Prophet Salih (a)

The people of Thamud
lived in a valley
called al-Hajr
in the north of Arabia.
It was a good land
so everything grew very easily.
Cattle and sheep grazed
on the land.

Everyone
had plenty of everything.
When people have a lot
they sometimes forget
who provides everything,
they sometimes forget Allah.
When this happens
Allah sends a messenger
or a prophet
to try to help the people.

To the people of Thamud,
Allah sent Salih.
Salih told the people
to remember Allah
but a lot of people just
laughed
at him and would
not listen.

He did not give up.
He still tried to persuade
them to worship Allah
and soon people
began to listen.
They realised Salih was right.
The leaders of Thamud
were upset by this.

They did not want people
to listen to Salih.
They did not believe Salih
was sent by Allah.
They wanted him to prove it,
they wanted a sign.
They told Salih
to bring them a camel
but it had
to be a
special camel.

Salih prayed to Allah
and Allah sent
the special camel.
The camel gave lots and
lots of milk so all the poor
people had enough to drink,
and they were very happy.

The leaders of Thamud
became
angry again to see Salih
and his followers so happy.
They decided
to kill the camel.
Salih told them that Allah
would punish them.

Salih took all the good people
away from the valley.
A terrible earthquake came
and destroyed the valley
and all the bad people.
If they had listened to Salih
they would have been saved.

 Prophet Lut(Alaih Assalaam) and his family lived among very evil and disobedient people. These people did many things which Allah had forbidden. So Allah commanded Lut (Alaih Assalaam)to tell them: You must stop doing evil and believe in Allah. Allah has sent me to warn you of a terrible punishment that is going to befall you if you do not obey Him.

But people refused to listen to Lut(Alaih Assalaam). They even laughed at him because he would not join them in doing evil deeds.

One day, some visitors came to Lut(Alaih Assalaam). The evil people wanted to capture his visitors and harm them. Lut (Alaih Assalaam) was very afraid that he would not be able to protect his guests. But to Lut(Alaih Assalaam)’s surprise and relief, the visitors said: You need not be frightened. Those evil-doers cannot harm us. For we are messengers of Allah. We have come from Allah to tell you to take your family and leave this town at night. None of you should try to turn and look back or stay behind. Only those who go without looking back will be saved.

Lut (Alaih Assalaam) knew at once that the visitors were indeed Allah’s angels. They had come so that Lut (Alaih Assalaam) and his family could escape and be safe, for Allah was going to punish the evil-doers of that town. Lut (Alaih Assalaam) and his family, however, had believed in Allah and prayed to Him. Therefore they were to be saved.

At once, Lut(Alaih Assalaam) and his family got ready and left their house at night when it was dark, so that the evil people would not see them. But then, just as they were leaving, Lut(Alaih Assalaam)’s wife turned back and stayed behind. She refused to believe in Allah and was also disobedient. So she was not saved from punishment and death when Allah sent down a rain of fire and stones. All the houses in the town were destroyed and the disobedient people perished in the rain of fire and stones.

Only Lut (Alaih Assalaam)and the rest of his family were rescued, and they praised and thanked Allah for having saved them.

 Ibrahim(Alaih Assalaam) was a great prophet. When he was young, he lived among people who refused to worship Allah. Instead they prayed to other things, among them idols which they had made themselves. Once Ibrahim said to his father, “Do you take these idols for gods? If you do, then you and your people are wrong.”

The people of Thamud where the Salih(Alaih Assalaam) lived had beautiful gardens. Here there were springs, date palms and trees which had plenty of fruit. The houses of Thamud were carved into rocks and mountains.

Worship only Allah, Salih(Alaih Assalaam) told his people. You have no other god apart from Allah, so you should do good. I am giving you good advice: You should believe what I say, for Allah has made me His Prophet.

But only those people of Thamud who were not rich and not strong believed, and did as Prophet Salih (Alaih Assalaam) had said. The rich and powerful people of Thamud said to Salih(Alaih Assalaam): We don’t believe what you say and we are not going to do as you advise. You are nothing but a man, just like any of us. If you are speaking the truth, then show us a sign.

