Islamic Story: Islamic Story The Camel of Prophet Saleh (Salih) (ePub)

Prophet Saleh (/ˈsɑːlə/) or Salih (/ˈsɑːli/; Arabic: صالح‎ Șāliḥ, meaning "Pious") was an prophet of ancient Arabia mentioned in the Qur'an, who prophesied to the tribe of Thamud. He is mentioned nine times throughout the Qur'an and his people are frequently referenced as a wicked community who, because of their sins, were ultimately destroyed Saleh is sometimes equated with Salah, a figure from the Hebrew Bible, although the two have little in common save for their names. The preaching and prophecy of Saleh is linked to the famous Islamic story of the She-Camel, which was the gift given by God to the people of Thamud when they desired a miracle to confirm the truth of the message Saleh was preaching.

{And to Thamud (people, We sent) their brother Salih (Saleh). He said; 'o my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Hun. (La ilaha ilia-Allah: none has the right to be worshipped but Allah). Indeed there has come to you a clear sign (the miracle of the coming out of a huge she camel from the midst of a rock) from Your Lord. This she camel of Allah is a sign unto you,' so you leave her to graze in Allah's earth, and touch her not with harm, lest a painful torment should seize you.'}                                                                          (Al-A'raf: 73)

 I am simply a camel, a pure bred camel perhaps but I know no evil. I am an example of pure innocence. I never harmed anyone before or after my birth. Despite all that I was unjustly slaughtered, even though Allah had warned whoever might do such a thing.

My slaughter is symbolic of the slaughter of every innocent being on this earth. Furthermore, my slaughter may have initiated the law that compelled good to present its blood to life's altar. Yes! My life was astonishing.

I was born from the bosom of a towering mountain by a Word from Allah, the Most Merciful. As I Was a part of the rocks, the only thing I knew was that I was a rock. The hard pieces of rock transformed into soft meat. Blood flowed in the veins and that blood produced milk. My udder became filled with milk. I carried my newborn in my stomach and when he was born I started producing that blessed milk. I fed thousands of starving people with this blessed milk. Indeed, everyday I fed them and my newborn.

I am known in history as Prophet Salih's camel and in the Glorious Qur'an I am known as Allah's camel. "This she camel of Allah is a sign unto you." Allah gave me this name to honor me and raise me in honor. In reality I was a camel, yet at the same time, I was not a camel. I may seem difficult to be understood but let me explain. My image was that of a camel but in essence I was one of the miracles of Allah. It is important to remember that everything in existence is both an image and a miracle.

Now where should I start? My birth was a surprise to me before it was a surprise to the people of Salih. As I realized my existence, I felt surprise. It was the surprise of finding oneself alive after having not existed……