وَيَـٰقَوْمِ هَـٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةُ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ ءَايَةً فَذَرُوهَا تَأْكُلْ فِىٓ أَرْضِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ قَرِيبٌ 64
Translations
And O my people, this is the she-camel of Allāh - [she is] to you a sign. So let her feed upon Allāh's earth and do not touch her with harm, or you will be taken by an impending punishment."
Transliteration
Wa yā qawmi hādhihi nāqatu -llāhi lakum āyah, fadhharūhā ta'kul fī ardhi -llāhi wa lā tamassūhā bi-sū'in faya'khdhakum 'adhābun qarīb.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Salih addresses his people, presenting the she-camel as a sign (āyah) from Allah, commanding them to leave her unharmed so she may graze freely on Allah's earth. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this was a divine test of obedience; the she-camel's protection was a condition for the people's safety, yet their transgression against this command resulted in swift punishment. The ayah underscores the consequences of rejecting clear signs and the divine warnings conveyed through the prophets.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Prophet Salih and the people of Thamūd (mentioned in Surah Hud 11:61-68), a Meccan surah addressing the Quraysh with historical examples of nations that rejected their prophets. The she-camel served as a miraculous sign to test the faith and obedience of Thamūd; their refusal to heed this command and subsequent killing of the she-camel led to their destruction, serving as a warning to the Meccan disbelievers.
Related Hadiths
The story of Salih and the she-camel is referenced in Sahih Muslim (hadith regarding the punishment of Thamūd). Additionally, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) mentioned in authentic hadiths (Sunan Ibn Mājah) that the she-camel of Salih was a sign whose violation brought divine punishment, emphasizing the severity of rejecting prophetic signs.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that clear divine signs demand immediate obedience and respect; rejecting or violating them, no matter how obvious their truth, invites swift divine punishment. For believers today, it emphasizes the importance of heeding guidance from Allah and His messengers, recognizing that our choices have spiritual consequences.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ أَرَءَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَآ إِلَى ٱلصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّى نَسِيتُ ٱلْحُوتَ وَمَآ أَنسَىٰنِيهُ إِلَّا ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُۥ ۚ وَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُۥ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا
He said, "Did you see when we retired to the rock? Indeed, I forgot [there] the fish. And none made me forget it except Satan - that I should mention it. And it took its course into the sea amazingly."
وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَآ إِذْ يَتَنَـٰزَعُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَمْرَهُمْ ۖ فَقَالُوا۟ ٱبْنُوا۟ عَلَيْهِم بُنْيَـٰنًا ۖ رَّبُّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ ۚ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرِهِمْ لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِم مَّسْجِدًا
And similarly, We caused them to be found that they [who found them] would know that the promise of Allāh is truth and that of the Hour there is no doubt. [That was] when they disputed among themselves about their affair and [then] said, "Construct over them a structure. Their Lord is most knowing about them." Said those who prevailed in the matter, "We will surely take [for ourselves] over them a masjid."
قَالُوا۟ نُرِيدُ أَن نَّأْكُلَ مِنْهَا وَتَطْمَئِنَّ قُلُوبُنَا وَنَعْلَمَ أَن قَدْ صَدَقْتَنَا وَنَكُونَ عَلَيْهَا مِنَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ
They said, "We wish to eat from it and let our hearts be reassured and know that you have been truthful to us and be among its witnesses."
قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِرَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
They said, "We have believed in the Lord of the worlds,