The Basis of Worship

The same natural rule and Divine Law was endorsed by Prophet Salih^-AS’s story, who was raised unto a branch of  ‘Ad called Thamud and was a respectable member of that nation. His message was the same as conveyed by all the earlier Prophet^-AS as well as by the final Prophet^-SW . All of them invited people to worship Allaah^-SWT Alone as no one save Him^-SWT deserved worshipping. The essence of worship is not merely to accept Allaah^-SWT as the Greatest Being but to make him the focus of all hopes, after adopting all requisite means. However, no means must be adopted or people obeyed at the cost of disobeying Him^-SWT . If others than Him^-SWT are obeyed in His^-SWT defiance it is the same as worshipping them in His^-SWT place. All the Prophets^-AS conveyed the same very Message to the mankind and it proved to be the main reason for the animosity they had to face. For it was not difficult for any nation to acknowledge Allaah^-SWT ’s Greatness as they all held some concept of a Supreme Being. However, hostility arose when the Prophet^-AS’s demanded that all hopes from others than Allaah^-SWT be severed.

Prophet Salih^-AS fold his people that it was Allaah^-SWT Who had created them, and all the wonderful qualities they had were also bestowed by Him^-SWT . He^-SWT had made them flourish on land, and blessed them with prosperity and prestige. But ironically they were ignoring the reality and looking towards others than Allaah^-SWT for the attainment of these blessings. He said that it was a grave crime for which they must repent and vow never to repeat it, "for my Rabb^-SWT is close to everyone all the time". He^-SWT does not reject the supplications of people provided they revert to Him^-SWT with sincere intentions.

"My Rabb^--SWT "

While addressing his people Prophet Salih^-AS‘s used the term *My Rabb^-SWT " whereas Allah^-SWT is the Rabb of every one. He said so because his people had not yet owned Him^-SWT . It is one of the signs of excellence of an accomplished Shaikh that the seeker feels compelled to cry out "My Rabb^-SWT ".

Difference Between Heart and Head

His people said: O' Salih^-AS! Your childhood, adolescence and youth were marked with excellence and we had pinned great hopes on you." Since Prophets^-AS are groomed in a special way, they enjoy a respectable status amongst their people even before their raising. They reproached him for forbidding them to worship the idols that had been worshipped by their forefathers. It suggested that all their ancestors were off the track and had no wisdom, whereas some of them had been very renowned. The same notion is keeping the non believers and the Muslim pseudo-intellectuals away from Islam today. In fact there is a lot of difference between the faculties of the heart and the head. The renowned personages of the world may well acquire fame for physical and mental achievements but the knowledge of Divine Cognition arc revealed only unto the hearts of Allah^-SWT's Prophets^-AS. They, in turn, pass this gift on to all those who believe in them and strive to initiate a spiritual link with them.

But the Thamud failed to discern this fact and resorted to denial. They said: "We doubt you and the Message you convey as well as your mental state. We do not feel like accepting what you say." The Prophet^-AS reiterated: "Do not speak of traditions and since how long they have been practised but speak of the evidence. My Rabb^-SWT has enlightened my heart and blessed me with Signs manifest, and has showered His^-SWT Mercy on me to which I am inviting all of you; and I wish to open to you the troves of this Mercy. Can you then imagine that I would ever disobey Him^-SWT by not conveying His^-SWT Message to you? If I do so, no one will be able to save me from His^-SWT Wrath. So what you suggest, O' people, is nothing but utter loss". Yet they insisted that whatever he had put forth was not convincing. They demanded that if he was truly a Messenger of Allah^-SWT Who was Omnipotent he must ask Him^-SWT to let a pregnant dromedary emerge from the rock and give birth to its offspring as a Sign. Prophet Salih^-AS declared that surely Allah^-SWT prevails over everything but whenever He^-SWT manifests a miracle demanded by people He^-SWT destroys them if they still persist on denial. So they must once again think over their demand. But they still insisted and said that they would obey only if their demand was met.

Some Things Carry Barakah

So Prophet Salih ^-AS prayed and the rock split, and out came a she camel exactly as they had demanded. But it was a nation of the wicked and they refused to accept the Message despite witnessing the miracle. Prophet Salih^-AS warned them against causing any harm to Allah^-SWT's she-camel, as its presence was a shield against Allah^-SWT's Wrath. He said that when it would be no more, they would certainly be destroyed. This highlights the fact that if Allah^-SWT's she-camel can be a source of averting His^-SWT Punishment, His^-SWT faithful bondsmen certainly carry far more blessings. But they did not pay any heed to the warning. They hamstrung the camel and killed it. Prophet Salih', ^as by Allah^-SWT's Command, informed them that they had only three days respite, whence they would be destroyed by Allah^-SWT's inevitable decision.

The promised doom struck and the Prophet^-AS along with those who believed in him were saved. An association with the Prophets^-AS and the noble is a protective shield against punishment. So while the Thamud were being humiliated and destroyed the believers simultaneously enjoyed His^-SWT Mercy. He^-SWT is Omnipotent Who can make the same environment a venue of torment for the defiant and of blessings for the obedient. Indeed He is Absolute and the Mightiest.

The wicked were seized by a horrifying shriek, which arrested their hearts and the next dawn witnessed them lying upside down, stone cold, dead in their dwellings. None survived to dispose off their corpses. Their settlement was razed to the ground and it appeared as if it had never existed. O’ listener! Behold that the Thamud opted to deny and disobey their Provider and were disgraced and destroyed.