Thamud: Difference between revisions

The Qur'an has not referred to the period in which people of Thamud lived, but they are introduced as successors of the [[People of 'Ad]]. In mentioning past people and [[prophets]], the Qur'an has narrated the story of Thamud after People of 'Ad. Some people have referred to people of Thamud as “'Ad al-Akhira” (the later 'Ad). Some people believe that the Quranic order implies the chronological order as well. On Azarnush’s account, the Thamud are mentioned in ancient sources as having lived between the 8th century BC and the 2nd century. However, according to sources of Islamic history, the period of Salih’s [[prophethood]] was prior to [[Abraham]]’s, and people of 'Ad and Thamud were 500 years apart. In some sources, people of Thamud are said to be from the progeny of [[Shem]] the son of the prophet [[Noah]].

According to Quranic verses, people of Thamud were polytheists, so God sent [[Salih (a)]] in order to guide them to the path of [[monotheism]]. According to a hadith from [[Imam al-Baqir (a), they worshiped a large rock, gathered around it once a year, and made sacrifices for it. A portrait of the [[Christ]] on an inscription ascribed to Thamud (dating back to 267) is said to be evidence for the prevalence of Christianity in their period.