[1] Thamūd, in ancient Arabia, a tribe or group of tribes, seems to have been prominent from about the 4th Century B.C. to the first half of the 7th Century A.D. Their place of stay and homeland was at a place lying on the way between the Ḥijāz and Syria called the Valley of al-Qurā and bore this name because it consisted of several townships. Allāh deputed for their guidance and directions the Prophet Ṣālih who preached to them as Allāh relates in his story: And unto (the people of) Thamūd (We did send) their brother Ṣālih, he said: “O my people! Worship ye Allāh (alone). Ye have no god other than Him; indeed came unto you a clear proof from your Lord; this is the She-camel of Allāh (which) unto you is a sign, so leave it (free) to pasture in Allāh’s earth and touch her not with any harm, or ye shall be seized with a painful chastisement. And remember when He made you successors after the (people) ‘Ād and settled you in the earth, ye build mansions on its plain and hew the mountains into dwellings. So remember ye the bounties of Allāh, and see ye not evil in the earth, making mischief.” Said the chiefs of those who were puffed up with pride among his people to those who were reckoned weak, to those who believed from among them; “Know ye that Ṣālih is sent by his Lord?” Said they: “Verily, in what he hath been sent with, we are believers.” Said those who were puffed up with pride; “Verily we, in that which ye believe are disbelievers.” They hamstrung the She-camel and rebelled against the command of their Lord, and they said: “O Ṣālih! bring us what thou didst, threaten us with, if thou art of the apostles.” Then seized them (unawares) the earthquake, so became they in their dwellings, motionless (dead). Then he turned away from them and said: “O my people! Indeed I did deliver unto you the message of my Lord, and did admonish you, but ye love not the admonishers.” (Qur’ān, 7:73-79). (The people of) Thamūd belied the warners, and said they: “What! a single man, from among us! and we to follow him? Verily then we shall be astray and in distress. It is that (the duty of) reminding hath been bestowed on him (alone), of all the (people) among us? Nay! he is a great liar, an insolent one!” “Soon they shall know on the morrow, (as to) who is the liar, the insolent one! (O Our Apostle Ṣālih!) verily We are going to send the She-camel as a trial for them; so watch them and be patient. And (thou O Ṣālih!) make them aware (beforehand) that the water is (to be) divided between them; and every drinking share shall be witnessed (on it).” But they called their companions, then he pursued (her) and hamstrung (her). How (great) was My chastisement and My warning? Verily sent We upon them a single (violent) blast, and they were (all) like the dry stubble used by a fencer in a fence. (Qur’ān, 54:23-31).