Loved by his people, until he told them the truth.
يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُ
His story
Thamud carved their homes out of the mountains (7:74, 26:149). Before Salih called them, they had hopes for him: "O Salih, you were among us a man of promise before this" 11:62. The moment he spoke about Allah, their love turned.
They asked for a sign, and they were given a she-camel, with a day of water for her and a day for them 26:155. They were warned not to harm her. They hamstrung her 91:14.
Moments
- 01
A man of promise
Before he called them to Allah, Salih was loved. His people told him: "Salih, you were a man of promise among us before this." The day he told them the truth, their hopes in him turned to suspicion. His reputation changed. He did not.
- 02
The she-camel of Allah
They asked for a sign, and Allah brought out a she-camel. Salih told them: "This is the she-camel of Allah, a sign for you. Leave her to eat on Allah's earth and do not harm her, or a near punishment will seize you." She had her day to drink and they had theirs. The worst of them rose up and hamstrung her, and their own denial destroyed them.
What he did when…
His people told him he had been their great hope until he started speaking about Allah. Salih answered: "Tell me, if I am on clear proof from my Lord and He has given me mercy from Himself, who would help me against Allah if I disobeyed Him?" He was willing to lose his good name among people to keep his honesty with Allah.
If your child carries this name
صالح Salih
Salih means righteous. A child named Salih should be loved for being good, not for staying quiet.
Sources on this page
Quran 11:61Quran 11:62Quran 11:62-63Quran 11:64-65Quran 91:11-14
Quran meanings are given in plain English, close to the Arabic. Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com.