Overall meaning : The Almighty relates part of the story of Salih, peace be upon him, with his people. He says: The tribe of Thamud denied all of Allah’s messengers—because their denial of Salih was tantamount to their denial of all the messengers—when their brother Salih said to them, ‘Will you not fear Allah and His punishment and thus worship Him alone? I am a messenger from Allah to you, faithful to the message with which He has entrusted to me to convey it to you exactly as it is. Fear Allah’s punishment, then, and obey me. I do not ask you for any reward in return for my advice to you. My reward rests with none but the Lord of all the worlds. Do you think that you will be left secure in the enjoyment of these blessings, amid gardens and springs of water, and various crops and palms laden with ripe fruit, carving you dwellings out of mountains with great skill?! Therefore, fear Allah’s punishment and wrath and obey me. Do not obey those who have transgressed against themselves who have gone too far in their unbelief and rebellion, who spread corruption in the land through their unbelief and evil deeds and do not reform themselves or others.’
They said, ‘Surely you are bewitched and your speech is rather meaningless. You are but a human being like us. Bring us, then, a sign that you are a messenger if you are telling the truth.’
Salih said to them, ‘This is a she-camel that Allah has made for you as a sign of my truthfulness. She will have her share of water one day without your trespassing her rights on her day, and you will have yours, without her coming near you on your day. Do not harm her, or the punishment of an awful day will befall you.’
But they killed her, and they regretted their wicked deed when they realised they would not be spared punishment. Allah then destroyed them with the punishment of which their prophet had warned them.
Surely in Our destruction of the people of Salih there was a great lesson as well as proof of his truthfulness, yet most of Salih’s people would not believe Allah and His messenger. And surely your Lord, Muhammad, is the Almighty who vanquishes and severely punishes His enemies, and the All-Compassionate towards His servants, who does not hasten their punishment once they commit a sin.