Salih(Alaih Assalaam) brought a camel and said: This camel will be a sign for you from Allah. Let her graze on Allah’s meadow and let her drink when she is thirsty. Think of how good Allah has been to you and all that He has give to you. You should not do evil and cause trouble on this earth. If you do, a harsh punishment will fall upon you.

Despite Salih (Alaih Assalaam)’s instructions and teaching, the proud and powerful people of Thamud still refused to listen to him. Instead of leaving the camel in peace to graze in the meadow, they did a very cruel thing: They cut the tendons on her legs. Thus they openly broke Allah’s command.

Afterwards, they called Salih(Alaih Assalaam) and said: Now bring us the punishment of which you have been warning us, or we shall not believe that you are the Prophet of Allah.

Salih (Alaih Assalaam)’s promise of disaster came true. After three days, there was a terrible earthquake and all the evil-doers perished. Such was their punishment because they did not obey Allah.

 Many years ago, there lived a very industrious, hardworking people. They were the people of Ad, and they built large and beautiful houses. On every mountain, they had erected a tower and they were very proud of their beautiful buildings.

(Alaih Assalaam), and Hud(Alaih Assalaam) had been chosen by Allah as His prophet. Allah has sent me to you, Hud (Alaih Assalaam) said to his people. Allah has taught you all that you are able to do. He has also given you children and many animals. Therefore you should stop worshipping your false gods. Worship only Allah(swt) and obey His commands. Do good and do not commit wrongs and evil. Listen to what I say, for if you do not, I fear that a punishment will come upon you.

(Alaih Assalaam): We are not going to listen to you, they scoffed. We are not going to let our gods down, just because you tell us to. Who are you, anyway? You are nothing but a liar. If you are not a liar, then prove it: tell Allah to send us the punishment.

(Alaih Assalaam) was very sad and disappointed when he heard this. I am not a liar, I am the Prophet of Allah, he said, “Do you think the houses you have built will last for ever? Remember that it is Allah Who has given you your fortunes. He is my Lord and your Lord and only in Him do I trust. I have already warned you before: If you don’t obey Allah, He will choose some other people to take your place. Allah knows and hears everything. But despite Hud(Alaih Assalaam)’s warnings, the people of Ad went on worshipping their false gods. Hud was very disappointed. He called his true companions together and with them, he left the people of Ad. In this way, as you shall soon see, Allah protected and preserved those who believed in Him.

Shortly afterwards, a huge black cloud appeared in the sky over the people of Ad. When the unbelievers of Ad saw it, they said: This cloud is surely going to bring us some refreshing rain.

Nuh(Alaih Assalaam) was a prophet who lived many years after Adam(Alaih Assalaam). The people with whom Nuh(Alaih Assalaam) lived refused to listen to him. When he said that they should worship only Allah (swt) and do good, they paid no attention. Nuh (Alaih Assalaam) told them they would be severely punished for ignoring him and the message he brought from Allah. Even so, the people did not believe what Nuh(Alaih Assalaam) told them. They laughed at him and said, “You are only a man like us. Only poor, weak people believe you. If you are telling truth, then show us the punishment you threaten. You are nothing but a liar!”

“I do not want anything from you,” Nuh (Alaih Assalaam) answered, “and I shall never send away the poor or the weak. As far as the punishment is concerned, Allah will bring it upon you whenever he pleases. Don’t imagine you can stop Allah’s plans!”

Nuh (Alaih Assalaam) was both sad and angry that people would not heed his message. But Allah informed Nuh (Alaih Assalaam) that he should not feel this way. There was much more important work to do. Nuh(Alaih Assalaam) must build a big ship.

In obedience to Allah’s instructions, Nuh(Alaih Assalaam) began to build the ship on land. The people who saw it when they were passing made fun of him and his ship. But Nuh(Alaih Assalaam) had a warning for them. “You are making fun of us now,” he said, “but soon we will know who has to suffer the severe punishment!”

When the ship was completed, it started to rain without ceasing and the waters on earth began to rise. Allah(swt) told Nuh(Alaih Assalaam) to go into the ship, together with his family and all his friends who believed. Nuh(Alaih Assalaam) should also take one male and female from each kind of animal on earth.

Nuh(Alaih Assalaam) did as he was told and then he said, “In the name of Allah, we shall now sail away, and when the time is right, we shall return again to the land.”

