Overall meaning : Thamud, Salih’s people, also called Our warnings lies! They said, ‘Are we to follow a single human being like us? If we do, we should then be in error and be in abject misery. How could the revelation be sent down only to him out of all us?! No, indeed! He is an arrogant liar.’ They will soon find out who the arrogant liar is!
We are sending the she-camel as a test for them, Salih; so observe them closely and see what they are going to do and will be done to them; be steadfast and patiently endure their harm. Inform them that the water of the village is to be shared out between themselves and the she-camel, each taking a turn to drink every other day: She will have her share of water one day without them being around her on her day, and they will have theirs, without her coming near them on their day.
However, bent on killing the she-camel, the Thamud unbelievers called their most wretched companion, who perpetrated the evil deed and slew her. How terrible was the punishment I inflicted on them, and how dreadful was My warning with such punishment those who follow in their footsteps?!
We sent against them only one mighty blast that utterly destroyed them all, leaving them like the dry sticks collected and used by those who build sheepfolds!
Indeed, We have made the Qur’an easy for admonition and to understand and remember. Is there anyone, then, who will take heed and be admonished by it?