Al-Naqah
Definition
Al-naqah — the she-camel — was a miraculous sign sent by Allah to the people of Thamud at their own demand, as proof of Salih's prophethood. According to Ibn Kathir's narrations, the camel emerged from solid rock in full view of the people. Allah attached a specific condition to this living miracle: she would graze freely and drink from the community's water supply on her designated day, and the people were to share water with her. Her appearance and needs were a continuous, daily test of their commitment. When they hamstrung and killed her in a deliberate act of collective defiance, the punishment decree was already sealed — three days later, a single divine blast destroyed the entire civilization.
As understood in the classical tradition of Ibn Kathir and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Al-Naqah.
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"Almighty of this valley from the jinn, that I may not be harmed or attacked. I saw in my dream a young man watching my she-camel, holding a spear, intending to strike it in its neck. I woke up startled and looked to my right and left, but saw nothing. I thought this was a dream, then I went back to sleep. I saw in my dream something similar to my first vision. I woke up again and walked around my she-camel, but I saw nothing, and suddenly my she-camel began to tremble. I fell asleep again and saw something like that, and I woke up to find my she-camel shaking. I turned and saw a young man like the one I had seen in my dream,"
— Ibn Kathir, Volume 2 — From the Israelite Prophets to Pre-Islamic Arabia
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"replied, Yes, indeed. The Prophet continued, One is the red little one of Thamud who hamstrung the she-camel and the one who will strike you, O Ali, on this, meaning his head, until this becomes soaked, meaning his beard. Allah Almighty says, So they hamstrung the she-camel and rebelled against the command of their Lord and said, O Sali, bring us what you promise us if you are indeed among the messengers. In this statement they showed profound disbelief for several reasons. They disobeyed God and His Messenger by harming the she-camel which God had made a sign for them. They also hastened the punishment upon themselves. The condition"
— Ibn Kathir, Volume 1 — From Creation to Mūsā
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"among us? Rather, he is an insolent liar. They will know tomorrow who is the insolent liar. Indeed, we are sending the she-camel as a trial for them, so watch them and be patient. And inform them that the water is shared between them, each day of drink attended. But they called their companion, and he dared and hamstrung. So how was my punishment and my warnings? Indeed, we sent upon them one shout, and they became like dry stubble used by a fence-maker. And he, exalted, says, Thamud denied by their transgression when their most wretched was sent forth. So the Messenger of Allah said, They had the she-camel of Allah and its water"
— Ibn Kathir, Hud, Salih & the Destroyed Nations
Appears in
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