Tafsir of Al-Hijr 15:80

{i.e., Thamud.}

{When they denied their messenger, Salih, peace be upon him; for whoever denies one of the messengers of Allah—glory be to Him—it is as if he has denied them all, due to the agreement of their word upon monotheism and the fundamental principles which do not differ with the variation of nations and ages. It has been said: The intended meaning by "the messengers" is Salih, peace be upon him, and those with him from among the believers, by way of generalization, treating the followers as messengers, just as it is said: "The Khubaybites" (al-Khubaybiyyun) referring to Khubayb ibn al-Zubayr and his companions. The poet said: "Enough for me of the victory of the Khubaybites, enough." As for the statement that both the she-camel and her foal were placed in the position of a messenger because they were like those calling them to follow him, peace be upon him, and thus the plural form was used based on this consideration—this has no weight at all, as I see it.}

{Al-Hijr is a valley between the Hijaz and al-Sham (Greater Syria) where they used to dwell. Al-Raghib said: "Whatever is enclosed by stones is called a 'Hijr' (stone enclosure/tract), and by this, the 'Hijr' of the Ka'bah and the dwellings of Thamud are named." The Prophet, may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, forbade his companions—may Allah be pleased with them—as recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari and elsewhere, from entering upon these people unless they were weeping, out of fear that what afflicted them might afflict them as well.}

{It is narrated from Ibn Umar—may Allah be pleased with them both—that the people, during the year of the Tabuk expedition, drew water from the wells that Thamud used to drink from, kneaded dough with it, and set up pots with meat. The Prophet, may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, ordered them to spill the pots and to feed the dough to the camels, and he ordered them to draw water from the well that the she-camel used to visit.}