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Edis Muratovic Sabrudina Bruncevic

 Among the prophets whose name is mentioned in the
Qur'an is Prophet Salih, peace be upon him. He was
mentioned eleven times. He was born and raised in
the people of Semud. He is a descendant of Nuh, a.s.
He is Salih ibn Ubayd ibn Hazir ibn Samud ibn Ad ibn
Irem ibn Sam ibn Nuh. Salih, peace be upon him,
spoke Arabic and lived for 280 years. According to
some traditions, his grave is located in Nedjef, and
according to others, between Hajeru-l-Esved and
Makam-Ibrahim.
 The people of Semud came from Ad. After they left Yemen they settled
in Wadil-Qura, an area called Hijr. Today, the remains of Salih's
people's dwellings can be seen in this area. Like the people of Ad, the
people of Semud have strayed from the right path. They believed in
statues, inflicted injustice and created disorder and confusion. Allah,
may God bless him and grant him peace, gave them numerous
blessings as well as Ada. During the time in which they lived, they had
an advanced civilization and large settlements. They skilfully carved
rocks, building temples and forts to defend against enemies. They
carved houses in the hills, building shelters for themselves in case of
various natural disasters. Hijr, also known in history as Madainu Salih,
had a developed economy and infrastructure that makes it one of the
more respectable and stronger cities of that climate. The Qur'anic
verses that speak about this people clearly show the effort that the
people of Semud put in to live comfortably and safely.
 Before his prophethood, Salih, peace be upon him, was considered a
wise, well-known and learned man. They would turn to him for advice.
He came from a respectable family and had good morals. Dear God
raised Salih, a.s., to the rank of prophet. He sent him to the people of
Semud who had strayed from the right path to bring them back to the
path of goodness and faith in one God. Salih, a.s., tirelessly warned,
advised and invited:
“O my people, I am a sincere envoy of your Lord. Stay away from sin and
listen to my words. I am not asking you for any reward, my Lord will
build me up with a reward worth more than you can imagine. Do you
ever remember that you won't live here forever? Do you think that you
will forever enjoy God's blessings that surround you, that you will stay
forever near these beautiful meadows and fruitful gardens?
 To these words of the people, Semud replied: "O Salih, you were
respected among us before this." Why do you want to take us away
from the faith of our ancestors? We doubt what you call us to.“
Salih, peace be upon him, said: "O my people, if I ask my Lord for a clear
proof, and He shows me mercy and responds to my request, will you
then accept what I am telling you?" If I do not obey His command, who
can protect me and help me from Him? Your speech only harms you.
Think carefully and know that the only way of your salvation is to leave
the idols and accept one Lord Allah, may God bless him and grant him
peace. Oh people! Why do you rush to a bad deed, why don't you think
first, then do good? Instead of flocking to God's mercy, you are heading
for God's punishment. Why? Why don't you repent to your Lord and
ask for forgiveness? Mercy is upon those of God who repent, but you,
despite everything you are told, persist in your negligence and
ignorance."
 For many years Salih, peace be upon him, called the people of Semud to
worship one God. But they refused and turned a deaf ear, just as Ad refused.
 Shall we follow one of us! - they said. Then, indeed, we would be in error and
we would be crazy. Should the Announcement be sent to him, between us?! No,
he is a proud liar! (Quran, LIV:25)
 Arrogance and disobedience was the response of the people of Semud. Salih,
a.s., and his supporters were called liars and frauds, and they considered their
presence to be their downfall. Therefore, Salih, peace be upon him, addressed
them and said:
 From Allah is both good and evil, you are a people who have been put to the
test. (Quran, XXVII:47)
 These events were, in fact, God's test for Semud, a warning for those who have
sense to break away from carelessness and return to the right path. But they
challenged him and said:
 You are just mesmerized; you are human, like us; so bring us a miracle if what
you say is true! (Quran, XXVI:153-154)
And the Supreme Lord sent them a miracle. The rock
splits before their eyes and from its interior came a
camel like they had never seen before.
O my people, this camel of Allah is a sign for you, so let
it graze in Allah's land and do no harm to it, lest a near
punishment befall you. (Qur'an, XI:64)
A miracle came to them, a clear sign from their Lord,
but they turned a deaf ear and did not believe.
And they slaughtered that camel, and disobeyed the
command of their Lord and said: "O Salih, cause that
which you threaten to befall us, if you are a
messenger." (Qur'an, VII:77)
 Carried away by the sin they committed, the people of
Semud arrogantly challenged Salih, peace be upon
him, to punish them. They asked for punishment and
the answer came:
 You will live in your country for only three more days,
that is a real threat. (Quran, XI:65)
 They responded to these words of Salih, a.s., with a
new plot. They started planning Salih's murder. They
hid near the place where Salih, a.s., glorified his Lord,
waiting for an opportunity to kill him. But the
Almighty God foiled their plot. When they hid,
waiting for Salih, peace be upon him, the earth shook,
rocks fell on them and they remained dead and
motionless. Allah, may God bless him and grant him
peace, says about this event in the Qur'an:
 And they plotted, but We punished them when they
did not hope. (Quran, XXVII:50)
 Then comes the announced punishment for the
others.And when Our punishment came, We, by Our
grace, saved Salih and the believers with him from the
shame of that day - Your Lord is indeed powerful and
powerful and those who did evil he struck - is a terrible
voice and they are in their land dawned dead,
motionless, as if they had never existed on it. Semud,
indeed, did not believe in his Lord; far be Semud!
(Qur'an, XI:66-68)
 After this event, Salih, peace be upon him, settled in
Palestine together with the believers, and the traces of
the destruction of the people of Thamud remained
visible to this day as a lesson to those who think.