The people of Thamud were a once mighty nation. They were people who possessed engineering skills that allowed them to carve dwellings into the mountains. Until recently, and only with technological advances this was far-fetched. They were able to thrive in a mountainous rocky region, which afforded them safety and prosperity. Yet despite all of this, they were extremely arrogant. They mistakenly thought that their dwellings guaranteed them invincibility.
God mentions the blessings given to them, “Do you think you will be forever left secure in what you have here: amid gardens and springs, and various crops, and palm trees loaded with tender fruit; to carve homes in the mountains with great skill?” [Quran, 26:146-149] “Remember when He made you successors after Aad and established you in the land—and you built palaces on its plains and carved homes into mountains. So remember Allah’s favours, and do not go about spreading corruption in the land.” [Quran, 7:74]
The People of Aad were also a mighty nation that preceded Thamud and lived in southern Arabia. They too were sent a Messenger from God by the name of Hud and their story is often related in the Quran. They were destroyed due to their rejection of God’s message and His Messenger. God reminds Thamud of the perished nation that preceded them and how they were able to thrive in their region of rocky terrain.
The discourse that takes place between the elite of Thamud and the believers among them who followed the Messenger Salih is relayed in the Quran. The tribal leaders and chiefs of Thamud said, addressing the followers of the Messenger Salih, “Are you certain that Salih has been sent by his Lord?” They replied, “We certainly believe in what he has been sent with.” [Quran, 7:75] Thus, from the beginning, many of Thamud rejected the Messenger Salih and were sceptical of his message. Thus, they responded, “We surely reject what you believe in.” [Quran, 7:76]
Their arrogance was so delusional that they asserted that the Messenger Salih and his followers were the cause for all their woes and problems. The people of Thamud were struck with famine, and instead of seeing this as a sign from God, they blamed it on the believers. They replied, “You and your followers are a bad omen for us.” He responded, “Your omens are destined by Allah. In fact, you are only a people being tested.” [Quran, 27:47]
Another example of their arrogance was their plot to kill the Messenger Salih and his family. They assumed that they could kill them all, and then pretend not to know anything about the murders, claiming innocence before the Messenger Salih’s extended family and relatives. They vowed, “Let us swear by God that we will take him and his family down by night. Then we will certainly say to his closest heirs, ‘We did not witness the murder of his family. We are definitely telling the truth.’” [Quran, 27:49]
When this arrogance reached its limits, the punishment of God was promised to come to them, “So he turned away from them, saying, ‘O my people! Surely I conveyed to you my Lord’s message and gave you sincere advice, but you do not like sincere advisors.’” [Quran, 7:79]