The waters rose higher and higher until all the valleys were flooded. Nuh(Alaih Assalaam) saw one of his sons who had not yet boarded the ship and anxiously called out to him, “O my son, climb on board with us so that you will not belong to the unbelievers.” But his son refused. Instead, he told Nuh: “I shall go up to the high mountain. The water cannot reach me there.”

Nuh(Alaih Assalaam) became even more anxious. “Only those who listen to Allah can find protection!” he cried out to his son. But just then a huge wave came and many people were drowned. Nuh(Alaih Assalaam)’s son was among them.

It continued to rain for a long, long time. The water rose so high that it covered all the mountains. But at last the rain stopped falling and the floods went down. Now, Nuh(Alaih Assalaam)’s ship landed safely at the side of a mountain and all the people and animals who had been on the ship came out. Nuh(Alaih Assalaam) and his family and his friends thanked Allah with all their hearts, because they had been saved by Him.

Adam (Alaih Assalaam) was the first man created by Allah. He was created to live on earth. However, Iblis did not like this. Although Iblis was made of fire, he lived with the angels. He thought he was better than Adam, so he became Adam’s enemy and decided to make Adam (Alaih Assalaam) disobey Allah.

Adam (Alaih Assalaam) and his wife used to live in paradise, where they were put by Allah. Paradise was the most beautiful place you can imagine. It was neither hot nor cold. Adam (Alaih Assalaam) and his wife were never hungry or thirsty. This was another thing which Iblis did not like. So Iblis came to Adam (Alaih Assalaam) and his wife and told them to eat from a certain tree. Now, Adam (Alaih Assalaam) and his wife knew very well that Allah had told them they must not even go near that tree. So they did not listen to Iblis, but Iblis kept on and on at them. He tempted them by saying that they could live for ever if they ate from that tree and would become like angels.

At last, worn down by the nagging of Iblis, Adam (Alaih Assalaam) and his wife gave in. They came to believe what Iblis was telling them, and they ate from the tree, against Allah’s command. But they soon came to regret very much their disobedience and their weakness in listening to Iblis. Adam and his wife were very sad and asked Allah for His forgiveness. Allah forgave them, for He is very forgiving. Allah then told Adam and his wife that they must now go down to earth and live there for some time. But He promised that they would be allowed to return to paradise as long as they and their children were obedient to Him in future.

Allah also told Adam (Alaih Assalaam) that he would be Allah’s first prophet. Many prophets would be sent to mankind, and if man listens to the prophets’ words, he will come into paradise when he dies. But if he does not listen, then he will go to hell and remain there with the evil Iblis.

So, Adam (Alaih Assalaam) and his wife cam down to earth. On earth, they raised their children, and their children in their turn raised their children. In this way succeeding generations of mankind lived on earth and Allah sent His prophets to all of them. These prophets said: Worship only Allah. Allah has created you. Allah has made for you the plants and the animals so that you can eat them. Be grateful to Allah and always do good.

This is what Adam (Alaih Assalaam), the first prophet of Allah, told his children. After him there came many other prophets, and Muhammad (pbuh) is the last of the prophets.

Muhammad (PBUH) was an orphan. His father had died before Muhammad (PBUH) was born and his mother died while he was still very young. This was why Muhammad (PBUH) was brought-up first by his grandfather, Abdul Mutallib, and later by his uncle, Abu Talib. Both of them loved the orphaned Muhammad (PBUH) very much, and both devoted a lot of care to him. When he was big and strong enough to work, Muhammad (PBUH) tended sheep on the outskirts of Makkah, the town where he lived.

Muhammad (PBUH) was still a boy when he worked as a shepherd. Later, when he grew into a young man, Muhammad’s (PBUH) uncle, Abu Talib, used to take him along on his trading journeys. Makkans like Abu Talib were merchants and the journeys they made where very long. Their camels brought many different goods into Makkah. This was a very good and exciting experience for Muhammad (PBUH) and when he grew older he was able to lead the caravans on his own.

In Makkah there lived a wealthy widow whose name was Khadija. She owned trade caravans and employed Muhammad (PBUH) to lead them for her. Khadija had made a very wise choice, for Muhammad (PBUH) was a good honest tradesman and a very successful one. Later on, Muhammad (PBUH) and Khadija were married and settled down with their children to lead a happy and peaceful life in Makkah.

