worshiped those idols. Then, Allah SWT ordered the messenger to preach to the people of Thamud and invite them to worship only Him. Be chosen from among them, namely Nabi Saleh (AS) to be the bearer of the message of truth. Melalui Al-Quran surah Al-Araf ayat 73, Allah SWT berfirman:

وَإِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَالِحًا ۗ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُ ۖ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُمْ بَيِّنَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ ۖ هَٰذِهِ نَاقَةُ اللَّهِ لَكُمْ آيَةً ۖ فَذَرُوهَا تَأْكُلْ فِي أَرْضِ اللَّهِ ۖ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

Meaning: "And (We have sent) to Thamud their brother Salih. He said: "O my people, worship Allah, there is no god for you but Him. Verily, clear evidence has come to you from your Lord. This she-camel of Allah is a sign for you, so let her eat on Allah's earth, and do not disturb her with any disturbance, (for which) you will be afflicted with a painful torment." 

The story of Prophet Saleh's preaching against the Thamud people begins. There are some of them who accept it and many others who reject it and actually dare to oppose it. As one of the proofs of the truth of the Prophet Saleh's teachings, among the people who refused actually asked for a miracle. For the challenge, the prophet prayed to God that he would be granted his miracle. Until a she-camel was born from a mountain rock. In surah Hud verse 64, it is written that: "O my people, this is a she-camel from God, as a miracle (that shows the truth) for you, so let her eat on God's earth, and do not disturb her with any disturbance that will cause you to be punished which is close". 

There isThe she-camel is a miracle from Allah SWT because it can come out of a rock. It is also mentioned that this camel can produce milk and is able to meet the needs of the people at that time. Prophet Saleh As also warned them not to disturb and kill him in accordance with Allah's orders. And the camel lived among the Thamud. Through this miracle, the Thamud did not believe and believe more. 

However, they actually dared to oppose the da'wah that had been delivered. The trust between them was actually split in two. There are those who acknowledge the existence of the Prophet Saleh As. That is, they are willing to believe and worship Allah. While the other fortress refused the invitation and remained confident not to believe in miracles that had been created. 

Finally, those who disobeyed had a plan to kill the she-camel earlier. In Surah Al-Araf verse 77, it is mentioned: "Then they slaughtered the she-camel, and they behaved arrogantly against the command of God. And they said: "O Saleh, bring what you threatened to us, if (correctly) you are among the people - those sent by (Allah)". Because of the bad behavior of the people of Thamud, punishment came to them. Still in the same surah, in the next two verses, Allah SWT said: "Therefore they were struck by an earthquake, so they became corpses lying around where they live. 

"Then Saleh left them saying: "O my people, indeed I have conveyed to you the mandate of my Lord, and I have given you advice, but you do not like those who give advice". Such is the story of Prophet Saleh, peace be upon him. Although God has proven his greatness through the miracle of a camel born from a stone, the Thamud people who rejected preaching finally perished due to punishment. While quoting the NU Online website via an article titled "These are the Three Stages of Civilization ala Nabi Saleh" by Ajie Najmuddin and Alhafiz K, there are three phases of civilization that can be learned during the era of Prophet Saleh As. 

That is, building brotherhood between Prophet Saleh and his people (Tsamud), then carrying out the command to worship Allah SWT, and the last is a movement of prosperity for his people. Those 3 things as explained in Al-Quran surah Hud 61 when Prophet Saleh As had time to say to his people: "And to Thamud (We sent) their brother Saleh. O my people, worship God, you have no god but Him. He has created you from the earth (land) and made you prosperous, therefore ask for His forgiveness, then repent to Him, Indeed, my Lord is very close (His mercy) and accepts (His servant's prayer)".