Bismillah.
وَاذْكُرُوا إِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفَاءَ مِن بَعْدِ عَادٍ وَبَوَّأَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِن سُهُولِهَا قُصُورًا وَتَنْحِتُونَ الْجِبَالَ بُيُوتًا ۖ فَاذْكُرُوا آلَاءَ اللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ
Remember when He made you successors after the people of ‘Ad and settled you in the land: you build palaces in its plains and carve houses out of the mountains. So, remember Allah’s bounties and do not spread corruption on the earth.
(Sūrat al-A‘rāf, no.7, Āyat 74)
The Noble Quran describes a striking image of the ancient Arab community of Thamūd to whom Prophet Sālih ‘alayhis-salām was sent. They were the successors of the people of ‘Ād. In several verses, Allah ‘azza wajall recounts how they carved homes from mountains, demonstrating their impressive power, wealth, and technological advancement. The Quran highlights this in multiple places, such as in the verse above. Similarly, in Q 26:149, Prophet Sālih (a) remarks on their skill in carving mountain homes, and in Q 89:9, Allah describes them as those who hollowed out the rocks in the valley. These repeated mentions of their grand architecture underscore the Thamūd’s achievements and worldly blessings.
Yet, despite such material wealth and advancement—or perhaps because of it—the people of Thamūd grew heedless and arrogant. Their elite rejected Prophet Sālih (a) and the message he brought, resisting belief even after his century-long efforts to guide them. A conversation recorded in verses Q 7:75–76 captures their defiance: The elite of his people who were arrogant said to those who were oppressed and among them who had faith, ‘Do you know that Sālih has been sent by his Lord?’ They replied, ‘Indeed, we believe in what he has been sent with.’ Those who were arrogant said, ‘We indeed disbelieve in what you have believed.’ They had the audacity to kill the she-camel that Sālih (a) brought as his miracle. It was if they felt they would never be defeated. Yes, the punishment of God eventually came on them. The Quran says: But they were insolent toward the command of their Lord so the thunderbolt seized them while they were looking on. And they were unable to arise, nor could they defend themselves (Q 51:44-45).
Such stories in the Qur’an provide solace and perspective for believers today who witness the concentration of power and wealth in the hands of oppressors. As we watch the genocide in Palestine and massive destruction in Lebanon unfold, with hundreds of thousands of our brothers and sisters suffering, especially those in Gaza who face starvation and blockades, we realize that these atrocities are perpetuated through the backing of powerful and affluent nations. This is no new phenomenon—historically, many communities with power and wealth have acted unjustly, as the Thamūd once did.
In these challenging times, it is crucial for Muslims to fulfill their responsibility to resist oppression, while keeping their ultimate trust in Allah subhānahu wata‘ālā. This world is not the final abode where true justice is served. It is a test and believers must remain resilient. Muslims are called to unite with strength and dignity to stand against oppression and to prevent such injustices from recurring.
We pray to Allah to strengthen the Muslim ummah, to shower His mercy upon them in this world and the hereafter. May He, by the sake of the Quran and His beloved Messenger, protect us from the perils of material wealth and ensure we never fall into disbelief or commit injustice as the people of Thamūd did.
Sources: Āyatullāh Jawādī Āmulī, Sīreh-ye Payambarān dar Qur’ān (Tafsīr-e Mawdu’ī, vol. 7), Rizwan Arastu, God’s Emissaries Adam to Jesus. We pray for the oppressed around the world and ask Allah (swt) to hasten the appearance of His hujjat, Imam Al-Mahdi (af).
Resources: Āyatullāh Nāsir Makārim Shirāzī (Ed.), Tafsīr-e Namūneh. Majlisi, Hayāt al-Qulūb, v. 1, pg. 99, Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī, Tafsīr al-Kabīr.