Transliteration:( Faqaala lahum Rasoolul laahi naaqatal laahi wa suqiyaahaa )
The incident of the she-camel of Hazrat Saleh (On whom be peace) carries deep lessons, particularly in terms of moral responsibility and respect for Allah's creatures. The key issue here is that usurping its turn for water by killing the she-camel was not only a crime but a serious violation. Several important lessons emerge from this story:
The she-camel was initially lawful, but once the people of Thamud killed it, they made it unlawful. This teaches that actions that are inherently lawful can become unlawful if they are misused or violated, particularly when they harm something that has a right, such as the she-camel’s right to water.
Even if something is lawful, if it causes harm, it is obligatory to refrain from it. For example, hunting animals or chopping wood from the jungles of pious sages, though lawful in themselves, could harm the environment or violate the sanctity of the land. Muslims are instructed to avoid such actions if they prove harmful. This is further supported by the verse referencing the she-camel.
The act of depriving the she-camel of its right to water and inflicting cruelty upon it is clearly a criminal act. This highlights the importance of respecting the rights of animals and not causing harm to them for personal gain or out of malice.
The she-camel of Hazrat Saleh (On whom be peace) is regarded as sacred because it was considered the property of Allah Almighty. It did not belong to any individual but was a divine sign, much like the Holy Ka'bah or a mosque, which are considered the House of Allah Almighty. The birth of the she-camel itself was a miraculous event, defying natural laws.
Similarly, the birth of Hazrat Isa (On whom be peace) was also miraculous, as he is referred to as the Spirit of Allah Almighty. If a believer’s heart is free from the influence of the devil, baser self, and worldly desires, it becomes the heart of Allah Almighty, reflecting divine guidance and purity.
The scholars of Islam have stated that the she-camel of Hazrat Saleh (On whom be peace) will enter Paradise, just as the dog of the Companions of the Cave and the donkey of the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) will. This illustrates the high status of the she-camel in the eyes of Allah, as it was a divine symbol, and the sacredness of any being linked to Allah’s will is recognized in the Hereafter.
The tafsir of Surah Ash-Shams verse 13 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Ash-Shams ayat 11 which provides the complete commentary from verse 11 through 15.
(91:13) Then Allah’s Messenger warned them: “Hands off the she-camel and her drink!”[9]
9. At other places in the Quran the following details, are given: The people of Thamud challenged the Prophet Salih (peace be upon him) to present a sign (a miracle) if he was truthful. Thereupon the Prophet (peace be upon him) presented a she-camel miraculously before them and warned them to the effect: This is Allah’s she-camel. She will graze at will in the land. One day will be for her to drink and one day for you and your cattle. If you molest her, you will be punished with a scourge. This proved to be a deterrent for some time. Then they appealed to their most wicked and rebellious chief to put an end to the she-camel, and he took up the responsibility and hamstrung her. (Surah Al-Aaraf, Ayat 73); (Surah Ash-Shuara, Ayat 134) (Surah Ash-Shuara, Ayat 156); (Surah Al-Qamar, Ayat 29).
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