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Hud 11:61.62

وَإِلَى ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَالِحًا قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَهٍ غَيْرُهُ هُوَ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ الْأَرْضِ وَاسْتَعْمَرَكُمْ فِيهَا فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ثُمَّ تُوبُوا إِلَيْهِ إِنَّ رَبِّي قَرِيبٌ مُّجِيبٌقَالُوا يَا صَالِحُ قَدْ كُنتَ فِينَا مَرْجُوًّا قَبْلَ هَذَا أَتَنْهَانَا أَن نَّعْبُدَ مَا يَعْبُدُ آبَاؤُنَا وَإِنَّنَا لَفِي شَكٍّ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَا إِلَيْهِ مُرِيبٍ

And to Thamud [we sent] their brother Salih. He said, “My people, worship Allah. He is your only god. He created you from the earth and settled you on it. So ask forgiveness from him and repent toward him. My Lord is near and he answers. They said, “Salih, we had high hopes for you before this. Do you forbid us from worshiping what our fathers worshiped? We have serious doubts about what you call us to.”

The Thāmud were tribes living in North-West Arabia. Their city Al-Hijr lay on the way between Madina and al-Quds (Jerusalem), so prophet Muhammad (saws) would have seen its ruins while traveling with camel caravans. It is an impressive site, chiseled into rocks like the later city of Petra. According to surah Al A’rāf (7:74), the Thāmud became the privileged caliphs (viceroys) after the destruction of the ‘Ad people.

Prophet Sālih was one of them. He taught his people to worship Allah, ask for His forgiveness and repent. Some obeyed, but the leaders of the Thāmud doubted, opposed and mocked him. The scorners even asked Sālih to deliver punishment, if he is who he claims to be. After giving the Thāmud the sign they asked for – a camel, which they harmed in spite of Allah’s warning - Sālih announced their punishment to come in 3 days. An earthquake came at the foretold time, and killed the un-repentant. At the same time, Allah took care of His faithful ones.

Hud 11:66

فَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا صَالِحًا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنَّا وَمِنْ خِزْيِ يَوْمِئِذٍ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ الْقَوِيُّ الْعَزِيزُ

Then our command came, and we rescued Salih and those who believed along with him from the shame of that day by our mercy. Your Lord is strong and mighty.

Did you notice, that Sālih himself took no part in punishing his opponents? He only delivered the life-saving words, advising people to ask forgiveness and to repent. From the onset of the story (11.62) we can see that even the people who did not like Sālih’s message, admitted that they like the prophet as a person. He was not like those, who give the religion of Allah a bad name in the world by being legalistic, revengeful, and aggressive.

Note also how Sālih presented Allah: My Lord is near and he answers. The story is concluded with the words: Your Lord is strong and mighty. You can remember this, whenever you are oppressed, misunderstood, or treated unjustly. Put your trust in the Lord!

Isa (may his peace be with us) taught: Treat people as you want them to treat you. If you love people who love you, what benefit is that? Even sinners love people who love them… Love your enemies and do what is good to them. Give loans without expecting anything back. Your reward will be great. In this way you will be amirs to Allah Al-Aly Al-Karim. He is Al-Mun'im even to the ungrateful and evil. (Injil, Luke 6:31,32,35) His own selfless life was a beautiful representation of loving and helping even those who did not deserve it.

When the people of Mekka laughed at Muhammad (saws), saying that he was ugly, he left them alone. He showed patience and self-control when they mockingly threw camel intestines on his back while he was praying salāt (namaz). He refused the offer of an angelic revenge after he was chased from the city of Tā’if with stones. He neither insulted them back nor fought them, let alone did what some people full of hatred do nowadays in the name of Allah.

How did Sālih treat disobedient people?

1. He laughed at them and criticized them behind their backs.

2. He lived an exemplary life among them and taught them how to be saved.

3. He hated them and killed them.

How did Isa (may his peace be with us) treat disobedient people?

1. He laughed at them and criticized them behind their backs.

2. He lived an exemplary life among them and taught them how to be saved.

3. He hated them and killed them.

How did prophet Muhammad (saws) treat disobedient people?

1. He laughed at them and criticized them behind their backs.

2. He lived an exemplary life among them and taught them how to be saved.

3. He hated them and killed them.

How do I treat disobedient people?

How does Allah want me to treat others, including disobedient people?