The She-Camel of Salih: a Quran story for kids

The people of Thamud lived in a valley between the mountains, carving their homes out of the rock.

﴿وَثَمُودَ ٱلَّذِينَ جَابُوا۟ ٱلصَّخْرَ بِٱلْوَادِ﴾

Al-Fajr 89:9

It means: And the people of Thamud, who cut into the rock in the valley and built their homes there.

Allah sent them His Prophet Salih, to call them to worship Allah alone.

And Allah gave them a great sign: a big, beautiful she-camel.

﴿نَاقَةَ ٱللَّهِ وَسُقْيَـٰهَا﴾

Ash-Shams 91:13

It means: Leave Allah’s camel alone, and let her drink on her day.

The camel had one day to drink from the well, and the people had another day.

﴿لَّهَا شِرْبٌۭ وَلَكُمْ شِرْبُ يَوْمٍۢ مَّعْلُومٍۢ﴾

Ash-Shu'ara 26:155

It means: She has a day to drink, and you have a day to drink.

Salih told them: let her graze on Allah’s earth, and do not hurt her.

﴿وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٍۢ﴾

Hud 11:64

It means: Never hurt the camel.

Think: Why should we be kind to animals?

But the worst man among them went to the camel. They did not believe Salih, and they killed her.

﴿إِذِ ٱنۢبَعَثَ أَشْقَىٰهَا﴾

Ash-Shams 91:12

It means: The worst man among them rose up to hurt her.

﴿فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَعَقَرُوهَا﴾

Ash-Shams 91:14

It means: They did not believe Salih, and they killed the camel.

So Allah punished them for what they did, and their rock houses stood empty.

﴿فَدَمْدَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُم بِذَنۢبِهِمْ﴾

Ash-Shams 91:14

It means: Allah punished them because of what they did.

And Allah saved Salih and those who believed with him, by His mercy.

﴿نَجَّيْنَا صَـٰلِحًۭا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ بِرَحْمَةٍۢ مِّنَّا﴾

Hud 11:66

It means: Allah saved Salih and the believers, as a mercy from Him.