قَالَ هَـٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةٌ لَّهَا شِرْبٌ وَلَكُمْ شِرْبُ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُومٍ 155
Translations
He said, "This is a she-camel. For her is a [time of] drink, and for you is a [time of] drink, [each] on a known day.
Transliteration
Qala hadhihi naqatun laha shurbun wa lakum shirbu yawmin ma'alum
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records Salih's response to his people's demand for a sign, wherein he presents the she-camel as a miraculous sign from Allah. The verse establishes a clear division of water resources: the she-camel has designated days for drinking, and the people have their own appointed days, demonstrating both the miracle's clarity and the test's fairness. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this arrangement was meant to prove the camel's supernatural origin, as an ordinary animal could not be bound by such strict conditions, yet the people's rejection of even this clear sign shows their obstinate disbelief.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Prophet Salih and the people of Thamud in Surah Ash-Shu'ara (Meccan period). The broader context depicts the Meccan disbelievers' denial of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through historical examples of previous nations who rejected their prophets' signs, with the she-camel serving as the ultimate test of Thamud's faith and obedience.
Related Hadiths
The story of the she-camel of Thamud is referenced in various hadith collections regarding the punishment of those who reject clear signs. See Sunan Ibn Majah and Tafsir works citing the account of how the she-camel was hamstrung, fulfilling the promise of punishment mentioned in Surah Ash-Shu'ara 26:157.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Allah provides clear, undeniable signs to test humanity's faith and obedience, but mere clarity of the sign does not guarantee acceptance when hearts are hardened by arrogance and denial. We should reflect on how we respond to Allah's signs—whether with submission or obstinacy—as our choice determines our spiritual state and ultimate destiny.