As the years passed and Muhammad (PBUH) grew older, he began to think deeply about many things. Although his own family life was very happy, several problems worried him. Muhammad (PBUH) often wandered by the mountains outside Makkah and here, in a cave in Mount Hira, he used to sit and think in peace and solitude: I wonder how it happened that I, who was once an orphan, am now such a rich man, Muhammad (PBUH) thought, I have a good wife and loving children, and yet I am still not entirely happy.

Muhammad (PBUH) knew very well why this was so, for he had long been troubled by the situation that existed in Makkah: They don’t help the poor. They do not bother about caring for orphans or nursing the sick back to health. People in Makkah seem to be interested only in having a lot of money and when they have that, they want even more! These thoughts troubled Muhammad (PBUH) for many years.

Then one day, when he was forty years old, Muhammad (PBUH) was in the cave on Mount Hira, and an Angel appeared before him. The Angel, whose name was Gabriel, said to Muhammad (PBUH): “Read in the name of your Lord who has created everything, who has created man from a clot of blood.”

At once, Muhammad (PBUH) knew what this meant. He should go to Makkah and tell the people: Allah has created Man. Allah has created all the things that Man needs to live. Therefore Man should be grateful to Allah. He should pray only unto Allah and obey only Him. It is Allah’s will that the poor and the sick should be cared for, and that people should strive with all their might to do good and lead honourable lives. After death, such people will be richly rewarded for their efforts. But those who purposely do evil will receive terrible punishment, unless they are sincerely sorry for what they have done and ask Allah to forgive them.

At first, Muhammad (PBUH) was very disturbed, for he had never seen an Angle before. But even so, he realized that the Angel had given him answers to the many questions which had been troubling him. For some time Muhammad (PBUH) had been wondering who it was who had been helping him; now he knew: it was Allah. He wondered why the people of Makkah were greedy and mean to the poor; now he knew why: it was because they disobeyed Allah. Allah created Man and all that is in this world, so Man must be obedient to Allah alone.

When Muhammad (PBUH) returned to the city, he told his wife Khadija all that had happened, and all the Angel Gabriel had said. “Allah will never disgrace you,” Khadija told her husband, “for you do many good things. You keep families together. You bear the burden of the weak, you assist the poor and the needy, you entertain the guests and endure hardships in the path of truthfulness.”

Muhammad (PBUH) was very happy that his wife, like himself, believed and trusted in Allah. He began telling his friends of the Angle Gabriel, and what the Angel had said to him. At first, though, only a few people paid attention to what Muhammad (PBUH) said. Most of them just ignored him, for they were far too busy making money, and had no time or inclination to think about Allah.

During this time, and afterwards, the Angel Gabriel continued to appear before Muhammad (PBUH) and always reminded him of the same thing. Muhammad (PBUH) had been chosen as Allah’s Prophet, and it was his task to go and tell the people to do good and to worship no other god but Allah. Muhammad (PBUH) must also tell them to spend their money on helping poor people who had too little money themselves.

At last, Muhammad (PBUH) began approaching the people of Makkah. He chose beautiful words to tell them of Allah’s wishes, hoping that by this means, he would appeal to them: When you have enough to eat and there is a poor man who is hungry, then you must give him some of your food to eat and some of your clothing to wear. The sick must be nursed and the orphans must be cared for. If you do all these things, as Allah wishes, you will be rewarded. But if you refuse, warned, you will be punished very severely.

Unfortunately, most Makkans just laughed at what  Muhammad (PBUH) told them. Worse still, they refused to worship Allah and went on believing that it was more important to have a lot of money. Some of them even threw stones at the Prophet, and they killed some of those who followed him and believed in Allah alone. Their enmity grew and eventually the people of Makkah decided that Muhammad (PBUH), his family, his relatives and his friends, should be driven out of the town. So they sent them to a valley in the mountains outside of Makkah, and nobody was allowed to visit them there or to bring them food. They had to stay in that desolate place for almost three years, and grew so hungry that often they ate the leaves of threes, since they did not have enough food.

Life there was so bad that before long, Khadija, the Prophet’s wife, died. Muhammad (PBUH) was very sad. Then the Angel Gabriel appeared and explained to Muhammad (PBUH) that Allah wanted to help him. He should take his friends and family away from Makkah and take them to another town, called Madina. The people there were willing to listen to Allah’s words, the Angel told Muhammad (PBUH) .

So, Muhammad (PBUH) told his children and his friends to leave Makkah and go to Madina. Then all who believed in Allah and worshipped only Allah, left Makkah. The last to leave were Muhammad (PBUH) and his close companion, Abu Bakr. However, the people of Makkah were not content with driving Muhammad (PBUH) out. Now they wanted to kill him, because he had been warning them of their evil deeds. But Muhammad (PBUH) was able to leave while the Makkans were on their way to kill him. Ali, Muhammad’s (PBUH) brave young cousin, laid himself on Muhammad’s (PBUH) bed so that the Makkans would think that the Prophet was still there. But Muhammad (PBUH) and Abu Bakr were long since gone on their way, and so that nobody could find them, they hid themselves in a cave.

When the people discovered that it was Ali(a.s.) who was in Muhammad’s (PBUH) bed and that the Prophet had gone, they became very angry. But there was nothing they could do, for Muhammad was already well beyond their evil reach.

Madina was completely different from Makkah. Here, Muhammad (PBUH) had more friends than enemies. However, the people of Makkah did not leave him in peace. Instead, they followed him to Madina, to make war with him. But Allah helped the Prophet and his followers, and kept them safe from their enemies.

In Madina, Muhammad (PBUH) continued to receive Allah’s messages from the Angel Gabriel. These messages were written down in a book, called the Quran. In the Quran, we can read everything that Allah has said to Man.

The Prophet (PBUH) and his friends built a mosque in Madina and here they prayed five times every day. Once every year, they observed a month of fasting. During the days of this month, they did not eat or drink anything during the daytime. They trained themselves to go without food and drink, for the sake of Allah. From this experience, they learned to get used to eating very little food. So, they had a lot of food left over to give to the poor. They also gave the poor some of their money. Muhammad (PBUH) and his friends believed in Allah and worshipped Him alone. They were obedient to Allah and followed His commands. therefore they are called Muslims. Those who believe in Allah, who worship Allah alone, and who do things according to the Quran, are Muslims.

But those who do not believe in Allah and refuse to obey Him, and even want to kill the Muslims by fighting wars against them are not Muslims. They are the disbelieves.

For many years, in Madina, Muhammad (PBUH) and his followers had to defend themselves against the attacks of their enemies, and many times were forced to fight against them. But in these battles, Allah gave help to Muhammad (PBUH) and the Muslims. After some time, the disbelievers began to understand that because of Allah’s help Muhammad (PBUH) was much stronger than they were. So, at last, they said to themselves: We must stop fighting, for nobody is stronger than Allah. We cannot defeat Muhammad (PBUH), because Allah helps him. It is therefore better for us also to believe in Allah and to worship Him.

Muhammad (PBUH) and the Muslims were very happy that the long war had at last come to an end. Allah helped them as He had promised, and they were able to return to Makkah where they had once been the first small group of people who believed in Allah. When they arrived in Makkah, they held a prayer together. After that, some of them remained in Makkah, but others who had set up home in Madina went back there. Nevertheless, these Muslims in Madina journeyed to Makkah once a year, because the Ka’ba was there. The Ka’ba is a big stone house with no windows. It looks like a big cube. It was built by Prophet Ibrahim, who lived many years before Muhammad (PBUH). Whenever you see the Ka’ba, you will be reminded of what Allah has told Mankind, and of what Mankind should do: they should BELIEVE IN ALLAH, WORSHIP ALLAH ALONE AND ALWAYS STRIVE TO DO GOOD. These are Allah’s commands to Mankind. Allah has sent many prophets to Mankind, with messages from Him, Who is the creator of Man and the universe. Muhammad (PBUH) was the last of Allah’s many prophets, and after he died, he left behind the Quran in which all Allah’s messages are written down.

In the Qur’an are also many stories of other prophets, who lived long before Muhammad (PBUH). You will find some of them in this book.